* I posted this Saturday, after comments had been closed for the weekend. It’s a State Journal-Register story about IDOT’s announced move of about 150 jobs from Springfield to Benton…
The southern Illinois city of Benton, apparently the leading candidate to become the new home of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s division of traffic safety, has no building that would accommodate the agency, according to Benton Mayor Gary Kraft.
* As fishy as that sounds, I said on Friday and I’ll say it again: Sen. Gary Forby, who is from Benton, had a legit reason for not being in the Senate for the recall vote last week. His wife was having surgery.
Still, the timing of that Benton announcement, coupled with the announcement that Stateville Prison in Joliet will remain open (Sen. AJ Wilhelmi of Joliet voted “Present” on the recall proposal), plus all the other magic money suddenly released last week has some people legitimately concerned…
“I don’t think it is a coincidence at all,” said Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, a prominent proponent of the drive for recall. “[The governor’s office] basically told senators if you want this money back, then you have to vote ‘no’ on recall.”
* Sen. Michael Bond had his own reasons for voting against recall…
Key to his opposition, Bond said, was that two local judges contacted him to express their fears that judicial recall would have a “devastating chilling effect” in which judges rendering legal but unpopular decisions could result in recall efforts.
He said Lake County judges Mary Schostok and Fred Foreman were so opposed to recall that they drove to Springfield to personally explain why they thought it was a bad idea.
I ran into both of those judges last week. They didn’t drive down specifically to lobby against recall because they were already in town for a conference. But they were both clearly upset that judges had been included in the proposal.
* So, what are the political ramifications?
[Senate President Emil Jones] rejected any suggestion that Democratic lawmakers might pay a price at the ballot box. “No, no, no, no,” the Chicago Democrat said.
* Sens. Terry Link and Mike Jacobs were the only Senate Dems with opponents this fall who voted against recall. And they’re fairly safe to begin with although Link may get a bit of money spent against him, as my syndicated newspaper column points out…
Only two of the “No” votes among Senate Democrats have Republican opponents this fall: Sens. Terry Link and Mike Jacobs. But neither of those Republicans are considered top tier types yet. Sen. Jacobs covered himself a bit by calling on the governor to resign before he is impeached. Sen. Link, who has had some problems locally with his own nominating petitions and with some of his candidates’ campaigns, will undoubtedly be moved up the target list. But his district is so Democratic that it will be very tough to dislodge him. Even so, expect a lot more money to be spent there, if, that is, the Senate Republicans can raise it.
* Also, as I point out, this was not a difficult thing to kill…
The oldest axiom in government is that it’s always easier to kill something than it is to pass something. And that was proved true yet again last week when Senate President Emil Jones and Gov. Rod Blagojevich teamed up to kill off the proposed constitutional amendment for recall of elected officials.
* And I believe there was a method to the madness…
Jones’ actions with recall show the length he will go to protect Blagojevich’s back. Those considering the idea of impeaching the governor in the House have to be wondering what Jones will do if the House takes that drastic step against the governor. The Illinois Constitution directs the Senate to hold a trial and designates the chief justice of the Supreme Court to preside, but nobody knows who is in charge of actually convening the proceedings. A call last week to the Supreme Court came up empty. They don’t appear to know, either. Since there is no definitive timeline in the Constitution, Jones could postpone convening a trial almost indefinitely.
* And what about impeachment? I try to explain…
Impeachment might instead be used as a threatened weapon in order to get things done at the Statehouse. Last year, House Speaker Michael Madigan refused to even consider the prospect of impeachment because he feared the governor could use it to generate a public backlash against him. Those days are pretty much over.
The theory goes that Madigan could use the threat to push Blagojevich to wrap up the spring session in a timely manner, rather than allow it to drag on into the winter, which is what happened with last year’s session.
The Senate’s vote to kill recall was partially a move to prevent Madigan from doing just that.
* A recall proposal on the ballot would have helped Republicans get their voters to the polls. The much-hated Rod Blagojevich isn’t on the ballot this fall, so recall would have been a way to energize the GOP base in the face of a probable Barack Obama landslide here. Sen. Bill Brady, who wants to run for governor, has another idea, however…
Republican Bill Brady of Bloomington said he wants a November advisory ballot question in all 102 counties asking whether the General Assembly should allow voters a chance to decide if a recall provision is needed for the governor and others elected to statewide office.
That won’t be as good as a real referendum, but it might help a bit - especially for Repubs who don’t want a full-blown constitutional convention. Still, that vote would be meaningless.
* Related…
* Campaign reform in play
* Legislators don’t trust us? Feeling is mutual
* SJ-R Opinion: State workers are just pawns to Blagojevich
* Finke: Pretty neat trick, that. A day after the Senate Democrats saved his behind from a possible recall, Gov. Rod Blagojevich took aim at the city he despises and announced that 150 Illinois Department of Transportation jobs will be moved from Springfield to southern Illinois.
* Hoffman’s ties to Gov. Blagojevich now a disadvantage
* Lawmaker calls for impeachment of Blagojevich
- Crimefighter - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 9:53 am:
>Republican Bill Brady of Bloomington said he wants a November advisory ballot question in all 102 counties asking whether the General Assembly should allow voters a chance to decide if a recall provision is needed for the governor and others elected to statewide office.
He’d be better served to campaign for a con-con to get recall in the constitution.
- Cassandra - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 10:06 am:
It will be unfortunate if the plan to move IDOT fails because, whatever the guv’s motivation, it makes a lot of sense to have government offices in
rural areas, whose residents are suffering much more than urban dwellers from not only the current economic downturn but also from the ongoing urbanization of the US. Now, I’m sure if this IDOT office completely disappeared, nothing bad would happen. State government is grossly overstaffed, especially in the higher echelons. But in this area of advanced telecommunications placing more state offices out in less populated areas would
not only be feasible but would make more pretty decent jobs available to people who choose to stay there, despite the huge benefits of moving closer to the city. Not to mention the effects on the local economy.
As to impeachment or recall, I’d say our Blago may have won this round. He has demonstrated once again that in Illinois, the guv has a huge amount
of control over the money….our money….and how and when it gets spent. We should have paid attention to that when we hired him on. But we
aren’t going to be able to usher him out for nearly three years, and very possibly, not even then. And really, who is to blame for that.
- Team America, World Police - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 10:11 am:
The main point of the article where Bond mentioned the judges was a statement from Bond in which he said “There was absolutely no pressure from the Senate president or anyone else” to vote against the recall amendment. That ought to make Cap Fax regulars fall out of their chairs laughing.
- Put Jones' feet to the fire - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 10:31 am:
The House should go ahead and begin Impeachment, and let’s see how much heat Emperor Jones can take, how long he can sit on it and not permit it to go forward. He’d be getting national attention for it.
When he quoted that old saying about digging two graves, he didn’t realize he was already in the hole with Blago.
- Ghost - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 10:32 am:
That Forby had a good excuse to stay home, does not mean that he could not show up and vote. That he had incentive to stay home does not mean that he wasn’t provided a littl sweetner on top. The vote was very very close, so the Gov may be looking to reward Forby.
The side question is whehtehr Forby was pushing for this or if it was given as a unsought after prize afterwards. The lack of details about the move including even having space identified suggest it fits more into the latter catagory.
- Garp - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 10:37 am:
As this administration disintegrates, there will be many examples of bad decisions designed to punish or made out of desperation. Nothing major will be accomplished, but there will be many instances of mean spirited decision making. The best thing for everyone affected is to stay in the bomb shelter and keep their heads down till the smoke clears.
If making law is akin to making sausage, impeachment is like cleaning up the sausage factory.
It is not pretty or fun but it must be done
- Little Egypt - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 11:01 am:
Benton Mayor says there is no space for Traffic Safety. WRONG. Wal-Mart built a super center about 3 years ago and their old building is still vacant. Also Wal-Mart ran Big John’s grocery store out of business and that building is vacant. So that’s two fairly good sized buildings available. I personally know the people who owned the grocery store and they would be delighted to lease it. They are not related to Blago, Forby, the Phelps’ or any other politician.
- Annie - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 11:02 am:
I am truly dissapointed that Michael Bond would LIE about the circumnstances surrounding his comments with the Republican judges. He is simply using them to shield his poor judgement and lack of leadership. He is a one-termer!
- wordslinger - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 11:08 am:
It’s interesting that the state constitution only provides for the chief justice to preside in a Senate trial of the governor. I wonder what insight some of the Con-Con delegates could provide about that.
My gut tells me that Jones would not seek to block an impeachment trial. Up to now, he’s surprised me with how far he’s been willing to go down with the governor, but this would be history; is that how he would like to be remembered forever?
I’m in over my head here, but if the Chief Justice is to preside over a Senate trial of the governor, wouldn’t Thomas actually initiate the proceedings? Isn’t that how it went with Rehnquist and Clinton?
Could the judiciary force the legislature to meet?
Fascinating subject, and it probably all comes down to Rezko. If convicted, impeachment. If not, the heat is off, at least for a while.
- Bill - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 11:14 am:
===They are not related to Blago, Forby, the Phelps’ or any other politician.===
Forget it, then!
- Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 11:24 am:
Cassandra,
Maybe we should move the state capital back to Kaskaskia.
- Capitol View - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 11:42 am:
Six Degrees: that’s Kaskaskia Island, now just a muddy track of land off the Mississippi after its many entrenchments. Even building foundations are no longer recognizable. The island kept flooding, which is why we have no record of how many votes were cast in the first gubernatorial election. Kaskaskia is the nearby town with the famous bell - famous to their own chamber of commerce, anyway.
Then again, a natural cause for records being lost or destroyed might be very attractive to the current administration…
- Team Sleep - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 11:55 am:
It’s all fishy. Yes, Forby had a good reason, but he’s also been a steadfast supporter of the governor and Rich, correct me if I’m wrong, but he is typically in-step with Emil Jones (save for the rate relief issue). Benton is an odd choice location-wise; Effingham, Mt. Vernon or Marion would’ve made more sense.
Boo-hoo for the judges. Recall should be made available and used for all elected (and appointed, if necessary) officials. When people make mistakes in their own lives, we can take steps to correct those problems. Yet we cannot correct a bad election decision for two, four or even more years? Judges seem to be entrenched for life, and it’s not easy getting them out of office. Gordon Maag is the exception to the rule.
- the Other Anonymous - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 12:03 pm:
I wouldn’t discount the idea of an impeachment without a trial in the Senate. It serves Madigan’s purposes in several ways.
First, it puts an intense amount of pressure on Jones and the Governor.
Second, it moves the public relations war in Madigan’s favor and highlights what Madigan perceives as Jones’s complete submission to Blagojevich.
Third, I don’t think that Madigan particularly cares to see a Governor Quinn.
Fourth, it gives a huge leg up and an issue to whoever challenges Blagojevich in a Democratic primary.
For the time being, I suspect that merely whispering about impeachment suits the Speaker’s purposes best. But things can change, and I would not underestimate the Governor’s ability to crawl under Madigan’s skin.
- Ghost - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 12:33 pm:
The problem with threatening impeachment is the Gov has to care.
Right now the Gov would just rely on Jones, releasing of funds and repositioning of Jobs to buy off the Senate, so the Gov has no worries. The threat of impeachment will not sway the Govs positions. The threat of impeachment is empty, the House needs to either actually do it, or move on.
- NimROD - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 12:39 pm:
I think the clincher for me is the report that the director of the traffic safety division is going to retain his office in Springfield (so that he and his wife, a long-term IDOT employee in a different division are not moving). If this move is SO important that we uproot 150 state workers - many of which have spouses that work and may not be able to relocate - then shouldn’t the director of the division be required to move with his employees?
On strictly circumstantial evidence this move stinks to high heaven of political retaliation. The economic benefits argument doesn’t hold any water. I doubt we will ever get the real story, though.
- VanillaMan - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 12:58 pm:
Politics, politics!
Play, play!
Who really believed that the Senate was ready to do something about Blagojevich?
Hate to be cynical, but I was pretty cynical about this thing passing. The Senate isn’t going through reform or anything. I was shocked when Fritchey and friends announced that it would pass, but my happy moment passed within the day.
Back to the same old gridlocked, do-nothing, Illinois Senate.
Now that want that pay raise.
- Ghost - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 1:13 pm:
Now VM Jones didn’t say he wanted a pay raise, he said he DESERVED it.
- Rich Miller - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 1:15 pm:
Actually, I think he said he needed it.
- NimROD - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 1:51 pm:
“Actually, I think he said he needed it.”
A little more magic money / found money, Governor, if you please……
- Team Sleep - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 2:08 pm:
Yes, Emil, and we need competent, dedicated and realistic leadership. We’ll trade you a pay raise for those three endearing qualities.
As Stewie says, “ZING!”
- Anon Again - Monday, May 5, 08 @ 6:15 pm:
Nimrod-Good observation the dir of ts is the worst political hack this admin has brought in, he knew nothing about the relocation, is the defendant is a couple of federal cases and FYI he and his wife make approximately $170,000 from IDOT and were among a few of the special that received one time bonuses that were not made public one bit, he sold his people out before and now did it again. he is a joke thanks labores and ed smith