Senate is coming back for ethics vote. More in a few minutes.
* 2:04 pm - Statement of Senate President Emil Jones…
“I plan to call the Senate back into session to deal with the issue of ethics - only at the request of my friend Barack Obama. I still stand by our interpretation of the 15-day rule.”
No session date has yet been set, but the Senate has until Thursday to vote on the amendatory veto override and stay within the 15 day time limit that began when the House overrode the governor’s AV.
* 2:08 pm - I asked specifically if the somewhat vague statement means that the ethics bill veto override will be called for a vote and was told by Senate President Jones’ spokesperson that Jones has committed to the bill’s sponsor to allow an override vote to take place.
* 2:15 pm - From the Tribune…
Jones spokeswoman Cindy Davidsmeyer said other issues also are expected to be addressed next week but would not elaborate.
When they come back, they’ll also have to deal with the over veto overrides approved by the House. Plus, since they’ll be in session, they’ll have to deal with the governor’s vetoes of Senate bills - and that includes another ethics bill.
Also, there is huge pressure on the Senate to approve funding to keep state parks and historic sites open, and to restore money to slashed programs like alcohol and substance abuse services.
* 2:40 pm - From Gatehouse…
The governor announced today he’ll bring both the House and Senate into special session starting at 1 p.m. Monday.
Blagojevich’s statement announcing the session indicated he wants lawmakers to consider legislation that would “improve transparency in Springfield,” such as passing the major ethics rewrite he proposed last month.
“We have an opportunity to enact real ethics reform in Illinois that will cover all elected officials and help end the conflicts of interests that are inherent in Springfield politics,” Blagojevich said in a statement.
* 2:53 pm - Here’s the governor’s press release…
Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich will be
calling a special session on Monday, Sept. 22, in an
effort to bring real ethics reform to Illinois. The
governor will be asking the General Assembly to
consider legislation that would improve transparency
in Springfield.
“I am calling the House and the Senate back in to
address the issue of true ethics reform in the State
of Illinois,” Gov. Blagojevich said. “We have an
opportunity to enact real ethics reform in Illinois
that will cover all elected officials and help end
the conflicts of interests that are inherent in
Springfield politics.
I am asking the General Assembly to follow my lead
and ban the practice of “pay to play” politics and
then go a step further and bring about more reform by
banning the tradition of double dipping, revamping
the dishonest way pay raises are given out and by
shining a light on legislators who use their
influence to lobby before other boards and
commissions,” said Governor Blagojevich.
The Special Session will convene Sept. 22 at 1 p.m.
* 3:10 pm - As of right now, the secretary of state has not received any official notice of a special session from Gov. Blagojevich.
* 3:13 pm - Interesting…
[Jones spokesperson Cindy Davidsmeyer] said she did not know if Jones was aware of Blagojevich’s special session plans before they were announced. Quinn said Jones now doesn’t have to call the Senate back himself, but she didn’t know if the governor and Jones had talked plans before announcing them.
The Senate had not set a date and time to return next week because schedules with legislators were still being worked out. Davidsmeyer said it’s possible the Senate could take up ethics and other issues – including reversing budget cuts made by the governor – on Monday, “but that’s a lot to do in one day,” she said.