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Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, has been taken into custody on criminal charges - Source: Reuters -
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Illinois lawmakers took their first step toward the possible
impeachment of scandal-scarred Governor Rod Blagojevich.
Citing abuse of power as a possible reason to remove the Democratic
governor, Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan told reporters in
Springfield, the state capital, that he had appointed a committee
to assemble grounds for an impeachment trial.
"We are preparing for a trial in the (state) senate" and will move
with all due speed, Madigan, also a Democrat, said, while following
US and Illinois constitutional protections afforded the
governor.
Another committee of state legislators will consider stripping
Blagojevich of the power to fill the US Senate seat vacated by
President-elect Barack Obama, said Madigan, a power broker in
Illinois politics.
Blagojevich, who federal prosecutors arrested last week and charged
with attempting to swap that seat and political favours for cash
and jobs was silent about his plans, going to work again at his
Chicago office.
Through his lawyer, Blagojevich has denied doing anything wrong and
shown no willingness to resign his US$177,000 ($320,432) -a-year
post.
The controversy has been a distraction for Obama and his team as he
announces Cabinet nominations and tries to lay out plans for
dealing with the recession and other crises once he becomes
president on January 20.
Three proposals aim ay Blagojevich
Three bills filed late last week for this week's special
legislative session in Springfield would relieve Blagojevich of his
sole authority to name someone to replace Obama who, like the
governor, is a Democrat.
One proposal prohibits a governor charged with a felony offence
from filling a Senate vacancy and another bill transfers that power
to the state's top six elected officers.
A third proposal has yet to offer a mechanism.
Illinois lawmakers were expected to meet in committees later on
Monday and then debate legislation and possibly vote on Tuesday or
Wednesday.
The legislature also was expected to weigh authorizing a special
election for Obama's Senate seat, the latter an approach favoured
by Republicans who see an opening to flip a seat that had been
expected to remain in Democratic hands.
Democrats will hold 57 of the 100 Senate seats, with the
Illinois seat vacant and the outcome of a Republican-held Minnesota
senate race still undecided.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who has been expected to be
a candidate for governor in 2010, on Friday asked the state supreme
court to remove Blagojevich from office on the grounds he is
disabled and has paralyzed state government.
State officials said state borrowing has been held up and unpaid
bills are piling up for food service for state prisons, salaries at
nursing homes, and gas for state police cars.
Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, a Democrat who would take over as governor
if Blagojevich is removed, has offered several approaches to the
Senate vacancy but said he would like to appoint a new senator as
soon as possible, regardless of whether there is a special
election.
Blagojevich on Monday apparently sought to show government was
still operating, saying he would sign his second bill since being
charged by prosecutors last Tuesday.
The governor, 52, is accused of conspiracy to commit fraud and
solicitation of bribes, based on conversations recorded on
court-approved wiretaps.
Blagojevich spent time over the weekend huddling with noted Chicago
defence attorney Edward Genson.
A spokesman has said the governor intends to speak out but would not say when.
