Governor: State budget is 'out of whack', needs work

With a state budget that's $2 billion "out of whack" on his desk, Gov. Rod Blagojevich called Monday for meetings with legislative leaders to produce a balanced budget and a major construction plan funded by massive gambling expansion.

Yet, even Blagojevich acknowledged past summits have failed to smooth over deep personal and policy divides -- raising the prospect for yet another summer of legislative battles and flaring tempers.

"There isn't a lot of give and take" in the meetings, he said.

More Coverage Links State budget plan leaves few happy [06/02/08]

House Speaker Michael Madigan, the governor's political nemesis, agreed to send representatives but would not attend himself, said the Chicago Democrat's spokesman, Steve Brown.

Blagojevich reserved the right to veto the budget and call lawmakers back to Springfield to start over if the meetings fail.

Despite years of digs at Madigan, Blagojevich was careful not to directly attack him Monday, telling reporters, "I'm not going to play that game."

But he repeatedly said Madigan "thwarted the will of the people" by allegedly blocking a House vote on major casino expansions to fund $34 billion in road, transit and school construction across the state.

He also blasted suggestions from Madigan that tax or fee hikes were needed, saying that would only add to the "pain" of everyday people struggling to pay credit card bills and fill the gas tank.

Working right up to their constitutional deadline to pass a budget Saturday, lawmakers moved to increase education spending but came up $2 billion short on the revenue side, according to the governor's accounting.

Many lawmakers hoped Blagojevich would simply ax the difference with his veto pen, but Blagojevich clearly wasn't taking the bait Monday. Last year, he cut nearly $500 million worth of lawmakers' projects to cries that the cuts were politically motivated.