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| Madigan Names Impeachment Committee |
So now we know. After waiting for six days to find out if the Illinois is going to try to impeach the governor, following the governor's arrest on federal charges of corruption, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) says he's naming an impeachment committee. The House is expected yet today (Monday) to vote to form that committee.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich last week was charged with trying to eek money out of U.S. Senate hopefuls, contractors, and others. Madigan says he has had the opportunity to get to know the governor for six years, and is not surprised by the charges. He did admit that he didn't know the feds were investigating Blagojevich so intensely in 2006, when Madigan co-chaired Blagojevich's re-election campaign.
Madigan says the committee will consider the affidavit submitted by the U.S. attorney's office, plus other issues like the governor's habit of bypassing the legislature to expand programs and spend money. "We have given the governor six days to resign," Madigan said. "President-elect Obama, Senator Durbin, all the state constitutional officers have called for his resignation. He's declined to take the opportunity to resign. I think it's time that we moved forward with the appointment of a committee of inquiry that could lead to impeachment."
The committee will consist of 21 members: 12 Democrats and 9 Republicans. It will be chaired by State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago), one of Madigan's top lieutenants. It will have subpoena powers, and will ask Blagojevich to personally defend himself. Madigan says the committee would start working Tuesday, and would only take four days off: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.
(Illinois Radio Network) |
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| 12 15 08 by Newsroom |
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