With Governor Rod Blagojevich promising to excise what he considers “pork” from the state budget, Republican legislators and Democrat state representatives may only be able to get credit for good intentions.

Earlier, McHenry County Blog listed every line item that could be found in the budget with a McHenry County connection. These were grouped into social service agencies, municipalities, townships, libraries and miscellaneous.

In the first articles, I did not know that Republican state senators had included their earmarks in the budget. I thought they had just been put in a lump sum appropriation along with those of Democratic Party senators.

That’s the reason that the earlier articles featured State Representatives Mike Tryon, Jack Franks and Mark Beaubien and ignored the two state senators who represent McHenry County—Pam Althoff and Bill Peterson.

Now, Senator Althoff has shared her list of member initiatives. It totals $1.2 million.

News reports said that each state representative got $650,000 and each state senator $1.3 million.

Apparently, House Republican Leader Tom Cross reserved $50,000 from each of his member’s share and it sure looks like Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson took $100,000 from each of his member’s allocation.

Here is where she allocated her share of the district money:

• $250,000 to Crystal Lake for regional 911 Communications Dispatch
• $100,000 to Hebron for Police Station addition
• $250,000 to Algonquin for (Ted)Spella park design, engineering and construction
• $200,000 to Marengo for computer hardware and software upgrades/networking and backup
• $200,000 to Family Services for building and equipment costs
• $200,000 to Family Health Partnership for dental and medical equipment, prescription drug costs and laboratory testing costs

House Speaker Mike Madigan seems likely to call any motions filed to override gubernatorial vetoes, but Senator President Emil Jones has said he will not.

Such is the dictatorial power of Illinois’ legislative leaders.