Archive for December 12th, 2008
December 12th, 2008
I just received this news release from state Sen. Dave Syverson’s office:
State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) is expressing deep skepticism about Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s move to have the Illinois Supreme Court remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office.
Syverson agrees the governor should be removed, but says the best course of action would be through the impeachment process, which would give lawmakers the chance to closely investigate the charges against Blagojevich.
“To remove the governor the way the Attorney General wants to would put us down a slippery slope,” Syverson said. “To have the Supreme Court come in and summarily remove a sitting governor could set a dangerous precedent for the future. There’s no question the charges against Gov. Blagojevich are reprehensible and, if true, he doesn’t deserve to serve. But the better way to do it is through a comprehensive impeachment process where we can thoroughly consider the governor’s questionable actions.”
Rockford’s senator expressed skepticism as to why Madigan was pursuing the governor’s removal now, when his conduct throughout his administration has always been highly dubious.
“Since taking office in 2003, the governor has embarked on a pretty transparent policy of rewarding his political donors and allies with state contracts and jobs,” Syverson said. “Many lawmakers on my side of the aisle have been urging a closer scrutiny and investigation of the governor for years. It’s a little puzzling why Attorney General Madigan has waited so long to pursue the governor’s removal when his actions have been raising red flags since practically the day he took his hand off the Bible at his first swearing in.”
In other news, Syverson urged local residents to visit a new Web site, set up by the Senate Republican caucus, detailing the impeachment process and what it could mean for Illinois.
The Web site, which can be found at www.impeachment.senategop.net contains sections on the background and procedures for impeachment and trial, discusses the Illinois Constitution’s provisions for impeachment and looks at the Senate Rules adopted in 1832, the last time there was an impeachment trial in the Illinois Senate.
December 12th, 2008
The controversy that surrounds Gov. Rod Blagojevich makes you wonder what else might have been for sale, which brings me to one of my favorite topics: state parks.
After this week’s allegations, it would not be a stretch to think that the governor’s end game with closing state parks was to sell them. When I floated that theory to colleagues, they dismissed it, saying the public backlash would be too great for him to ignore.
He already ignored thousands of petition signatures, pleas from other lawmakers and rallies across the state. He’s ignored calls from the president-elect on down for him to resign, so it does not seem he can be pressured by his peers or the public to do the right things.
If you believe the charges against the governor, it also would explain why he’s been so slow to appoint a permanent director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Perhaps the bidding didn’t get high enough for him to replace Sam Flood, who has been acting director for about three years.
If Blagojevich resigns, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn could start the process of fixing the damage done to the DNR during the last six years.
December 12th, 2008
Everyone is wondering what Rod Blagojevich is going to do next. Seems like everyone but his wife and kids has asked that he step aside or resign.
I saw one headline that said the gov was trying to return to normalcy. Story said he was going to work at the Thompson Center and even might sign some bills.
Actually, that would not be normal for the gov. We all know he spends very little time in Springfield, but less widely known is that he spends little time in his Chicago office. He either works from home or from his campaign office, which isn’t too far from home.
Speculation is that the reason the gov is going to the Thompson Center now is that the feds did not bug his office there. Why? Because he’s never there. Blago figured that out so now he’s going to the office where he can rant and rave to his heart’s content without folks listening in on the lack of diversity in his language.
Don’t expect the gov to resign soon. Speculation around his resignation is that he may try to cut a deal to protect his wife from prosecution. Another theory out there is that he may yet appoint himself to the vacant Senate seat so he can buy himself some time. A story in today’s Tribune says the Senate may not be able to block a Blagojevich appointment.
If none of that happens, and it’s all a guessing game right now, impeachment looks like the best option to getting him out of office. I don’t think the Illinois Supreme Court will listen to Lisa Madigan’s case that the gov is unfit to serve.
Looks like Illinois will continue to be the butt of late-night jokes for a while.
