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Quinn: Too early to talk about impeachment of Blagojevich
By Kurt Erickson
kurt.erickson@lee.net
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SPRINGFIELD -- Despite allegations of potential wrongdoing, it’s too early to launch impeachment proceedings against Gov. Rod Blagojevich, his running mate said Tuesday.

As talk of impeachment echoes through the Statehouse, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said he’d rather see the state Senate give voters the opportunity to recall elected officials.

“I think its time to trust the people,” Quinn said.

The Democrat-controlled Senate took a step Tuesday toward voting on a recall provision later this week, but it remains unclear whether the General Assembly will be able to move quickly enough to get the proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

The deadline to get the matter on the ballot is Sunday. Lawmakers aren’t scheduled to be in session over the weekend, but have signaled they may stay in town in order to make sure they aren’t blamed for killing the recall effort.

“It is by no means a sure thing,” said state Sen. Christine Radogno, R-Lemont.

Although supporters say the recall proposal is not specifically designed to oust Blagojevich, it has gained support at the same time the governor has been dogged by allegations of corruption.

Talk of impeachment heated up last week after Ali Ata, a former administration official, pleaded guilty as part of a federal corruption case. Ata said he got his state job in exchange for donating large sums to Blagojevich’s campaign.

“That changed the whole landscape down here,” said state Rep. John Fritchey, D-Chicago, who is at the forefront of impeachment talk.

Fritchey said he hasn’t decided whether to move forward with an impeachment procedure. But, he said, “It’s getting there.”

Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said impeachment is being discussed to distract voters from the failure of lawmakers to approve major initiatives.

Rausch said Illinoisans want the General Assembly to stop bickering and instead deal with issues such as a statewide construction program.

“They are tired of political gridlock. They want some action,” Rausch said.

Quinn said it is too early to pursue impeachment.

“I think that’s all premature,” Quinn said.

The House last actively dealt with impeachment in 1997, when former Illinois Supreme Court Justice James Heiple was put in the political crosshairs.

Heiple gained notoriety for writing a controversial opinion in a high-profile adoption case. But, it was his alleged conduct during four Central Illinois traffic stops that got him in hot legislative water.

The Illinois House voted to form a committee to investigate whether to move forward with impeachment proceedings. But, that committee ultimately voted 8-2 against pursuing Heiple’s impeachment.

State Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, was on that committee. He voted to not proceed with the impeachment, saying the allegations against Heiple did not rise to the level of having a full-blown Senate impeachment trial against the jurist.

Like Quinn, Rutherford also doesn’t believe allegations against Blagojevich have risen to the level of launching an impeachment probe.

In Heiple’s case, there was already a legal sanction against the judge in connection with the traffic stops.

“That has not happened to Blagojevich,” Rutherford said.

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Reader comments on this story - 11 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

OGS wrote on Apr 30, 2008 9:51 PM:

" IMPEACH! It's not too early, but if we wait any longer, it could be too late. Impeach, impeach, impeach! "

Gov't oppressed Mule wrote on Apr 30, 2008 10:41 AM:

" TO: MEH

What about Oberweiss? Here we have an HONEST man who refused to take any corporate funding. This level of honesty is something we haven't seen in a long time, yet due to the fact that in a smaller election (like governor) not accepting corporate funds severely cuts your advertising budget and no one had heard of the guy. Let's pass campaign reform laws outlawing companies to contribute to campaigns, it MIGHT just slow some of the corruption we've been experiencing. "

lizzie wrote on Apr 30, 2008 8:12 AM:

" I don't think impeachment is the answer. I like the idea of a recall. "

pseudo-intellectual wrote on Apr 30, 2008 6:34 AM:

" Has someone gotten to Mr. Quinn? He was practically the only person in the State who seemed to have any guts. Maybe that was wishful thinking... as is the notion that we have a democracy in Illinois. "

Meh wrote on Apr 30, 2008 6:10 AM:

" Impeachment is worthless unless there's an alternative candidate. All the Republicans have offered lately is a George Ryan crony. So who will it be? "

Zeva wrote on Apr 30, 2008 1:05 AM:

" What ever happened with men that had guts to do things? Why are they all so scared? Does this go deeper than we know and they are afraid things will come out about them? I don't know how much more one or more people can do that won't come under impeachment. Let these crooks know that the people of Illinois are tired of no jobs to support their families, but the money flows for the lawmakers and gov., what's wrong with this picture? "

The Original JD wrote on Apr 29, 2008 11:50 PM:

" How much damage does one have to do to be empeached? Is not constantly attempting to circumvent constitutional division of powers, and over stepping the powers granted to the governer enough? How about mismanagement of budget funds? Face it, this guy needs to go. He is doing nothing but dragging the state deeper into corruption, poverty, and ignorance. "

Occam wrote on Apr 29, 2008 11:25 PM:

" Mere window dressing for public consumption -- nothing will ever come of this. It's truly a shame how this wonderful state of ours continues to circle the drain. The culture of incompetence and corruption in leadership has become so ingrained in Illinois politics over the years that we'll never be rid of it. "

noogie wrote on Apr 29, 2008 10:00 PM:

" um, not it's not too early. It should be done now! "

Houser wrote on Apr 29, 2008 10:00 PM:

" Illinois has proven itself to be the most corrupt state in the nation. No other state has a machine more corrupt than Chicago, and no other state has had so many Governors imprisoned. Doesn't it make you proud? "

Not so Political wrote on Apr 29, 2008 9:26 PM:

" I have two questions, why are people trying to impeach or get rid of Blow when they never tried to rid the state of G. Ryan? Is it because Blow is not kissing up as well to the Chicago Company or what? "
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