Governor Blasts House Members for Impeachment

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The case moves to the Senate on January 26

by Lesley R. Chinn

The Illinois House voted 114-1 to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich for abusing his power, mismanaging the state government and allegedly committing criminal acts.

However, after the House voted on their decision last Friday, the Governor blasted the chamber for their actions during a press conference downtown at the Thompson Center. Blagojevich said that he was not surprised at the decision because he knew that they had been planning this action since the summer of 2007. At that time, the state was faced with a government shutdown just to pass a budget after the

House was responsible for not passing a budget, according to the Governor.

The Governor said that the House has given him problems ever since he was re-elected to a second term in 2006. He claimed that he has worked very hard with the House to pass public works legislation that would create 500,000 jobs and has worked to expand affordable and equal access to health care for adults and children. The Governor also added that the House stood in the way of providing property tax relief for Cook County residents. The Houses action and the causes of the impeachment are because Ive done things to

fight for families, Blagojevich contended.

Blagojevich also claimed that the House is impeaching him for implementing an affordable prescription

drug program for senior citizens. He said through this action drugs can be purchased from Canada and save them up to 50 percent.

Joined by constituents who have benefited from health care reform efforts, the Governor asked, Is that an impeachable offense? I took actions with the advice of lawyers and experts to find creative ways to use the executive authority of a Governor to get real things done for people, he said.

Before he left the podium, the Governor reasserted that he is not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing and will not resign. That issue will be dealt with on a separate course and in an appropriate forum in federal court. At the end of the day, I will be properly exonerated. In the meantime, I have a job to do for the people.

State Rep. Monique Davis (D-27), who voted to have the Governor impeached, dismissed Blagojevichs comments. She said that the Governor has abused his power and this fight is not about health care or any other issue that he wants to bring up. One example Davis mentioned was the states $2.8 million lawsuit that resulted from a previous purchase of a flu vaccine that totaled more than $8 million that was not approved by the Federal Drug Administration. He has refused to accept the fact that Illinois operates under a democracyit is improper and illegal to decide to spend dollars in anyway that has not been approved or gone through the legislative process, Davis stated.

Rep. Milt Patterson (D-32) was the only member who decided not to vote for the impeachment. Patterson, who served two terms and previously suffered a stroke, decided not to run for re-election last year. His successor, Andre Thapedi, will be sworn in with the rest of the 96th General Assembly on Wednesday. In a

statement, Patterson explained his decision:

I was not comfortable with casting an affirmative vote. I believe the special committee did its job to the best of its ability. However, I did not feel like I had enough information based on the report to make an

informed decision to remove the governor from office.

Meanwhile, it was also reported that another outgoing State Rep. Elga Jeffries (D-26) voted present. Jeffries, who served oneterm, was defeated by Will Burns in the February 2008 primary for re-election. Burns will also be sworn in.

The Senate is expected to have a trial on January 26 on whether to remove the Governor from office. Aconviction by more than two-thirds of its members would result in Blagojevichs removal from office. In the meantime, Blagojevich said he hopes to have a different outcome in the Senate.

State Sen. Donne Trotter (D-17) described public opinion regarding the Governors impeachment and arrest as nothing but hype. The man has not been indicted and convicted, but thankfully there is a Constitution

that adheres to due process and equal protection under the law.

Trotter said that the decision to remove the Governor from office will have a large impact not only on his life, but on his familys life as well. Thats a big judgment that we will have to make. I pray that all of my colleagues will listen to this (trial) with an open mind, he stated.

Earlier, a group of more than 150 protestors under a new organization, Rod Must Resign, stood outside the Thompson Center to demand the Governors resignation. The group was led by Scott Cohen, a local businessman and entrepreneur. Citing reasons such as the Governors alleged attempts to sell the U.S. Senate seat, Cohen said that anything he tries to do is put under such scrutiny that nothing is getting done.

In 1988, Arizona Gov. Evan Mecham was the last governor in U.S. History to be impeached and removed from office. He was convicted of obstruction of justice and misusing $80,000 in state funds allegedly funneled to

his Pontiac dealership to keep it afloat, according to court documents.

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