Blagojevich challenges House Democrats to approve funds for health care, infrastructure

The political impasse between Gov. Rod Blagojevich and House Speaker Michael Madigan showed no signs of slowing Wednesday as the governor announced he would send another amended House bill back to state lawmakers.

Blagojevich’s version of the bill, which requires insurance companies to cover Illinois residents under their parents’ health policies until the age of 26, is just one of dozens of amendatory vetoes the governor said he will make in the coming weeks in an initiative he calls “Rewrite to Do Right.”

The campaign sets the stage for what is likely to be a contentious showdown between state lawmakers at the General Assembly’s special session next week. The governor has repeatedly accused a Madigan-led coalition of House Democrats of holding up funds that would improve roads, schools and public transit.

“What are you supposed to do if you want to do right by the people? Give up? Shrug your shoulders and just blame, play the blame game, which politicians do all the time?” Blagojevich asked. “Or do you figure out creative ways to get around that system and get things done?”

Blagojevich and Madigan have traded barbs in recent months following a meltdown in the budget-drafting process in May. Since the adjournment of the General Assembly’s regular session, Madigan has sent House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) and House Deputy Majority Leader Gary Hannig (D-Litchfield) as his delegates to meetings with the governor in lieu of attending them himself.

“I think unfortunately there’s not a lot of trust in the governor among members of our caucus,” Currie said after the most recent capital bill discussion Thursday. “I think we’ve not seen the kind of strong leadership it takes to solve these problems to get the job done.”

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has attempted to maintain a neutral stance in the debate, but Blagojevich insisted Wednesday that Daley’s support in the capital funding initiative is both necessary and deserved.

“Chicago is one of the biggest winners in this capital construction program,” Blagojevich said. “We’re going to build a lot more schools in Chicago. The CTA and the RTA will get new trains and new buses and new tracks. It strengthens Mayor Daley’s bid for the Olympics in 2016. It helps him with his record $400 million budget deficit. He himself has said people are paying way too much in taxes.”

“This is a way to provide help to the city. He needs to stop saying he doesn’t want to get involved between Madigan and me.”