SPRINGFIELD - Against the backdrop of looming budget problems, Gov. Rod Blagojevich resumed his push Wednesday for an expensive expansion of state health care programs.

Lawmakers pushed back, however, saying they still aren't confident the state has enough money to bankroll the governor's plan.

The latest dust-up came on the unofficial first day of the 2008 legislative session, signaling another potentially contentious year for state government.

Blagojevich is seeking approval of his health care expansion plan from a bipartisan panel of lawmakers.

But members of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules said they wanted first to hear the governor's budget address, which is scheduled for Wednesday. In a unanimous vote, the panel said it wouldn't act on the expansion plan until Feb. 26.

That drew complaints from Department of Healthcare and Family Services Director Barry Maram, who is the governor's point man on health insurance matters.

"We feel this is a very imperative issue," Maram said, arguing the plan should be given a green light.

State Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, who is a member of the panel, said the administration was being "very unreasonable" by not agreeing to what amounts to a delay of less than two weeks.

Rutherford warned that if the governor's office proceeds to implement the program without legislative approval, it could result in a lawsuit.

Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch attempted to quell the latest flare-up, saying the administration hopes to convince the panel to approve the plan when it meets later this month.

"We look forward to working with the members," Rausch said.

The governor wants to add 147,000 Illinoisans to the state's taxpayer-backed health care programs.

But the state already is months behind in paying its bills for existing health care services. Comptroller Dan Hynes is warning that the state faces an even tougher budget road this year because of a national economic downturn.

Kurt Erickson can be reached at kurt.erickson@lee.net or 789-0865. Mike Riopell and Kartikay Mehrotra contributed to this report.