Recall, Recall, Recall

Add comment May 1st, 2008

Recall is poised to be the big news of the day here in Springfield today.

After stalling for days, the Senate on Tuesday acted on a proposed constitutional amendment to allow voters to recall unsatisfactory politicians. The background is here.

Of course, they opted against taking the House’s version of recall, and crafted their own.

Today, the Senate is expected to vote on the measure. If approved, it would then go to the House, which will likely have to stay in all weekend to make the mandated Sunday deadline for the proposed constitutional amendment to be on the November ballots. For recall to become a provision in the Illinois constitution, the measure must have get a three-fifths vote from the people.

Not all of the legislators (or reporters, mind you) were happy to hear they would have to work through the weekend. Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago, asked Madigan why recall was suddenly of such great importance in the House. He said topics such as school funding reform should outrank recall.

Madigan had this to say in response:

“This has become such a priority because of Governor Blagojevich.”

Read into that what you will. Everyone knows that Madigan controls the chamber’s business, yet he rejected the final recall bill when the House voted a few weeks back.

Stay tuned. We will update you as things develop.