Governor: Madigan Presides Over House of Pain

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Governor Blagojevich has already said the budget passed in Springfield leaves the state 2 billion dollars short - and now he's called the general assembly into special session a week from today to try again.

The governor says he won't sign the budget bill as it exists.

"That would be like me signing a check that I know is going to bounce," he said.

So he wants the general assembly to go back to work July 9 and 10 - urging the House to pass revenue measures already passed by the Senate, like a capital plan.

But Blagojevich says that, based on comments House Speaker Michael Madigan has made to some reporters, Madigan supports an income tax increase.

"If it's Speaker Madigan's intention to raise the income tax and inflict more pain on the people, then I think it's fair to say he's presiding over a house of pain. And if he's going to put that kind of pain on the people, at least have the honesty to be straight with them and say that's exactly what you're going to do."

Newsradio 780 is trying to reach a spokesman for House Speaker Madigan for reaction.

Governor Blagojevich called talk in the House about a potential move toward impeaching him a "sideshow."

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