House Speaker Michael Madigan plans to call a Committee of the Whole on Thursday and has sent Gov. Blagojevich a snarky letter inviting him to speak.

Madigan wants to hold a vote on the governor’s lottery lease and pension obligation bond sale this week (Thursday’s special session topic is supposed to be pension fund reform, and those two items are being pushed by the guv to accomplish those goals). Despite unveiling the ideas months ago, the governor has yet to put any of his pension funding plans into bill form.

The Speaker also took a swipe at the governor’s absenteeism.

Newsworthy items are highlighted…

Dear Governor Blagojevich:

On Thursday, July 5, in response to your decision to call the General Assembly into a special session for the purpose of considering legislation related to the lease of the state Lottery and the issuance of new pension obligation bonds for the state retirement system, the House will convene itself into a Committee of the Whole.

The hearing will begin immediately after we come to order for the special session at 12:00 p.m. and will last as along as is necessary. We have asked a variety of organizations and individuals to participate in the hearing and share their views and expertise on these matters with the committee. We also extend an invitation to you and members of your administration to testify. It is our request that you stay for the duration of the hearing and that you and your representatives be fully prepared to answer detailed questions from members and other hearing participants whenever they may arise during the course of the proceedings.

Please know that we have selected the Committee of the Whole format specifically in response to repeated concerns that you have raised about the members’ level of participation in budget talks. We believe that this arrangement allows for maximum member involvement in the process. In addition, this setting will also afford the media the opportunity to directly observe the budget negotiation process firsthand, another accommodation in response to your requests that we are happy to make for you.

It is our intention that the House will take a roll call vote on your proposals to lease the Lottery and issue pension obligation bonds this week. It is, therefore, your responsibility to have the necessary legislation drafted and submitted to us in a timely fashion – no later than 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 5.

As you may remember, the House began work for the year on January 10, 2007. Between that date and today, we have met in session for 57 days – or more than 8 full, seven-day weeks. We also passed special legislation, PA 94-1108, to permit you an extra month to prepare your combined State of the State and budget address. Over the last six months, from the moment our members took office for the 95th General Assembly, and despite your general absence from the State Capitol during most of that time, they have remained ready and available to work with you for the purposes of crafting a Fiscal Year 2008 budget.

It would be helpful if your staff could furnish the committee with printed and electronic copies of any prepared testimony your administration plans to offer as well as exhibits or supplemental materials that you feel are helpful for understanding your positions on the lease of the Lottery and state pension issues.

If you have any questions, please call Mr. Tim Mapes at… Please forward to Mr. Mapes the names of those who, in addition to yourself, will speak on behalf of your administration. Your legislation should also be delivered to Mr. Mapes in Room 300 of the State Capitol. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday.

*** UPDATE *** Statement from the governor’s office in response to Madigan’s plan to convene a Committee of the Whole…

This is exactly the kind of dialogue and direct involvement from legislators we were hoping for by calling special sessions.

I kid you not.