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This just in… Once, twice, two times impeachment *** Back-door man *** Supplemental sent back to guv ***

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* 2:46 pm - House Speaker Michael Madigan just informed the chamber that the House will vote again on impeachment tomorrow, which would mean that the planned session will last “much longer” than previously anticipated. The voting will take place at the University of Illinois/Springfield after the scheduled swearing-in ceremony for the new General Assembly. The impeachment committee will also be re-established tomorrow.

By the way, David Ellis has been appointed the House’s prosecutor during the Senate trial. More here.

* 3:11 pm - From GateHouse

Gov. Rod Blagojevich won’t make a grand, drawn-out entrance Wednesday to swear in the new Illinois Senate.

Cindy Davidsmeyer, spokeswoman for outgoing Senate President Emil Jones, confirmed today that the governor will enter the Senate through the president’s anteroom, which is right behind the president’s lectern.

That will mean Blagojevich will avoid taking a long walk from the main chamber entrance down the center aisle to the lectern. […]

She noted that Blagojevich has come in for the official swearing-in ceremony before through the anteroom, although he traditionally enters the House chamber through the main door for his budget and state of the state speeches.

* 3:13 pm - The Senate has approved a supplemental appropriations bill that will restore funding to some constitutional officers’ budgets and various conservation programs. The House passed the bill yesterday. Gov. Blagojevich has previously vetoed out the appropriations, so it’s not clear what he’ll do this time around. The full text of the amended SB1132 can be found at this link.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:47 pm

Comments

  1. Look for a fiery speech from Ken Dunkin during his Mulligan.

    Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:52 pm

  2. And nobody will believe it.

    Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:52 pm

  3. Is this to answer the issue that the old House Impeached and now the new Senate would be trying the case?

    Comment by Downstate weed chewing hick Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:54 pm

  4. Wearing a belt and suspenders too.

    Comment by Anon III Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:55 pm

  5. What are the odds it will be a shut-out? Is Mell likely to side with her brother-in-law or just sit it out (and could she afford to sit it out)?

    Comment by The World is Watching Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:56 pm

  6. Rich - Do you know if they will have a video feed available on the ilga.gov website tomorrow?

    Comment by Hmmm Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:57 pm

  7. MJM is obsessive/compulsive. Hmmm, wonder if I turned off the gas at home. Better check it . . . again.

    Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:02 pm

  8. So last week’s vote was, ultimately, just for show and tomorrow is the one that really counts?

    Comment by Secret Square Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:03 pm

  9. Live Webcast - IL House inauguration
    On Wednesday, January 14, 2009, there will be a live webcast of the 2009 Illinois House Inauguration ceremony at http://www.uis.edu/technology/uislive.html.

    Comment by Captain Flume Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:03 pm

  10. ===Do you know if they will have a video feed available on the ilga.gov website tomorrow? ===

    Don’t know yet.

    ===So last week’s vote was, ultimately, just for show and tomorrow is the one that really counts? ===

    In a way, yes. In other ways, no. It was a real vote with real consequences.

    Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:04 pm

  11. Will Genson object based on “double jeopardy” ? Also is guv the first to be Impeached twice for the same offenses?

    Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:07 pm

  12. Mell having to make her first voting decision on the impeachment issue is incredible.

    Mrs. Rod caught on tape using the F bomb. Rod’s brother now being scrutinized.

    Who of Rod’s relation won’t be touched by this plague?

    Comment by Downstater Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:08 pm

  13. ===Will Genson object based on “double jeopardy” ? ===

    It’s a new General Assembly, so the action has to be taken to keep the process alive.

    Double Jeopardy applies to criminal cases. This ain’t a criminal case.

    I don’t think he’d be the first one impeached twice, but he’d certainly be the first governor ever impeached twice in a week.

    Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:10 pm

  14. What does the re-established impeachment committee do. Do they look at new evidence so they can double secret impeach him? Can they present new evidence at the Senate trial?

    Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:33 pm

  15. “Your honor, we find the defendant guilty and his lawyer obnoxious….”

    Comment by Excessively rabid Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:37 pm

  16. It would be good if they could add those tapes into the pile of evidence. Wonder the status on their release?

    Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:39 pm

  17. My understanding is that last week’s actions were to accept and make official the work of the impeachment committee (the hearing were completed and a report was issued and accepted). That approval ensures that this week the new House can accept the work that was officially completed by the old House last week. If the work had not been completed and accepted, the new committee would have to hold a new set of hearings and draft a new report before the new House could accept it. A lot of i-dotting and t-crossing.

    Side notes on double jeopardy: 1) This is not a court, etc. 2) Impeachment is not conviction, so this is more akin to a double indictment and, on top of that, there has been no conviction or acquittal in between.

    Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:44 pm

  18. I think Blagojevich should appear as he has been appearing in most of our nightmares. For instance, once I dreamt that he showed up in a cloud of red smoke and fire to threaten Dorothy and Toto. Another time, I dreamt I was trapped in a castle at night and saw a coffin slowly open with Blagojevich’s hairy hand raising from behind the coffin lid. About a month ago, I dreamt Jamie Lee Curtis and I were being chased by Blagojevich, who was wearing a hockey mask and had a chain saw.

    If we do not quickly impeach Blagojevich, Boy Scouts will sit around campfires during Jamboree week a century from now and scare Tenderfoot scouts with stories about the Mad Governor With Scarey Hair who stalks children’s hospitals at night.

    Blagojevich coming through the back door to swear in the Senate? Thanks for that image!

    Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:30 pm

  19. VanillaMan, dude, stop eating chilli before bedtime.

    Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:46 pm

  20. If he is so innocent and has done nothing impeachable-worthy, why is he slithering in through back doors? Why doesn’t he walk proud and “tall” like the man he claims he is down the aisle? Anyone who runs the streets of his neighborhood in spandex apparently has no reason to come in back doors.

    Comment by anon36 Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:50 pm

  21. Can the Senate wait 30 days to send the supplemental to Quinn or do they have to send it now to Blagojevich? How does that work with session ending today?

    Comment by Scooby Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:56 pm

  22. Rich, did they pass a fund sweep as well, or just appropriations?

    How does the state have any money right now. I have heard a reference to a multi-billion deficit for this and next year.

    That is huge.

    Comment by p Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 5:07 pm

  23. Mr. Ellis is a smart and honorable man. (good author too!)
    nice choice to helm the work.

    Comment by Amy Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 5:49 pm

  24. VM,

    None of my dreams about Jamie Lee Curtis have ever featured the Governor. If he ever makes a nocturnal appearance in my brain, I assure that my therapist and I will demand you cease and desist all dream-related postings from this point forward.

    JL Curtis circa 1986=sexy. G-Rod now and forever=unsexy.

    Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 6:00 pm

  25. ===G-Rod now and forever=unsexy===

    That full page photo of Blago on the front page of Saturdays Tribune was hideous. My 7 year old saw it and keeps waking up at night screaming about the hairy boogeyman.

    Comment by Toast Man Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 7:06 pm

  26. I am the Reformer / Of What ???

    Gov. Rod

    I will change the Pay for Play
    Attitude ?????

    I will work for the People of ILLINOIS

    ” right ”

    I am Ethical ???

    I am Hard Working ????

    I am Honest / About What ?????

    I Like Helping People / Who ???

    I like take the Ethics Test ???

    When ??? and how do I apply it ???

    I will make a lot executive Orders
    that don’t mean anything !!!!

    And punish the Hard working state employees

    See you Soon / Foolish Voters and Supporters

    Comment by grategul Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 7:08 pm

  27. It would look cool for the cameras if, as Rod entered, all the senators turned their backs silently, like the Klingon warriors in Star Trek:-)

    Or maybe they’ll go for a Hollywood movie type of very slow-clapping.

    Or like the aliens in the remake of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”, they just point at Rod and scream soundlessly.

    My guess for Rod’s remarks will be that he will not be able to help himself, and will act much like Pee-Wee Herman, post-arrest, at the Awards show:

    “So, anybody hear any good jokes lately?”

    Comment by too much Tv tonight I guess Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 7:25 pm

  28. Once he swears them in, they should lock the doors and hold him until the impeachment resolution arrives from the House. They could question him, convict him and have him escorted to the door, before midnight.

    VM: Picture two security guards escorting the governor to his office where he fills a cardboard box with his personal items. They then escort him to the front door of the Capitol building and watch as he slowly shuffles away.

    Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 8:00 pm

  29. - Pot calling kettle -
    I’m thinking “Perp Walk” with full TV coverage!

    Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 8:27 pm

  30. Predictions for the event…

    Which speech will we get to hear?
    Getting to the bottom and still no pony, eh, Rod?
    Or maybe it’s going to be the electrified elephant anecdote.
    Or the Bill Clinton Air Force One call to Mom story.
    Or the Mistaken for Daley story that’s Bernie adores so much.

    Maybe the poetry again, that always gets laughs… he could recite the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner. I see many parallels there to his situation…

    Hendon will insist on a point of order so he can make a speech about his best buddy Rod, then, like Pilate, wash his hands of him.

    Cullerton will have his hands full trying to keep a straight face the whole time.

    Comment by Gregor Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 10:01 pm

  31. -Pot calling kettle-
    ===They then escort him to the front door of the Capitol building and watch as he slowly shuffles away. ===

    Seeing how he’s probably going to springfield in the ‘company’ jet that would be a long cold walk home…

    Comment by 618er Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 8:20 am

  32. What ever came of the pre-trial hearing scheduled for today?

    They have 30 days to transmit supplemental to Governor. He will be gone by then.

    Comment by Hank Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 9:17 am

  33. Ah, but Hank, if the GA that passed those bills ceases to exist at noon, can they wait?

    Comment by Secret Square Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 9:19 am

  34. I love how the House schedule for Fe. 18th has the Governor’s Budget Address listed as “tentative.”

    Comment by Barny's Burger Barn Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 10:02 am

  35. oops, should say “Feb.”

    Comment by Barny's Burger Barn Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 10:03 am

  36. Yes.

    Comment by Joe Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 10:03 am

  37. In this case, it’s the Governor as well as the Budget Address that’s “tentative.”

    Comment by Secret Square Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 10:40 am

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