There is another reason - in addition to restoring budget cuts and saving jobs - that the Illinois Senate should be called into session before November: overriding Gov. Rod Blagojevich's amendatory veto of ethics reform legislation.

The so-called "pay-to-play" bill is intended to end the perception or practice of contractors having to "pay" through campaign donations to "play" in competing for state business.

A good, clean bill was passed in the House and Senate without a negative vote. But Blagojevich muddied the measure by tacking on additional and expanded requirements of questionable constitutionality.

The House answered those questions by rejecting them outright - overriding the veto on a 110-3 vote. But the Senate has no plans to return to Springfield before Nov. 12.

Depending on how one interprets the Illinois Constitution, Nov. 12 could be too late for the Senate to take action on the veto override. That would mean the bill would die - which many say was the governor's plan all along.

The Constitution says that after one chamber overrides a veto, it must "immediately" deliver it to the other chamber, which then must act "within 15 calendar days" for an override of the veto to take effect.

The Constitution plainly says "calendar days" - not days when the chamber is in session. However, a spokeswoman for Senate President Emil Jones, claims the 15-day countdown doesn't begin until the Senate reconvenes and accepts notification from the House.

Waiting for the Senate to be in session might be more logical, but that's not what the Constitution says - yet another example of why Illinois may need a Constitutional Convention.

Rather than risk killing ethics reform - rather than stand idly by as parks and historic sites are closed, state employees are laid off and essential services are curtailed - Jones should call the Senate back into session.

If Jones refuses, the governor should call them into special session. At least in this special session, there would be specific items awaiting action.

As for ethics reform, the various items tacked on by the governor through his amendatory veto are all addressed in five separate bills introduced by Rep. John Fritchey, D-Chicago.

The legislation, House Bills 6700-6704, covers expanding "pay-to-play" prohibitions to lawmakers and legislative candidates, requiring disclosure of lobbying activities by lawmakers, prohibiting "double-dipping" by lawmakers and changing the method for approval of pay raises.

These bills will allow full discussion and fine-tuning of these proposals - something lacking in the governor's amendatory veto.

Furthermore, by going through proper legislative channel, the bills negate the concern that the governor exceeded his constitutional authority.

The Senate should return to Springfield, override the governor's amendatory veto of ethics reform and address the budget crisis.