Illinois House returning to Capitol

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has called his members back to work next week in Springfield, a gathering Gov. Rod Blagojevich hopes might break the logjam over a stalled statewide capital construction program.

"I'm hopeful in so far as they've set dates and he's calling the members back and I can't imagine he would do that to just waste their time. So all the signs are good and let's see if it's hugs and kisses," Blagojevich told reporters Wednesday after a women's entrepreneurial conference.

The Democratic governor and Madigan, a fellow Democrat, have been at odds for months over how to do a construction program for roads, bridges, schools and other projects.

Blagojevich wants money for a multibillion-dollar capital program to come from a partial lease of the state lottery.

Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said they hope to have "a workable plan" on the lottery lease for House members to consider.

Brown wouldn't get into specifics of that plan but said it would need to safeguard education money and ensure capital projects that are funded actually get done, regardless of what other projects Blagojevich might favor.

Brown said they don't want to leave room for any "intimidation" by Blagojevich.

Some of the holdup over a capital plan has been that some in the Madigan-controlled House don't trust Blagojevich to fulfill capital projects without diverting money to his favorite causes and away from others to punish some lawmakers.

Blagojevich declined to say what he and Madigan talked about when they were together in Denver last week for the Democratic National Convention. The two powerful Democrats, whose frosty relations are well publicized, were even coaxed into hugging each other during a display of state party unity during the convention.

"It was all good and friendly and let's see were it takes us," Blagojevich said.

Brown said the House will also consider fund sweeps, which could mean money to restore some of Blagojevich's budget cuts. Brown said some members have made clear they want action on that before dealing with the lottery.

Blagojevich cut $1.4 billion out of a state budget he said wasn't balanced.

The House is scheduled to return to work Sept. 10 and stay through the next day, Brown said.