Chicago Daily Observer

For the second time since last fall, a legislative panel threw a wrench Tuesday into Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s plan to expand health care access to 147,000 Illinoisans – an initiative he enacted even though lawmakers never approved it.

Later Tuesday, two Democratic members of the Illinois House of Representatives unveiled legislation they said would accomplish what the Democratic governor has said he wants to do by making more people eligible for the Family Care program. The legislation is House Bill 6297, sponsored by Reps. David Miller of Lynwood and John Fritchey of Chicago.

SPRINGFIELD – A Cook County judge is allowing Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to intervene as a third party in a lawsuit that challenges Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s authority to expand a government health-care program without lawmakers’ approval.

Opposing Blagojevich in the lawsuit are Riverside attorney Richard Caro, former Republican gubernatorial candidate Ronald Gidwitz and Greg Baise, president of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. They say the Democratic governor overstepped his authority by expanding a program the General Assembly did not fund.