House committee recommends impeachment
SPRINGFIELD — A state legislative committee unanimously voted today to recommend the Illinois House impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich based on allegations that he abused his powers and sold his office to enrich himself.
Minutes after the vote, House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) predicted the full House would impeach Blagojevich as soon as Friday, the first such action in state history.
A Blagojevich spokesman said the governor would not heed some lawmakers’ calls to resign before the full House votes. The spokesman said the governor was working in his Chicago office at the time of the vote but was not monitoring the impeachment panel hearing. Blagojevich left for home after 6 p.m.
Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, who stands to become governor if Blagojevich is removed from office, praised the committee vote.
“I think given the overwhelming evidence, it was pretty clear to anyone that this is what the people of Illinois wanted,” said Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn. “The committee did what the people of Illinois felt was appropriate and I hope that message gets through to Gov. Blagojevich.”
Quinn said Blagojevich should look to history and do the right thing.
“When this happened in 1974 to President Nixon, he voluntarily resigned. I know the governor is a student of history, and now is the time for him to step aside.”
The vote by the special House Investigative Committee was 21-0. A vote by the full House to send articles of impeachment to the Illinois Senate is expected on Friday.
“This is a very sad day in the state of Illinois,” said Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, the Chicago Democrat who chaired the impeachment panel, calling Blagojevich “an individual who is not fit to be the governor of the state of Illinois.”
Rep. Bill Black (R-Danville) countered: “I don’t think this is a sad day for Illinois,” he said. “I think this is a good, glad happy day for Illinois…It points out nobody is above the law….There have been egregious abuses if half of what we see is true….Enough is enough. No more.”
The committee based its vote on a lengthy report detailing a litany of alleged abuses of the governor’s power. The list includes Blagojevich expanding health care without legislative approval, spending state money on useless flu vaccines, refusing to release federal subpoenas and other government information to the public, widespread hiring abuses and pay-to-play activities in which big contributors often wound up with hefty state contracts.
It also restates the federal charges against Blagojevich, including the allegation that he sought to peddle the U.S. Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama in exchange for a Cabinet post, an ambassadorship or a high-paying private job for himself or his wife.
Committee members noted that the governor refused to appear before them to rebut any of the allegations involving his conduct or the federal criminal charges.
The vote came after former Illinois Atty. Gen. Roland Burris’ pick to succeed Obama in the U.S. Senate, testified for more than an hour. Committee members asked Burris how Blagojevich came to appoint him and Burris related the story, saying there was no quid pro quo involved.
“I feel I passed the test with flying colors,” Burris told reporters after his testimony. “I have nothing to hide.”
Under questioning, Burris also said he approached lobbyist Lon Monk, Blagojevich’s former chief of staff, in July or September to talk about lobbying business and to mention his interest in the Senate seat should Obama win the presidency.
Asked later if he felt odd doing so, given that Monk had been part of an administration under investigation, Burris replied, “No.”
Burris said he had “no idea” if Monk passed on his Senate seat desire to Blagojevich.
Burris continues to try to convince U.S. Senate Democratic leaders to seat him, but they offered a non-commital response following Burris’ testimony.
“Now that Mr. Burris has testified, we will review his testimony and discuss how to move forward,” said Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He declined to offer any appraisal of Burris’ performance.
During his testimony, Burris brushed aside questions about whether Blagojevich should resign and whether a special election should be held to fill the Senate post to which he’s been appointed.
Check for updates on the Tribune’s Clout Street blog. Here is the committee’s resolution.
–Ray Long, Rick Pearson and Monique Garcia
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