No dice to gambling expansion

SPRINGFIELD - Plans to pay for billions of dollars in road, bridge and school construction with more and bigger casinos were declared "dead" Thursday, falling victim to political infighting and distrust.

"Given the conditions that exist here in Springfield, I think that the proposed expansion of gaming is a dead issue," said Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Chicago Democrat.

Asked to elaborate, Madigan replied: "I think most of you have written about those conditions."

Indeed, there's been no shortage of media reports about the distrust and political animosity that exists between Madigan and Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

In an interview with Springfield's State Journal-Register, the governor shot back at Madigan, saying it was "mind-boggling" that Madigan would use his "resourcefulness and cleverness" to defeat the gambling-funded construction deal.

Around the Capitol, the mood has continued to darken.

The governor summoned lawmakers back to the Capitol for a two-day session covering Wednesday and Thursday and ordered them to balance a budget nearly $2 billion out of whack. But he then axed nearly $1.4 billion from the budget after just the first day.

The cuts include $148 million to finally pay for nearly two dozen school construction projects that have been waiting since at least 2002 for state assistance.

"After waiting six years, we are extremely disappointed that the construction money promised to us by the state, has once again been removed by the governor from the budget," said Winfield District 34 Superintendent Diane Cody, whose district awaits $2.3 million. "It is hard to understand how both the House and Senate can approve this long-awaited money again this year, only to have the governor take it away once more."

Other cuts include eliminating a 50 cents-per-hour pay raise for those caring for the developmentally disabled. They've not seen a raise since 2002. That cut saved $27.5 million. Foster parents also won't see any increases in the amount they're reimbursed by the state.

But not everyone suffered on the chopping block.

Surviving the cuts was a 3.8 percent increase in paychecks for lawmakers, the governor and various top state officials. A Blagojevich spokeswoman suggested the governor's hands were tied.

"This is not a discretionary item. According to state statute, the amount authorized per year for each lawmaker shall be increased by a percentage equivalent to a cost-of-living increase," budget office spokeswoman Kelley Quinn said.

The adjustments increase lawmakers' base pay to $67,800 from $65,300. They make thousands more running committees and serving in leadership posts. The governor's pay increases to nearly $177,500 from nearly $171,000. There are similar increases for other state officials.

These increases are not part of double-digit raises that would take effect later unless lawmakers vote to reject them.

House Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego was outraged the increases remained intact.

"We deserve a pay raise? Come on," he said.

Cross said he'd likely donate the increase to charity.

House members announced they'd return to the Capitol next week to vote on whether to override the governor's budget cuts. But Senate President Emil Jones Jr., a Chicago Democrat, said he has no intention of doing the same and doesn't plan to convene the Senate until the fall.

"We have done our business," Jones said.