Governor unfazed by link to corruption case
SPRINGFIELD -- Undeniably linked to a federal corruption case and then stymied by lawmakers on health care, Gov. Rod Blagojevich grasped for political relevance Tuesday, forging ahead with plans to expand health coverage.
For Blagojevich the move was no surprise. It was the second time in recent months he cast aside lawmakers' rejection and announced his office has more than enough authority to move ahead with bigger government health care programs.
But the move came a day after a federal judge identified the governor as the previously anonymous Public Official A alleged to have trolled for campaign cash using state contracts as bait.
Reverberating through the Capitol was the question of whether the governor's political standing had been mortally wounded by the official connection to the corruption case at a time when state finances are sinking.
"It doesn't help anybody. It doesn't help him. It doesn't help us. It doesn't help the people of the state," said House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Chicago Democrat who's often quarreled with the governor.
"This is just something that doesn't help the cause," Madigan said. "Better that it had not have happened."
As lawmakers and political observers debated the impact on Blagojevich's shrinking political clout, a spokeswoman said the governor would not be distracted from his goals.
Indeed, spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff downplayed Tuesday's Official A disclosure as old news.
"The media has been closely covering the allegations in this case for well over a year, and yesterday's disclosure repeated what's already been reported," said Ottenhoff, referring to newspaper reports naming Blagojevich as the official in question. "That doesn't change our position, and it certainly doesn't change the challenges that confront our leaders in Springfield."
Similar scandal had a clear impact on former Gov. George Ryan's ability to wield influence with lawmakers, most notably during his final term when he crafted a budget deal only to have it voted down by rank-and-file members who said they no longer trusted him.
"It doesn't help at all," state Rep. Randy Ramey, a Carol Stream Republican, said of Blagojevich being identified as Public Official A. "It throws a big wrench in a lot of things they want to get done."
It's hard to argue the disclosure weakens his authority with lawmakers, given what little power he's brandished at the Capitol recently.
The pivotal piece of his health care expansion proposal was rejected 107-0 by lawmakers last year. Later, in an attempt to end lingering special sessions, legislative leaders excluded Blagojevich and cut their own budget deal.
"How much weaker can you get out here?" asked state Rep. Linda Chapa-LaVia, an Aurora Democrat.
Blagojevich's health care agency plans to continue signing up families for expanded programs. The latest version of the governor's plan lets a family of four making up to $82,000 without health coverage buy into a state plan. Currently the cutoff is $38,000.
His aides have said there are nearly 147,000 people who'd qualify for such coverage. On Tuesday they said 3,300 have signed up so far.
"We will move forward and continue to, within the parameters of the law, assist the uninsured in getting access to affordable coverage as well as helping to protect coverage for working parents within the FamilyCare program," said Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch.