EUREKA - Colleen Callahan was outnumbered in many ways Friday at the first legislative farm issues meeting for the Woodford County Farm Bureau.

Callahan, who today will formally announce her Democratic bid to replace Peoria Republican and 18th District U.S. Rep. Ray Lahood, appeared with five Republicans, including State Rep. Aaron Schock, her opponent in the November election.

While Callahan and Schock spoke mostly in generalities and asked for support this fall, Republicans Dale Risinger and David Leitch of Peoria, Keith Sommer of Morton and Dan Rutherford of Pontiac blasted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich for what they called irresponsible fiscal policies.

"We are in a financial bind, you know that," Sommer said. "The governor is trying to expand programs and is limiting what funding goes to other needed programs.

"The atmosphere in Springfield is not good."

Rutherford said what is needed is to "bridle back the administration on new programs until we can pay for what we have."

Leitch said the state already spends half the general fund on Medicaid, pension and debt.

"We're already under water by $1.8 billion in Medicaid," he said. He said there is more than $52 billion in unfunded liability and debt has grown to $22 billion from $7 billion under Blagojevich.

Risinger said of the Democratic rift in leadership: "One party controls it all and they can't work together."

That prompted Schock to comment that while he is sometimes criticized for his age, "We need a little adult supervision in Springfield."

Leitch echoed the Farm Bureau's position against holding a possible Constitutional Convention.

"Under no circumstances do we want those rascals rewriting the Constitution," Leitch said.