'I was for that, and I'm still for that' (IL Gov. Blagojevich does a John Kerry)

Daily Herald ^ | February 18, 2005 | Eric Krol

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

Gov. Rod Blagojevich denied Thursday that he's breaking a campaign pledge to devote 51 percent of new state revenue to education because he says he never made such a pledge in the first place.

But Blagojevich's own 2002 campaign education plan specifically spelled out such a pledge, stating he would "commit 51 percent of new revenues to the classroom every year (and codify that pledge into law)."

When asked about the pledge while meeting with the Daily Herald editorial board, Blagojevich said, "The word 'pledge' conjures up to me, you know, did you sign a pledge, did you promise to make a pledge, no tax pledge, those sorts of things."

"I campaigned on committing 51 percent of new revenue into schools. I was for that, and am still for that," Blagojevich said. "I don't want to get into a semantics game, but that's sort of the way I took the question."

Then-candidate Blagojevich also was quoted in numerous 2002 articles making such a pledge. "One way that I plan to increase funding for our schools is by not only continuing Gov. (George) Ryan's commitment to direct 51 percent of new revenues to education funding, but to codify that promise into law," Blagojevich is quoted in a Peoria Journal Star endorsement.

The discrepancy is key because critics say Blagojevich is breaking his pledge by devoting only $140 million more to education this year when new state revenues are expected to be $500 million. The suburbs are not expected to get much, if any, of that increase.

Blagojevich counters that overall, if his budget is enacted, he will have met his goal of devoting 51 percent of new state revenue to education.

Beyond education, Blagojevich also said he doesn't see how gambling expansion that meets his approval will ever pass.

The governor pointed out that while he might like to put a new casino near O'Hare International Airport or in downtown Chicago, other lawmakers would want to add even more casinos in Waukegan, the South suburbs and Rockford, thereby killing any deal as too much gambling expansion, in his view.

The governor outlined a $53 billion spending plan Wednesday that relies on major pension reform to balance the budget and a 75-cent-a-pack cigarette tax increase to fund new schools and roads. Republican lawmakers heavily criticized the pension plan while Democratic Senate President Emil Jones of Chicago said he wouldn't even call the cigarette tax for a vote, casting the fate of both into doubt.

When asked how he'll resurrect his budget proposal, Blagojevich responded that lawmakers will have to come up with a revenue source if they want the projects for their districts. And the governor said that as fiscal conservatives, Republican lawmakers should be the primary supporters of his pension plan, since it would cut costs.

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

Rod Blagojevich, D-IL

And this guy actually thinks he can run for president in 2008

[jp3]

not with that name....

[msnimje]

I have blogs on the brain, I thought his name was "Blogavich"

[Graybeard58]

The absolute worst governor we have ever had. I hope he never holds another office locally or nationally.

I've got a sweet deal now. No tax on my retirement pay - he wants to tax it.

He wants to tax trucking companies right out of the state. New taxes on cigarettes, higher license and user fees.

I had to go to the license bureau today and was talking to an older employee and she tells me they can't stand him either.