Madigan Fires Back at Blagojevich Lawsuit

Monday, September 24th a copy of House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Memorandum of Law In Support of Defendant Michael J. Madigan’s Motion to Dismiss was posted at www.housedem.state.il.us. This document will sicken you about how petty and acrimonious dealing have gotten in Springfield as the Governor and the General Assembly attempt to develop and pass a budget for FY 08. In this 59 page document, you will learn many interesting facts about the current dispute as presented by Speaker Madigan’s attorney. Among them are: Special legislative sessions this summer cost Illinois taxpayers almost $1 million in per diem payments to legislators. Governor Blagojevich has called 33 special legislative sessions in the last five years compared to 89 special sessions called by all other governors since 1918. If this information is to be believed, there has been a well established pattern by the Governor of using his political will to subvert the will of the General Assembly. This document supports the concept that actions by the Governor are attempts to remove the checks and balance system that upholds the “separation of powers” of the three branches of government; executive, legislative and judicial.

Without attaching blame it is obvious that this battle of political wills has paralyzed our state government and the efficient operation of all services provided by the state. This is a very sad state of affairs for our state and presents a very poor image of Illinois to the nation. What will it take to get Governor Blagojevich, Senate President Jones and House Speaker Madigan to do the work of the people of Illinois that they were duly elected to perform?