Thursday, May 28, 2009

Your request is being processed... Senator Meeks To Chicago Aldermen: 'Don't Come See Me, I Ain't Got No Money'

I just wonder what this is about:
Illinois Sen. James Meeks told visiting Chicago aldermen not to come see him while they were in Springfield Wednesday, saying to the Windy City lawmakers there was nothing he could do for them or their wards.

"While I have this opportunity to speak to all of them at one time," Meeks said from the Senate floor, "don't come see me. I ain't got no money, I ain't got no influence. There's nothing I can do to help your Ward. Even my own aldermen, don't come see me."

Two Chicago aldermen, Freddrenna Lyle (6th) and Carrie Austin (34th), organized the trip to Springfield for five other aldermen and almost 40 constituents ostensibly to show supporters around the state capital but in reality to make their presence felt at a time when tough budget decisions are being made.
Soo this was reported at the Huffington Post as a sympton of Meeks frustration with the whole budget process. I wonder if this has been building for years after Ousted governor was re-elected in 2006. I understand that there's a lot of pressure on this budget as time is winding down on the current session of the General Assembly, but surely less than when Blago was Governor.

BTW, Our alderman had some comments to offer on Meek's comments:
Ald. Lyle told the Huffington Post that she and her party took the comment for what it was: a joke.

"We were laughing in the gallery," Lyle said. "He was what we call 'cracking' on the Republicans -- getting a dig in against them for holding up the budget. It wasn't, 'Don't come see me.'"

According to Dixon, none of the aldermen had come by Meeks' office Wednesday but Lyle said Meeks did speak with the group during lunch.
According to Meeks' spokesman Jessica Dixon no swipe was intended at the visiting Chicago aldermen.

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