SPRINGFIELD - The General Assembly passed a $54.4 billion budget Tuesday that may have also given Gov. Rod Blagojevich the advantage heading into the next election.

Following the budget vote, Blagojevich visited the House and Senate shaking hands and getting his photo taken with lawmakers. The governor had avoided a divisive overtime session. The legislature also passed medical malpractice reform and a rewrite of the state's workers compensation law.

"I think the highlights are substantial. It's very good for parents and children. It's a budget that is good for senior citizens," Blagojevich told reporters Tuesday evening. "It's a budget that is good for working families, for taxpayers, for business, for doctors and their patients."

Political watchers believe the budget was also good for Blagojevich's re-election.

"This is clearly pegged on the 2006 election," said Mike Lawrence, executive director for the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute located at Southern Illinois University. "They're wagering that the people of Illinois are not going to be concerned about the next generation."

The pension reform passed by the General Assembly in the closing days of the spring session took $820 million for this fiscal year. It also frees up $1 billion for the fiscal year 2007 budget, which will be negotiated during 2006 election cycle and a gubernatorial campaign. The GOP argued that the state can't use future savings to cover today's expenses.

The savings might diminish Blagojevich's problems in the fiscal 2007 budget talks and rob opponents of a campaign issue.

Potential GOP opponents have already attacked Blagojevich's management style as leading to continuing budget shortfalls.

State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, declared during his exploratory committee announcement: "Our current governor is not governing. He is not making the tough decisions that need to be made. Illinois will not survive another four years of neglect and non-engagement to issues critical to this state."

Lawrence noted silence from supporters of pension reform about what will happen in fiscal 2008.

The Democrat leadership's late-breaking decision to join forces also helped Blagojevich avoid another lengthy overtime session and take the heat off several scandals revealing connections between campaign contributors and lucrative state contracts.

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, shares the GOP's concerns about tapping into the state's pension system.

"The Republicans are complaining about the method of balancing the budget. That is a legitimate complaint," said Madigan, in an interview posted on the House Democrat Web site. "I would point out that the state is still in a fiscal difficulty."

However, Madigan argued there was little choice.

"In the meantime, there are local school districts that need support from this legislature. There are not-for-profit service providers that provide mental health services. They provide services for the developmentally disabled," he said. "All those agencies and all those people need support from the state government and that is what this budget provides."

The administration estimates the current reforms will save $30 billion over the next 40 years. Critics argue the pension deal is based on several assumptions.

"There is an assumption that future governors and future legislators are going to be fiscally responsible when it comes to pension for the next 40 years," Lawrence said. "That seems to be a stretch of an assumption when you look at the history."

Many believe that the major savings depends on the outcome of a task force consisting of lawmakers and the state's employee unions. The panel is expected to come back with a recommendation concerning future employee benefits.

Republicans remain pessimistic.

"I would like to think this task force would take it upon itself to be a little bit urgent in its actions," said state Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon. "I think that task force is kind of a showpiece. Hopefully, I will be proven wrong."

Matt Adrian can be reached at matt.adrian@;lee.net or 789-0865.