This just in… Once, twice, two times impeachment *** Back-door man *** Supplemental sent back to guv ***
Tuesday, Jan 13, 2009 - Posted by Rich Miller * 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…
* 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.
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- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:52 pm:
Look for a fiery speech from Ken Dunkin during his Mulligan.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:52 pm:
And nobody will believe it.
- Downstate weed chewing hick - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:54 pm:
Is this to answer the issue that the old House Impeached and now the new Senate would be trying the case?
- Anon III - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:55 pm:
Wearing a belt and suspenders too.
- The World is Watching - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:56 pm:
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)?
- Hmmm - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:57 pm:
Rich - Do you know if they will have a video feed available on the ilga.gov website tomorrow?
- A Citizen - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:02 pm:
MJM is obsessive/compulsive. Hmmm, wonder if I turned off the gas at home. Better check it . . . again.
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:03 pm:
So last week’s vote was, ultimately, just for show and tomorrow is the one that really counts?
- Captain Flume - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:03 pm:
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.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:04 pm:
===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.
- A Citizen - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:07 pm:
Will Genson object based on “double jeopardy” ? Also is guv the first to be Impeached twice for the same offenses?
- Downstater - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:08 pm:
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?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:10 pm:
===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.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:33 pm:
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?
- Excessively rabid - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:37 pm:
“Your honor, we find the defendant guilty and his lawyer obnoxious….”
- A Citizen - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:39 pm:
It would be good if they could add those tapes into the pile of evidence. Wonder the status on their release?
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:44 pm:
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.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:30 pm:
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!
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:46 pm:
VanillaMan, dude, stop eating chilli before bedtime.
- anon36 - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:50 pm:
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.
- Scooby - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:56 pm:
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?
- p - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 5:07 pm:
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.
- Amy - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 5:49 pm:
Mr. Ellis is a smart and honorable man. (good author too!)
nice choice to helm the work.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 6:00 pm:
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.
- Toast Man - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 7:06 pm:
===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.
- grategul - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 7:08 pm:
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
- too much Tv tonight I guess - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 7:25 pm:
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?”
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 8:00 pm:
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.
- A Citizen - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 8:27 pm:
- Pot calling kettle -
I’m thinking “Perp Walk” with full TV coverage!
- Gregor - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 10:01 pm:
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.
- 618er - Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 8:20 am:
-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…
- Hank - Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 9:17 am:
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.
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 9:19 am:
Ah, but Hank, if the GA that passed those bills ceases to exist at noon, can they wait?
- Barny's Burger Barn - Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 10:02 am:
I love how the House schedule for Fe. 18th has the Governor’s Budget Address listed as “tentative.”
- Barny's Burger Barn - Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 10:03 am:
oops, should say “Feb.”
- Joe - Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 10:03 am:
Yes.
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 10:40 am:
In this case, it’s the Governor as well as the Budget Address that’s “tentative.”