SPRINGFIELD - Much of the inaction lately in Springfield over lowering Illinois power bills or finishing a state budget can be traced to political conflict.

The often-harsh vocal sparring over controversial issues such as tax increases and gun control can often lead to new ideas and compromise.

Or it could end in gridlock.

"It's just chaos," said state Rep. Shane Cultra, R-Onarga. "It's basically just personality conflicts."

Fighting between Republicans and Democrats can be a problem.

But it arguably can be worse when members of the controlling party - Democrats in Illinois - argue with each other.

Here are some of the key conflicts in Springfield that are holding up a state budget.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich vs. Speaker Michael Madigan

The most public Springfield spat pits two powerful Chicago Democrats against one another.

Blagojevich has big ideas to pump more money into schools and expand health care. But Madigan says there is not enough support among both Democrats and Republicans for those ideas. He has sided more with Republicans in favoring a no-frills spending plan.

That disagreement has gone public with Blagojevich calling Madigan a "George Bush Republican" - a comment the chair of the state Democratic party doesn't appreciate. Madigan has consistently fired back, criticizing Blagojevich's leadership skills. Madigan said he had to act like a "father" to keep Blagojevich from losing his temper during a closed-door meeting.

Lawmakers vs. ComEd and Ameren

Madigan is among those negotiating with Illinois' two largest utility companies in trying to get them to voluntarily pay out about $1 billion in order to lower residential power bills.

Exelon, the parent company of ComEd, could end up paying a majority of the billion-dollar settlement, but details have been slow to emerge from closed-door talks lately.

Because of political tactics, this settlement almost certainly has to be finished before a spending plan can be approved.

Senate President Emil Jones vs. his fellow Democratic senators

In what was perhaps the shock of the spring session, Jones used a little-known parliamentary maneuver to kill part of the plan to cut Ameren and ComEd electric rates, even though a majority of senators had already voted "yes."

The plan's sponsor, state Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, was left stunned on the floor and unsure of what to do after a Jones lieutenant surprised him and others with the move.

Business groups vs. Blagojevich

This began as the toughest battle of the spring, with the governor wanting to hike taxes on businesses by $7.6 billion.

Business groups said the new tax would be devastating, but Blagojevich wanted to use the new money to support schools and expand health care.

Madigan and the House effectively killed that idea, though, so this round went to the business groups.

"That was seen in a bipartisan fashion," said state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington.

Blagojevich vs. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn

After running - and winning - on the same ticket in two straight elections, you might have thought Blagojevich and Quinn were close allies.

But this year, Quinn has lashed out at Blagojevich several times, criticizing a plan to tax business and saying the crisis over power bills should be solved before the state works on a budget.

mike.riopell@lee.net / (217) 789-0865