Looking for a minor miracle

SPRINGFIELD -- Ask suburban lawmakers how the General Assembly can wipe out a three-quarter-billion-dollar deficit in this year's budget, fix a bigger one in the next, heal divisive political wounds and perhaps come up with more money for schools or health care (Phew!) all before a May 31 deadline and their answers run the gamut.

Some, like Aurora Republican state Rep. Patricia Reid Lindner, break into song.

"A miracle. Haven't you heard of a miracle?" Lindner, a veteran suburban legislator, chimed with a cynical smile.

Others echo that sentiment, though in a less melodic manner.

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"I wish that I knew. I hope that something will go bump in the night and a plan will come together," said state Sen. Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat.

Some believe the current gridlock dooms them to another overtime session.

"We'll be here forever," groaned state Rep. Mark Beaubien Jr., a Barrington Hills Republican.

Still others spout cautious optimism.

"In the House, we're going to do what we need to do to get out of here on time," predicted state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, an Aurora Democrat.

With less than two weeks before a constitutional deadline for a state budget, pressure is mounting on lawmakers -- particularly Democrats -- to come to some consensus on key financial issues that decide how state tax dollars go to schools, prisons, pension payments, health care and a myriad of other state programs.

Democrats control the House, Senate and the governor's office but deepening fissures among the Democratic leaders have marred their reign in Springfield.

Last year the result was a marathon overtime session -- the longest in state history -- that threatened to shutter state government and ultimately cost taxpayers upward of $1 million just to cover the expense of having representatives and senators in Springfield all summer.

Even the final budget couldn't mend fences. House and Senate leaders struck a deal to cut Gov. Rod Blagojevich out of the budget process, only to have Senate President Emil Jones Jr., a Chicago Democrat, then back out, claiming House Speaker Michael Madigan, also a Chicago Democrat, meddled in Senate affairs.

Jones then sided with Blagojevich when the governor vetoed millions of dollars in lawmakers' projects while leaving intact key allies' spending and announced the money would instead be used to finance the health insurance expansion he wanted but which lawmakers had rejected.

The three influential Democrats -- Jones, Madigan and Blagojevich -- have had an icy if not standoffish relationship ever since.

It is with that history fresh in everyone's mind that the Daily Herald reached out to an array of suburban lawmakers to ask what they thought it would take to bring this session to a timely conclusion.

The overwhelming consensus from more than 40 interviews is that the members fully expect to be back in Springfield this summer, even if a deal is struck in the next few weeks.

"I know that people see what's going on down here and it seems complex, all these different issues that are going on, but it's really kind of a simple thing," said state Rep. Franco Coladipietro, a Bloomingdale Republican. "If these people aren't going to communicate, we're not going to get it done."

Both the House and Senate are maneuvering for possible budget votes as soon as this week. House Democrats say they're looking at approving different versions covering a bare-bones maintenance budget to keep the state running once the current budget expires on June 30, and then offering expanded versions as agreement can be found.

The bare-bones version would likely offer no funding increases except where required by law, legislators said. It's unlikely to please those calling for increased education spending, and advocates of the poor and disabled who say the state isn't meeting its responsibilities in key areas.

So far, however, lawmakers have been unable to reach a consensus on how to come up with more money to finance meaningful expansions in any of those areas.

Unless the House and Senate can agree on the same version of a budget, nothing goes to the governor's desk. And he can strike out any provisions he doesn't like. Lawmakers would then need to vote to override his vetoes to return to their version of a state spending plan

As witnessed last year, Blagojevich is willing to repeatedly use his powers to call special sessions and order lawmakers back to Springfield. However, a court case is currently pending regarding exactly how much authority the governor has in this area.

Also weighing on lawmakers is the upcoming campaign season. They don't want to be trapped in Springfield while their opponents knock on doors all summer.

"Is there really a universal law that applies pressure to the leadership sufficiently enough to say, 'Oh hey, there's this election cycle out there and members really need to get back into their districts in order to get themselves re-elected?'" said state Sen. Michael Noland, an Elgin Democrat. "Or do we simply just keep everyone in Springfield and suffer the consequences, no matter what they happen to be?"