State House begins cleaning up after Blagojevich

SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois House has begun passing legislation meant to clean up some of the problems left behind by former governor Rod Blagojevich.

The House voted unanimously Thursday to form a joint committee with the state Senate to consider government reforms. Speaker Michael Madigan says it will study everything from lobbyist restrictions to pension costs to government salaries.

Republicans objected that Democrats would have a majority on the panel, but they supported it anyway.

The House also voted to give the new governor an extra month to prepare his budget proposal.

And it approved legislation spelling out the General Assembly's power to block rules proposed by the governor. That was a major source of conflict between Blagojevich and lawmakers.