Gov. Rod Blagojevich and state legislators finally agreed on a proposed piece of legislation.
Due to recent controversies in the governor's office, a bill introduced by State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, would allow Illinois voters to recall state, executive branch officials - similar to the 2003 recall of California Gov. Gray Davis.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich has said he supported a measure that would recall elected officials even though Franks said the governor is his reason for proposing the bill.
If approved as Franks hopes, recall elections could begin in April 2009. The deadline for lawmakers to approve the bill is May 4.
Rebecca Rausch, a spokeswoman for the Governor's Press Office in Springfield, said the governor supports the measure even though Franks and Blagojevich have had quarrels in the past.
"(Blagojevich) thinks voters should be able to choose their leaders," she said.
Current recall procedures in Illinois require the House to approve an impeachment, and for the Senate to conduct a trial. The proposed measure would allow voters to submit a petition with a reason for recall to the secretary of state. Petitions must be signed by 12 percent of the number of votes the official in question received to take office.
State Rep. Mike Bost, R-Carbondale, said such a measure should be used on Blagojevich, who has been "out of control" during the first year of a second-term.
Rausch questioned Bost's comments because he is a "Republican trying to recall a Democratic governor."
Bost and other state lawmakers have criticized Blagojevich for carrying on with $500 million cuts from the 2008 operations budget to expand healthcare programs without approval from the legislation.
State Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, did not mention Blagojevich as a reason for the bill to become law, but said the governor was overstepping legal and legislative processes.
"I think that's why some of the actions of the administration have been so sensitive to people, even to the point that they would consider a recall," Bradley said.
The proposed measure would require an amendment to the Illinois Constitution. The bill needs 60 percent approval from the House and Senate, as well as a 50 percent approval rate from Illinois voters. Franks said he hopes the general assembly would approve the bill in time for the matter to appear on the public's ballot in November 2008.
Both Bradley and Bost said they wanted to give more power to the people who may believe they are stuck with a bad choice.
A similar bill exists in the Senate as well, said State Sen. David Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, who is a co-sponsor of the measure. Luechtefeld said neither of the bills is likely to pass due to Senate President Emil Jones', D-Chicago, close relationship with Blagojevich.
A spokeswoman from Jones' office said he does not release statements about legislation not in the Senate.
Barton Lorimor can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 274 or barton.lorimor@siude.com.
