ByKURTERICKSON - H&R Springfield Bureau Chief

There is a certain sad irony in the gnashing of teeth and outrage being expressed by lawmakers and the people they represent over Gov. Rod Blagojevich's decision to close state parks and historic sites.

Back in the spring, the House and Senate sent the governor a budget that lawmakers admitted was out of whack.

The advice of Democrats in the House to the Democratic governor: Manage it. Figure it out. Make it work.

So the governor did. He slashed $1.4 billion in spending. His plan to close two dozen state parks and historic sites represents just a fraction of what's being cut.

For example, he used his powers to cut dollars that are supposed to help fund drug treatment and mental health services for thousands of Illinoisans.

There is little doubt that much of what Blagojevich has put on the chopping block is designed to inflict political pain and inflame the masses.

But, in the words of Democrats in the House, he's managing the budget.

Blagojevich played the hand that was dealt to him, and now the dealer is crying foul.

Parks cuts

Nonetheless, it shouldn't be any wonder the governor targeted a smattering of state parks when he made his cuts. He's a Chicago guy who put a bull's eye on the back of the Department of Natural Resources the day he took office in 2003.

He probably doesn't know why anyone enjoys the outdoors. There are bugs and dirt and no air conditioning.

When the governor thinks of a river, we're guessing he envisions the Chicago Sanitary Shipping Canal, which carries Chicago's treated sewage away from the city.

He doesn't think about camping. He thinks about campaigning.

For Blagojevich, a hike is that thing he does when he gets out of his black SUV and ducks in the rear loading dock door of the Capitol to avoid answering questions.

Perhaps the same could be said of Blagojevich's closest political ally, Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago.

Jones has the chance to stop the closing of state parks and historic sites, but as of Friday, he wasn't planning to stand in Blagojevich's way.

Republican viewpoint

"What's going on here is the epitome of the failure of the Democrats to take care of the pressing needs of the state." - State Rep. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon.

Who's next

State Rep. Kurt Granberg, D-Carlyle, is apparently next in line to oversee the budget-ravaged Natural Resources Department.

Granberg, who is retiring from his seat in the House in January, is expected to take over for Natural Resources chief Sam Flood, who was installed as interim caretaker after former state Rep. Joel Brunsvold, D-Milan, quit as head of the agency a few years back.

Granberg, who had hoped to become director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development, is expected to push Natural Resources toward a more economic development-minded mission.

For example, he's working to create a golf trail in Southern Illinois in hopes of mirroring the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama.

The idea behind the golf trail is to draw visitors to the region for overnight stays. Golfers play one course, go to dinner and then their hotel, then move to another course, and so on.

Granberg is talking about trying to combine some of the golf trail aspects with the region's many wineries.

Last but not least, if the appointment pans out, Granberg also will be in line for a steep bump in his pension.

Leasing the lottery

Lost in the rush to approve a plan to lease the state lottery to pay for a statewide construction program were comments from Anita Bedell, arch foe of all things gambling-related in Illinois.

Bedell, of the Springfield-based Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems, told a House committee last week that leasing the lottery to a private vendor could open the door for them to crank up their marketing efforts beyond what the state-run lottery currently does.

Bedell believes a private vendor might take its efforts to boost sales a step further than the state would, since the company would be answering to stockholders, rather than taxpayers.

As an example, she said the current lottery already straddles the line of decency with its Halloween-themed scratch-off cards featuring different brands of candy.

The games are targeting youngsters, she said.

"I mean how many adults eat Milk Duds?" Bedell said.

kurt.erickson@lee.net|789-0865