A resolution has been filed in the Illinois House of Representatives to commence impeachment proceedings against Gov. Rod Blagoyevich. House Speaker Mike Madigan has chosen his Majority Leader, Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago), to chair the special committee. A former state representative, Illinois Appellate Court Judge Alan Greiman, will serve as the committee's counsel. Greiman served in the House leadership during the period I worked for the Illinois legislature back in the 1980s. He was a portly man in those days and quite cantankerous. The 21-member impeachment committee will consist of 12 Democrats and 9 Republicans. The House is currently in session to debate the resolution. You can listen live to the debate by clicking here.
UPDATE: Legislation establishing a special election to replace Obama is being put on the back burner by House Speaker Mike Madigan. The House will adjourn tonight without taking action on the legislation. This decision has irked the House Republicans. Members showed up for the special session today with the expectation the House would act on the special election legislation. Divisions in the Democratic caucus on the question led the Speaker to drop those legislative efforts for now. It looks like the special committee to impeach the governor will be working every day, including weekends, if necessary, to complete its work before the conclusion of the current legislative session in January.
2 comments:
A special election will cost the voters of Illinois $45-50 Million. Do the Republicans seriously want to justify that cost so that they might possibly take a Senate seat?
The impeachment (or resignation) should happen quickly and the new governor will fulfill his constitutional duty, without additional cost and without changing the rules mid-stream.
See my post above. There is already an election scheduled statewide next year for municipal/township elections.
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