The trial of Antoin "Tony" Rezko couldn't have come at a worse time for Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

His administration is trying to push through his agenda, including an economic stimulus plan and a statewide construction program, before the Legislature's scheduled May 29 wrap-up. If lawmakers don't pass a budget by then, they'll head into overtime like they did last year when it stretched into a record session.

But the Rezko trial could make lawmakers less likely to work with the governor, said Republican Sen. Christine Radogno, of Lemont.

"Perception is reality and there is beginning to be an overwhelming perception that he's in deep, deep trouble, and that causes people to want to keep their distance, not to want to enter into deals with him," she said.

Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch dismissed suggestions that the trial would interfere with getting things done in Springfield.

"Those who suggest that resolutions can't be reached because of an unrelated court case are fishing for excuses," she said.

Democratic Sen. Rickey Hendon said it's not just Blagojevich's fault when things don't happen in Springfield.

"We have our own inertia," he said, although he acknowledges some lawmakers don't like Blagojevich, who often boasts about circumventing the Legislature and swipes at lawmakers who cross him.

"Governor Blagojevich already had frosty relations with the vast majority of legislators. I don't know how they could get any icier," said Mike Lawrence, head of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and a former press secretary for then-Republican Gov. Jim Edgar.

The fact that some people don't trust Blagojevich has very little to do with Rezko, Lawrence said.

But, he added, "I think it is reaffirmation for legislators that he's not someone they want to get close to."