The Illinois legislature closed session for the year with all the wisdom and maturity of 4 year olds in daycare. By refusing to play nice and share toys, they killed an omnibus election bill that would have saved 800 city jobs. Mayor Daley was banking on approval for an improved retirement package for aging city workers. The mayor needs to cut payroll to stay within the city budget for 2004. Everyone (including those close to retiring and especially those in danger of being laid off) would prefer the better retirement deal to laying off younger employees.

The city's retirement buyout plan was tied up in the same bill as President Bush's Illinois election ballot eligibility (or lack thereof). I'd like to see Bush left off the ballot in all 50 states, but it's ridiculous to think that an election code technicality is going to keep an incumbent president off a state ballot. But then we've lived through Florida and the 2000 election so anything is possible. The issue in question is the Illinois election board's requirement that all candidates be certified by August 27. The Republican National Convention will not even begin until August 30.

State Democrats refused to overturn the election code provision unless Republicans agreed to waive thousands of dollars in ethics fines owed by Democrats. Neither side would agree to compromise, so the lawmakers went home pouting and pointing fingers. I don't understand why the city needs state approval to augment their compensation plans, but the issue is dead until the next session. The city must move forward with layoffs and workers who planned on retiring early will keep on working.

The pols all deserve coal in their stockings. Giving them a timeout obviously isn't working.

(Trib login: kegz03/kegz03)