Governor keeps wasting time and money

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0702edit1jul02,1,7075600.story?coll=chi-opinionfront-hed

Editorial

Governor, here's how to lead

July 2, 2007

Surely it's painful to be Rod Blagojevich. You accomplish next to nothing for half a year while those FBI busybodies investigate your administration. You float an unprecedented taxing-and-spending plan only to have the Illinois House reject it -- by a less than ambiguous 107-0. You so spectacularly fail to broker a state budget with leaders of your own party that editorial writers -- testy when appalled -- start calling you the governor who can't govern.

Your solution?

Cast yourself in the role of bold hero! Call a special session of your General Assembly! Having wasted your legislature's time and your taxpayers' money for six months, demand that Springfield...waste more time and money!

How much? House Republican staffers calculate "the cost of Democratic infighting" at $22,125 a day -- that's a $125 per diem for each of 177 legislators -- plus $29,718 per week for their travel costs. (Need we note, Governor, that doesn't include the cost of your personal plane. Wheels up!)

Maybe that's small change to a politician accustomed to thinking in terms of Rezko Bucks. Still, it's state money that could go to unpaid Medicaid providers and other crying needs.

Sadly for you, Governor, we taxpayers have a ready comparison: all that Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan has accomplished while you've been...hey, Governor, don't those John Deere tractors down there look like little green ants?...

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