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Recall plan fails in Senate

Measure to put issue on ballot falls three votes short of passage

May 2, 2008

Springfield Journal Register

Adriana Colindres

Illinois voters won’t get a chance this fall to decide if they want the power to throw out Gov. Rod Blagojevich or any other elected official with whom they’re dissatisfied.

A proposed constitutional amendment that would have put the recall question on Nov. 4 ballot fell three votes short of passage in the state Senate on Thursday. The Illinois Constitution presently does not provide for recalling elected officials.

The Senate roll call was 33-19 in favor of the amendment, but 36 “yes” votes were needed to send the measure to the House of Representatives.

Republican senators offered to work through the weekend to pursue an alternate recall proposal that would have applied to a smaller pool of elected officials, but that offer wasn’t accepted. Shortly after failing to muster enough votes for Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 70, the Democrat-controlled Senate adjourned until Wednesday.

That effectively kills any chance for the legislature to put a recall proposal on general election ballots this fall because Sunday is the deadline for the General Assembly to act.

As a result, at least one lawmaker expects to take a closer look at the possibility of impeaching the governor. The same legislator, Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, also thinks that voters are more likely to call for a state constitutional convention when they’re asked about the subject in the fall.

At various times this year, lawmakers considered two recall plans. The House in early April approved House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 28, sponsored by Franks, which would have permitted recalling top statewide officials and members of the legislature. It never came up for a Senate vote.

The measure the Senate voted on Thursday had surfaced earlier this week. Wider ranging than the House plan, the Senate proposal also would have applied to judges and local elected officials. In addition, it would have required recalling a governor and lieutenant governor together.

Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, was among the senators who opposed the recall plan on Thursday.

“My biggest concern was for local officials,” Sullivan said. “I know how difficult it is to get people to run for alderman and for city council and for mayors. This would have created a situation, in my opinion, that would have made that even more difficult.”

Sen. Deanna Demuzio, D-Carlinville, also voted “no” and echoed Sullivan’s comments, saying: “Who would want to take on the responsibilities of running for a local municipality or city in rural Illinois?”

Sen. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria, supported the proposal to ask voters about recall.

“I think it’s an embarrassment to the Democratic party that recall is even being discussed now,” Risinger said. “The only reason it’s being discussed is because the people of the state of Illinois are disgusted with the governor.”

Franks said he was disappointed with the Senate vote.

“I just don’t think we got a fair shot by the Senate leadership,” he said. “They were doing everything they could to kill it.”

During floor debate on the recall proposal, Senate President Emil Jones — a Blagojevich ally — said he thinks recall is a bad idea.

The legislature should be dealing with “critical issues” such as education and health care, “instead of playing games about recall,” Jones said.

Franks accused the governor’s office of working against the recall proposal even though Blagojevich took a public stance of supporting it.

Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said she didn’t know what Franks was talking about. The governor is focused on other issues, particularly on getting a capital program passed, she said.

Franks said he expects the outcome in the Senate will affect voters’ decision this fall on whether Illinois should have a constitutional convention. That question is put to voters at least once every 20 years.

“I think as a result, a lot of people are going to be voting for a constitutional convention that might not have otherwise because they’re not happy with the games that get played here in Springfield,” Franks said.

At a constitutional convention, delegates would be able to recommend revising the state Constitution. Voters ultimately would decide whether to accept revisions.

After word reached the House on Thursday afternoon that the Senate had rejected the recall proposal, House Republicans criticized Democrats and questioned how serious they had been all along.

“You, as the party in control, failed the people of the state of Illinois miserably today,” said House Republican Leader Tom Cross.