SPRINGFIELD - A key ally of Gov. Rod Blagojevich isn't planning to stop the governor from closing two dozen state parks and historic sites.

Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, said Thursday that he will not call senators back to town before Nov. 12, which is the first regularly scheduled day of the General Assembly's fall session.

"We intend to convene on our next scheduled date, which is Nov. 12," Jones spokeswoman Cindy Davidsmeyer said Thursday afternoon.

That date comes too late for the Democratic-controlled legislature to put the brakes on Blagojevich's plan to close facilities and lay off hundreds of workers as part of his ongoing fight with his political nemesis, House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago.

Blagojevich has set Oct. 1 as the doomsday for 13 of the state's historic sites, including Lincoln Log Cabin in Lerna, Bryant Cottage in Bement, David Davis Mansion in Bloomington and part of Blackhawk State Historic Site in Rock Island.

Workers already have been served layoff notices, and employees are preparing the sites to be locked up indefinitely.

The next deadline hits Nov. 1, when 11 state parks will be shuttered. Places such as Weldon Springs State Park near Clinton, Moraine View State Park near LeRoy, Wolf Creek State Park near Windsor and Hidden Springs State Forest near Strasburg will be closed.

Millions of dollars for other state programs also are in jeopardy, with up to 400 jobs on the chopping block, including employees who work with special-needs children, the developmentally disabled and recovering drug addicts.

The House, controlled by Madigan, voted Wednesday to pump money back into the state budget in an attempt to avert the cuts.

But the House plan needs Senate approval.

Davidsmeyer acknowledged that there had been discussions about returning to Springfield earlier than Nov. 12 but said a decision was made to stick with the original schedule based on what the Senate did last spring.

At that time, the Senate approved a plan to skim $530 million from a number of special state funds to help close the budget gap that has led to the state's financial woes.

"We did take the tough votes last May," Davidsmeyer said.

The plan approved Wednesday in the House would sweep about $220 million out of similar types of special funds.

Not all Senate Democrats want to wait until Nov. 12.

"I would like to come back next week and vote on whatever we can do," state Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, said Thursday. "If we can help some people, that's better than nothing."

"The funding should be restored, and those state parks should not close," said Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete.

Halvorson, who is running for Congress in Illinois' 11th District, decried the ongoing Democratic infighting that has dominated Blagojevich's tenure in office.

"We need the governor to work with the General Assembly to get things done and pass good legislation for the people of Illinois," Halvorson said.

State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, said people in his district are outraged about the governor's budget cuts.

"We should try to work toward a compromise," Jacobs said.

Republican senators called the situation "disgusting."

"(Jones) is ignoring the will of the people," said Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville.

"This is criminal what they are doing. It will take years to dig out of this," said state Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, whose district would see four historic sites shuttered, including three in Randolph County Fort de Chartres, Fort Kaskaskia and the Pierre Menard Home.

"The Senate needs to come back to town and act," added state Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, who has two historic sites and one park slated to close in his district.

kurt.erickson@lee.net|789-0865