From The State Journal-Register, 7/3/01:

This isn't how it's supposed to work

WHAT'S THE difference between the Illinois legislative process and sausage-making?

Sausage-makers have a much better idea exactly what goes into their product.

The disclosure that there never was money officially earmarked in the new state budget for the purchase of the Farnsworth House in suburban Plano once again puts a spotlight on the end-of-year dealmaking under the dome. And it sure doesn't look remotely like the way they described it in civics class.

THE ACKNOWLEDGED reality is that the major arm-wrestling over the $53 billion state budget is done by small group of state officials: Gov. George Ryan, Senate President James "Pate" Philip, Senate Democrat Leader Emil Jones, House Speaker Michael Madigan and House GOP Leader Lee Daniels.

Only the governor has been elected by a majority of Illinois voters. The others are elected by voters in their legislative districts and otherwise thrust into power by their political parties.

As the Farnsworth "oops" shows, the final dickering and decisions come in an atmosphere so frenzied and frenetic that a lapse of $7 million scarcely generates a shrug. The average Joe takes considerably more care passing the correct change up and down rows at the ballpark than these guys do with the billions in taxpayer dollars entrusted to their care.

IT IS TOO BAD the budget agreement meeting wasn't held in the glass-walled Farnsworth House, where the citizenry could watch. For then we might know where, exactly, the leaders and the governor decided to get the money for the purchase from a budget that was already stretched as tight as a twin sheet on a king-sized bed.

What apparently will happen now is that some legislators will be strong-armed into turning over the promised millions for this purchase, instead of the discretionary projects on their local priority list. Either that or several state agencies will suddenly find themselves a few million short next year.

WE SUPPORTED the state purchase of the Farnsworth House and we still do. We were persuaded that the house represents an important piece of architectural history, and that the state should move swiftly to ensure this one-of-a-kind Mies van der Rohe treasure remains in Illinois and open to the public for all time.

But we're once again disappointed that the trade-offs needed to make that purchase weren't figured out ahead of time so the affected lawmakers and agencies could have their say as well.

Disappointed, but not in the least surprised.