GOP leader blasts Dems after working with them

SPRINGFIELD - Just weeks after he tried to help top Democrats approve billions of dollars worth of construction spending, the Illinois House Republican leader is trying to raise campaign cash by blasting their financial management.

"Giving Rod Blagojevich, Mike Madigan, Emil Jones and the rest of their Democrat cronies more of your hard-earned dollars to essentially play roulette with is just simply not the answer," House Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego says in a recent fundraising letter sent to GOP households.

Cross, however, joined with Blagojevich and Jones, both Chicago Democrats, to vote for a multibillion-dollar construction spending spree to be financed by leasing out the state lottery system.

That plan was defeated in the Illinois House by Democrats - led by House Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago - and several of Cross' Republicans who said they either oppose the lottery aspect or don't trust the governor with that much money.

A spokesman for Cross said there's nothing hypocritical about the letter.

"Not at all," said spokesman David Dring. He said the letter focuses on Democrats handling of the state budget.

"The budget they passed they admitted didn't add up," Dring said. "We think electing more Democrats would be awful."

Democrats, who control both the House and Senate, passed a nearly $2 billion deficit budget.

Blagojevich has announced cuts and layoffs to balance it.

Dring said Cross still supports construction spending.

"We will continue to push for a jobs bill," he said. "No matter who supports it."

However, a Madigan spokesman questioned the House Republican's criticism.

"They've been the bigger ally with Rod Blagojevich and his reckless activity," said spokesman Steve Brown.