Running on Empty II

So Governor Blagojevich thinks we should start a new medical benefits handout without paying the medical bills we have now.

So Governor Blagojevich thinks we should increase funding by $438 million in education without paying $495 million into our teachers retirement fund, for the second year in a row. (Ah, but the Chicago teachers pension fund gets fully funded this year.)

So Governor Blagojevich thinks we should increase funding for the discredited Hate Crime Commission, keeping on a member who actually promotes hate against Jews and gays, ignoring other members' resignations in protest.

So Governor Blagojevich thinks he should hand out pork to Democrat legislators and their ex-boyfriends while state debt balloons to an all-time high, essentially pushing Illinois into bankruptcy.

See previous post IlliniPundit here. Earlier Tribune story here. Sun Times story here. Tribune:

House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) engaged in a testy exchange symbolizing the debate over the state's financial stewardship that will be played out in the fall election between incumbent Democrat Rod Blagojevich and Republican challenger Judy Baar Topinka, the state treasurer.

"Has anybody in the Democratic Party thought about saying we ought to live within our means?" Cross railed as he threatened to pull his members from a noisy House floor where Democrats refused to listen. But Democrats contended the Republican arguments were specious, and Madigan said they had a right to decide whether to listen--or not.

After hours of debate, the 64-49 House vote on the roughly $56 billion all-funds budget fell entirely along partisan lines and reflected complaints from Republicans, the minority party in the legislature, that they were not part of the drafting process.

The budget plan moved to the Senate, where President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) had been prepared to act on it, declaring the package "a good blueprint" for his Democratic majority to take to voters. But Latino senators balked at the plan late Wednesday, and the Senate adjourned for the night. They contended the budget did not address their community's desire for more money for health care and education.

So there you have it. Governor Rod Blagojevich, running on empty.