Illinois political spat gets uglier

SPRINGFIELD - The running feud between Gov. Rod Blagojevich and House Speaker Michael Madigan has gone from public to profane.

Their relationship sunk to a possible new low this week after the governor's aides spread to reporters a short memo written by Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, to two union leaders.

In the letters, which are addressed to labor group presidents Keith Gleason and John Coli, Madigan states: "I regret that you bought into the (expletive deleted) of the Blagojevich people."

The language in question would refer to bull manure.

Officials from the governor's office said the letters came in response to the labor groups choosing to testify in support of Blagojevich's multibillion-dollar construction plan at a hearing last month.

The letters remind labor groups that Madigan has helped them before.

Gleason and Coli could not be reached for comment.

Lucio Guerrero, a Blagojevich spokesman, said the letters show that Madigan is angry and isolated.

"He seems to be working behind the scenes to kill the capital bill," Guerrero said. "He's vulgar with the Teamsters, he won't return (former) speaker (Denny) Hastert's calls - it just shows how he's just isolated and a coalition of one."

Steve Brown, Madigan's spokesman, confirmed the authenticity of the two letters and said the speaker has offered four proposals for a capital plan.

"It's important to note the governor's office has not disputed the substance of the letters," Brown said regarding Madigan's profane characterization of the governor's policies. "Why they think they can take advantage of it... I don't know - if anything that demonstrates how confused they are."

Despite the terse nature of the Madigan memos, both end with his traditional salutation:

"With kindest personal regards, I remain ... Sincerely yours, Mike."