It's hard to take any speculation about the length of the current legislative session very seriously. Quite frankly, no one really knows when lawmakers are going to stop chasing their tails, approve a budget and scoot out of town.

State Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, suggested that things could be wrapped up by this weekend.

State Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said the General Assembly would be stuck in the Statehouse well into September.

And, House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, sounded like he was joking last week when he said lawmakers might be here in December.

Maybe he wasn't being silly.

In other words, no one really knows when they'll figure out a way to end the stalemate over the budget.

But many have opinions on who's to blame.

State Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, joined fellow Republicans in criticizing Democrats for the record-breaking impasse.

"Is this what your people, your constituents, have elected you to do?" Bost said. "You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. You ought to get off your duffs and actually get something done."

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, continued his ongoing and often withering criticism of fellow Democrat Rod Blagojevich.

"The governor's style of leadership is designed to tear people apart, not to bring people together," Madigan said.

Madigan later said political conflicts must stop in order for a budget deal to come together.

"We need to stop the name calling," he said. "We need to stop the divisive tactics."

Couldn't agree more

It sure has been fun being stuck in the Capitol with a bunch of feisty politicians all summer.

We asked one of them to describe how he thinks the folks back home view the circus.

"It makes everyone in this business look bad. People are just sick of it," said state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth. "I think the General Assembly's reputation is just tarnished."

No cake, no candles

For the record, there are occasional breaks in the bitterness that permeates the Capitol.

On Thursday, a Senate committee broke into a friendly version of "Happy Birthday" before launching into a debate over the contentious electric rate relief plan.

The recipient of the birthday wish: Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville.

"I've never been here before on my birthday," said Watson, who has been a lawmaker for the past 28 of his 62 years.

No sticker shock

If anyone has any doubt that the pain of electric rate hikes hit Ameren customers more than ComEd customers, one need look no further than the electric bill at state Sen. Brad Burzynski's office.

According to state campaign finance records, the Republican from Clare reported sending ComEd $92.88 for his February electric bill. A year earlier, his bill for his campaign office was $91.32.

His March office bill was $83.38. In March 2006, his bill was $86.65. Burzynski's bill for June was $146.52 versus his June 2006 bill of $160.69.

Low-key lawmaker remembered

When Jay Ackerman retired in 1998 after two separate stints as a state lawmaker, he was remembered as a quiet lawmaker who represented the interests of his constituents in Woodford and Tazewell counties.

The Morton Republican's departure elicited a memorable quote from the late state Sen. Robert Madigan, R-Lincoln:

"I think I'm low-key until I get around Jay. He makes me feel rabid," Madigan told me back then.

Ackerman, 73, died last Monday after the tractor he was riding on went into a lake and overturned in three feet of water.

He was remembered by his colleagues on the House floor Tuesday with a moment of silence.

KURT ERICKSON heads the Lee Enterprises Springfield Bureau that provides Statehouse coverage for The Southern and its sister newspapers; he be reached at kurt.ericksonheads the Lee Enterprises Springfield Bureau that provides Statehouse coverage for The Southern and its sister newspapers; he be reached at kurt.erickson@lee.net or (217) 789-0865.