Leadership in Illinois: Can We Impress Them for 2016?

As some in Illinois wait for a chance for our state to become both the attention and media center of the world -- which would happen if Chicago hosts the 2016 Olympic Games -- others are looking at the leadership of Illinois and wondering if we could/should trust our so-called "leaders" in years 2009, 2010, 2011, and following. And in 2016?

Oh, better include 2008 in the list. That's next year. Did I forget 2007?

Leadership in a state usually refers to political leadership. Not always, but most of the time. True, there are other significant leaders in addition to the politicians in power.

In a diverse and large state like Illinois, there is the business and financial leadership, the academic leadership, the medical leadership, even leadership in the athletic world but professional sports in Illinois seems to be at a low point right now.

But if political leadership is the typical standard, Illinois seems to be leaderless right now.

Our state legislature -- the elected Illinois General Assembly -- is unable to accomplish the tasks it is mandated to do. It has been unable to pass a state budget by the required May 31 deadline so now it requires a "super majority" of 60% of the legislators in each chamber of the General Assembly to enact a budget. As of today, they're not even close.

This is despite the fact that one party -- the Democrats this time -- are in complete control of all -- ALL -- branches of Illinois government. Every nook and cranny of Illinois government has a Democrat at the top.

This is not a slam at Illinois Democrats -- Illinois Republicans have failed when they've been in power, too -- but perhaps not as dramatically. Most elected Democrats in Illinois shake their head and nod in agreement: "This is a real mess."

Part of it -- a large part -- is because we have a governor who seems totally wrapped up in what will benefit him and his future (he's not thinking legacy yet).

Whether Rod Blagojevich has abandoned his earlier hopes to become President of the United States -- or simply put them on hold for now -- he steadfastly wants to remain in control. It might be control of a sinking ship but he wants to be at the helm.

Examples are easy to find. In addition to the failures of the General Assembly (which reflects on him as much as the legislative leadership), here's a typical example.

In a news story printed around Southern Illinois Sunday, it was revealed that Blagojevich has put a "gag order" on everyone not to talk about a proposed development in Southern Illinois "until he can announce it."

This is a report from Sunday's Bloomington Pantagraph:

Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration has ordered private developers not to talk about plans for a huge new resort near Pinckneyville until Blagojevich himself can announce it, sources say.

Some lawmakers who support the project say that public relations directive could be endangering the proposal.

“People have asked, ‘If these (developers) are credible, why don’t they answer the phone?’” said state Sen. David Luechtefeld, R-Okawville. He is among several lawmakers who say they learned late last week of the administration’s gag order, and now are pressing to have it lifted.

This lack of respect for the General Assembly is not new. Last week, Blagojevich complained about the General Assembly's work schedule during the overtime session while news outlets reported on his lack of regular attendance in Springfield and his frequent mid-day, mid-week jogging appearances near his Chicago home.

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Unfortunately, this is the view of Illinois that the world is seeing:

a state that is in political disarray, but a state that wants to host the 2016 Olympics.

This is a state in which the leaders of ONE party -- the controlling party -- cannot agree on major state issues but the governor can find time to sign a controversial bill into law because it has the backing of his buddies at the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (HB 1798, the "grief and sorrow" bill). It may not have been signed in record time, but it was close.

And this is a state that will have a referendum in November 2008 on the question of having a Constitutional Convention, or not.

Last week, the House passed a resolution -- barely, it was 48-47 -- in favor on Illinois calling a Constitutional Convention. The issue will be on the ballot in 2008, as is required by the 1970 Constitution.

A Constitutional Convention provides a rare opportunity to Illinois citizens (not necessarily politicians) to look at the state's Constitution (ours was drafted in 1970) and decide if any fundamental changes need to be made.

Do we need to take a new look? It's been 37 years and many things have changed. School funding, gambling, electronic communications ... all are issues that might need to be viewed with a 2008 (or 2010) eye, rather than the 1970 eye that produced the current document.

I was a reporter in 1970-71 and covered the Illinois Constitutional Convention. While political pressures were certainly involved, the delegates (non-legislators) were committed to drafting (and enacting) a good document for the State of Illinois. They succeeded.

There are some fundamental issues that ought to be revisited in a new constitutional convention, issues such as the best procedure for selecting judges in Illinois. There are others.

Unfortunately, the atmosphere of cooperation and progress of 1970 doesn't exist in Illinois in 2007 -- and is unlikely in 2008 or 2010. We have a governor who may still be in office and who makes no decision that doesn't seem to be benefiting his image. We have pressures by special interest groups that didn't exist in 1970. We have communications methods that weren't even imagined in 1970.

Yet we have a need for some serious change, for some serious reform, and if it doesn't happen -- or even have a chance to happen -- some of our "leaders" need to look in the mirror.

Click here to view the resolution calling for a constitutional convention.

Cross-posted at Illinois Justice Blog.