* Yesterday, the Tribbies wrote…
Blagojevich also appeared to try to put some pressure back on Mayor Richard M. Daley, saying he’d discussed with Daley the idea of tapping into the city’s cash reserves from selling the Skyway as a way to stave off the Jan. 20 CTA cuts.
* I was out of the office yesterday afternoon when the guv’s office called to ask that I put up a “clarification.” I told them to send it to Paul, and this is what they wrote…
The Governor didn’t say he’d discussed with Daley the idea of tapping into the city’s cash reserves from selling the Skyway as a way to stave off the Jan. 20 CTA cuts. He said downstate lawmakers have been grumbling about how Mayor Daley keeps insisting the state should bail out the CTA and not tie it to funding for downstate infrastructure projects; but meanwhile the city of Chicago - which has millions in the bank from the Skyway deal - hasn’t stepped up to help meet the CTA’s needs.
* But then the Tribbies put this Blagojevich quote up on their website…
“Perhaps the mayor and I could do something unilaterally,” the governor said. “The mayor has $500 million in his budget from the Skyway. We’ve looked at some alternatives, if the legislature fails to act.”
* The mayor was not pleased, to say the least…
A Daley spokeswoman threw cold water on that idea, saying that spending the Skyway reserves could “jeopardize the city’s financial footing and credit rating.”
Jodi Kawada, Daley’s deputy press secretary, added that the CTA also provides service to 40 suburbs.
“Given the way public transportation is structured in Illinois, only Springfield has the ability to provide the long-term funding solution that is needed. No city or county can do that,” Kawada said.
* Meanwhile, talks continue on the transit/gaming/capital plans…
Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said there are still talks under way among legislative staffers, but he said there remains no agreement on the massive proposal, which could generate enough cash to bankroll a $20 billion-plus statewide construction program.
Brown described some of the talks as “circular,” meaning some of the same issues that have stymied progress throughout the year remain sticking points.
Among them are details on how money from the gambling expansion would be divvied up by lawmakers for use in local construction projects.
* But January 1 brings a new dynamic…
Postponing action until the calendar flips greatly alters the political dynamics of transit funding negotiations. Come the new year, it will take just a simple majority to pass legislation. If action was taken this year during a special session, a super-majority would be needed to approve a bill.
All of which means that Republicans, who had been actively involved in negotiations since June, would effectively lose their seat at the table. Democrats control both legislative chambers and the governor’s mansion, and they could provide all the necessary votes for passage of a bill.
That last line is a hoot. Don’t get too wrapped up in this simple majority stuff. The lowered passage bar means that the Republicans will be under pressure to reach a deal or get cut out. But the Democrats, particularly in the House, will want to put as many GOP votes on the gaming bill as possible, and the Repubs know this.