* I wondered how long it would take before he used this line…
“I didn’t (give in). I vetoed it. I rewrote the bill,” [Gov. Blagojevich] said when asked if since he gave in on this tax increase he might do the same to get a capital construction bill passed.
* Yep. He vetoed the tax increase for mass transit. That’s the line we’re gonna here for the next three years. “I didn’t sign it, I vetoed it.”
And reporters will eventually give up because Rod Blagojevich was born on message. He’ll say it over and over until even he believes it [if he doesn’t already] and then will spend millions on TV ads with the same message. “I vetoed the tax hike.”
Never mind that he officially certified the tax increase bill and with that certification he made the tax increase the law of the land. He won’t admit that, you see, because tax hikes are wrong…
“My guess is (House) Speaker (Mike) Madigan is going to push another tax increase, and the worst thing you can do during a slowing economy or an economy that’s going into recession is add more burdens to people and raise more taxes on people,’’ Blagojevich said. “I would oppose that.”
Raising taxes is “the worst thing you can do” except when it isn’t. Or something. Whatever.
* And what about adding “more burdens” on people? Here’s more of what the governor said yesterday…
“I felt we should ease burdens on our seniors … and make it easier for you … for people who are seniors who are trying in the autumn years of their lives to get by.”
* Um, maybe the next time the governor goes on one of his statewide jaunts, he can visit Jacksonville…
Modern Care Nursing and Rehab Center in Jacksonville is closing its doors in 90 days because of financial difficulties related to delayed state aid payments.
No burdens added to any seniors there. Just a bunch of old people who will no longer have a place to live because your administration can’t manage a budget. Thanks, Rod, for saving so many seniors from “unnecessary burdens.” You’re the best. Smooches.
* PS: That’s a nifty new website you got there, bub.
* PSS: Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. Nice rhymes…
The first stop, a short statement at the annual PUSH Excel Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast, saw the governor break into a quick little poem.
“There were some dark clouds hovering over the CTA.
But those dark clouds have rolled away.
Now the sun is gonna shine
So you can get on the blue line, the brown line, the red line.
And everything will be just fine.”
* More stuff, compiled by Paul…
* Blago: Seniors should sign up
* Luck of the Irish and its proactive transit programs
* Illinois Democrats are bruised from months of infighting
*** UPDATE *** From the governor’s remarks in Peoria yesterday…
“Rosa Parks and the civil rights movement in a lot of respects began over a seat on a bus. And, uh, I’m here to talk about a different kind of way to get a seat on a bus. Not exactly Freedom Riders, but we would like to make those of you who are seniors have a chance to be able to ride for free.”
Oy.
Listen to the full statement here.