While The Economy Goes From Bad To Worse The Legislature Engages In Politics As Usual...

Do-nothing special legislative session called a 'sham'
By Kurt Erickson
kurt-erickson@lee.net
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SPRINGFIELD -- The question of the day for many state lawmakers Tuesday was: Why are we here? Called into special session by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, members of the House and Senate were directed to do something about the state’s school funding formula, which allows wide disparities in funding levels among the state’s 800-plus school districts.

But nearly everyone agreed the topic simply cannot be handled in a one-day, hours long session.

“It’s absurd,” said state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth. “We know we can’t accomplish anything.”

Mitchell was among those who were particularly bothered by the $40,000 cost of calling lawmakers back to town at a time when budget cuts have affected numerous parts of state government. The issue, instead, should be dealt with during the regular legislative session which runs from January until June, he said.

House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, slammed Blagojevich for calling the special session.

“Today is a joke. It’s a sham. It’s a farce,” Cross said.

If nothing else, the special session put a spotlight on an issue that has been percolating for years.

In recent weeks, state Sen. James Meeks, a Calumet City Democrat, has brought the disparities in school funding to the forefront again.

Meeks, pastor of a large Chicago church, is calling for Chicago Public School students to boycott the first day of classes next month to protest a lack of state funding. He made his pitch for a funding revamp to Senate Democrats Tuesday, but emerged angry that Blagojevich was spending more time at the state fairgrounds Tuesday than meeting with lawmakers.

“He did not call a special session to deal with cows. He called a special session to deal with kids,” Meeks said. “If his priority is cows rather than kids, I guess he proved that today.”

Blagojevich says he opposes getting rid of local property taxes as the primary funding source for schools. He also said he’d veto any tax increase for education.

“I’m not going to raise taxes on people,” Blagojevich told reporters on Friday.

To avoid having to raise taxes for schools, Blagojevich previously called for using money from selling the state lottery to finance schools.

But, he now wants to use those proceeds to pay for a $25 billion public works program.

At the Illinois State Fair Tuesday evening, Blagojevich expressed disappointment.

“It’s disappointing to see that all the lawmakers did was convene for about a half an hour -not many of them showed up -and that was their answer for education funding,” the governor said.