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* My annual medical checkup is this afternoon and then I have some errands I need to run that can only be taken care of during a weekday. So, y’all are on your own for awhile. Hopefully, nothing big happens while I’m away, but I’ll take my laptop just in case.
* Anyway, on to the setup…
Today, Representative Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield), Senator Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington), and the Illinois Opportunity Project announced their statewide grassroots campaign to place an Advisory Question of Public Policy on the November 2022 ballot asking voters if they want the power to recall their elected officials.
“Voters should have the ability to hire and fire their elected officials,” said Rep. Batinick. “Illinois’ culture of corruption has gone on for far too long, and the people of Illinois have lost faith in their government. That begins to change today.”
Illinois Democrats have ignored calls to increase accountability and empower voters. Last year, Sen. Barickman and Rep. Batinick introduced legislation to give voters the right to recall elected officials who have broken the public’s trust.
The General Assembly has refused to discuss their legislation; even while a Democratic member of the State Senate is currently under indictment for crimes related to his office. This advisory referendum movement will educate voters on the culture of corruption and the solutions. It will also build political pressure to encourage the General Assembly to end this culture of corruption and give voters the right to recall certain elected officials.
“Single party rule has concentrated power with the political elite and taken away Illinois citizens’ voices in their state government,” said Sen. Barickman. “Giving voters the ability to recall a failing elected official will empower the people and help restore faith and trust in their government.”
The proposed Advisory Question asks, “Shall Illinois voters be given the power to recall their elected officials?” Petitions for advisory questions of public policy require signatures equivalent to eight percent of the total votes cast for candidates for Governor in the preceding gubernatorial election, or roughly 363,000 signatures to be placed on the ballot. These signatures must be submitted six months prior to the election.
“Today, the political establishment, special-interests, and lobbyists have too much power,” explained Mark Cavers, President of the Illinois Opportunity Project. “We are all feeling the consequences. There is a statewide movement of people who want to improve the quality of life in Illinois by returning power to the people. We have faith in average Illinoisans and that if we empower them with the right accountability tools, they will reform their government and save our state.”
“Illinois should be the land of opportunity and prosperity where families can pursue the American dream. To make that a reality, we must have an honest and efficient government that is responsive to the people’s will.”
Corruption costs Illinois taxpayers $556 million per year. This referendum will empower voters with the opportunity to hold politicians accountable before their next election. The petition can be viewed and downloaded at IllinoisOpportunity.org/recall.
* The Question: Do you support the advisory ballot question? Make sure to explain your answer in comments, please.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:23 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Can the Illinois Opportunity Project openly/legally do that as a 501c4? At what point is nonprofit status completely meaningless?
Comment by Question Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:27 pm
No, I do not support it. We already have a mechanism to hire and fire people and its called an election. And, we already have a mechanism to remove someone from office for wrongdoing and its called impeachment. Recall elections are nothing more than people looking for election do-overs.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:33 pm
No. No. No.
Comment by Blue Dog Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:34 pm
Sadly the combo of Batty, Jumpin’ Jason and the IPI front group does seem like the brewmiesters we want to sip from….NO,
BTW recalls and initiatives provide enormous $$$ for consultants like the IPI crew
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:35 pm
No I do not support it at all. I used to think recall was a good idea but not in these times. We have elections recall them then. Same with term limits vote them out if you can Normal election cycles occur often enough we don’t need to make them perpetual Only election limit I might support is age limit. You hit 65 go retire and not retire in office
Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:36 pm
Another attempt at minority rule by the superminority.
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:36 pm
No. What a joke and a waste. Didn’t these people learn from the California recall? Perhaps it has no ends other than constantly ginning up a shrinking GOP base and fundraising, given the right wing nature of the IOP and IPI and strong rejection of right wing policies in Illinois.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:37 pm
YES. Right now many are unhappy with our Governor and his months of Executive Orders. Voters should have the ability to hold him, or any statewide office holder, accountable. Clearly the legislative branch has no desire to do so.
Comment by Flat Bed Ford Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:38 pm
No, we have elections every two years, this has the danger of creating a constant cycle of elections or recalls.
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:41 pm
This is dumb and completely ineffective. We have recalls. They’re called elections and they’re a perfect opportunity to fire our elected officials. Hell, you can even take that job yourself if you’re lucky enough to win a very expensive popularity contest. That said, who cares? It’s advisory, not binding. Let them put whatever they want on the ballot.
Comment by Now I’m down in it. Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:42 pm
My initial reaction is no, that’s why we have elections. The recent recall in California shows just how partisan and expensive recalls can become.
That being said, I have also witnessed at a local level, people being elected to boards, both school and community colleges, whose only purpose is to cause disruption leading to chaos. Currently there is no legal means to remove such a person.
So, I guess I’m wishy-washy.
Comment by G'Kar Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:43 pm
Nope. Just more Republican mischief. As they become increasingly marginalized they spend most of their waking hours trying to find ways to screw things up. $300 million wasted dollars in California because of their stunts.
Comment by Rachel Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:43 pm
No thank you. Do not want to adopt California’s system.
Also there is zero reason to think a recall process reduces the power of lobbyists and special interests who could then threaten legislators with recall campaigns for going against them.
We do not need a longer campaign season.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:45 pm
Illinois actually has used a form of a recall process when it was shown to be necessary. The Democrat led legislature removed a clearly corrupt Democrat governor when they removed Blago back 2009. This proposal is simply another attempt to muck up the workings of government and foster a sense of distrust in governance among the voters.
Comment by someonehastosayit Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:47 pm
If you can’t already recall local officials, someone should tell Buffalo Grove. They passed a recall ordinance and local voters recalled a board member a decade ago.
https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20101027/news/710289979/
http://www.triblocal.com/buffalo-grove/2010/11/03/buffalo-groves-lisa-stone-removed-from-office/index.html
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:47 pm
NO. If you cannot win a normal election, you don’t get a do-over. This is not kindergarten.
Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:48 pm
No. We have a great recall system in place. It’s called elections. Same goes for term limits. I don’t want elected officials devoting their time to staving off recall attempts while in office.
I also fail to see how a recall provision will stop any of the “political establishment, special-interests, and lobbyists” considering those same groups could just organize annual recall efforts to apply more pressure to elected officials.
Comment by Confusion Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:48 pm
Let’s be quite clear what is at play here;
Let’s say they wanted to recall Pritzker, Stratton would be governor.
Well, the 2-step in California is to recall and elect a new governor. By doing so, Republicans have a greater chance to win statewide in California, because, “if you’ve done the reading before class”, the Republican Party in California is almost as lost and rudderless as Illinois’ GOP.
Is this, very-very specifically, merely to gin up “Old, Angry, White, Rural” voters, if it were to get on the ballot, in a year where Texas abortion fears are going to drive up voter turnout not helpful for GOP candidates?
I know, I’m being cynical… but… when you look at the “Bs”, Barickman and Batinick, the need for the caucuses all the help they can gin up, considering the GOP will be painted as “anti-woman” when abortion is continually brought up. They *need* this.
The reason I’m a “no”…
It’s again the angry, monolithic, minority not doing much of anything… and unless they go “Full California”… it’s not much of a thing to have
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:48 pm
I will give you my answer now, NO, we have a recall mechanism it is called an election. If you have the better idea run for office.
Comment by JMJ Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:49 pm
Oh, they want to talk about unnecessary costs to state taxpayers? Please tell me how much last week’s California recall election cost in taxpayer funds.
Again, they can’t win elections, so it’s time to find a new avenue to power that relies less on this pesky “democracy.”
Comment by Roadrager Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:50 pm
No. Advisory referendums are political stunts that members of the General Assembly want the taxpayers to fund. The question of recalls is also a no. All we’d see are that they would become another tool for political games. These also would have a ridiculous cost for taxpayers.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:55 pm
No
Waste of time and money.
But I guess for Republicans, these types of shenanigans sure beats working.
Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:55 pm
No we have the opportunity to recall our elected officials every election day and Lord knows it always seems to be election time in Illinois.
Comment by Manchester Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:56 pm
No - because it is subject to abuse due to all the money flowing in politics.
California this month and Wisconsin back in 2012 (when just about every Republican State Senator and Assemblyman was recalled).
Recall is not meant for holding another election just because someone you politically disagree with is in office.
Comment by train111 Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:57 pm
==But I guess for Republicans, these types of shenanigans sure beats working.==
The grift pays better too
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:58 pm
No. Enough already of trying to steal elections. Bring a message that people embrace if you want to win.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:04 pm
No. This is what regular elections are for: So that people can choose their elected leaders. We don’t need to add extra layers to spend even more public money and to gum up the wheels of government.
Comment by Linus Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:07 pm
No. Illinois makes adequate provision for recall in the form of regular elections.
Government that is too responsive to the people’s will be the death of democracy.
Comment by Jimmy Jazz Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:09 pm
No. Recall elections by citizens are a waste of time and money and are almost entirely used for partisan purposes (by both Dems and Republicans, depending on the state). Vote them out if you don’t like their policies or they can be impeached if they have done something warranting that.
Comment by Simply Sayin' Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:11 pm
No. As others have said, we have these things called “elections”.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:12 pm
NO. I would favor lengthening the terms of elected officials before I would put them in a situation of always being in constant election mode.
Comment by Groucho Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:19 pm
No, we have elections every two years and every four years for offices.
Illinois govt isn’t the IHSA where the winners get punished and have to play up when they are too successful.
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:22 pm
No. It costs money. Am I only the fiscal conservative left in Illinois?
Comment by Lurker Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:23 pm
No. We have elections for a reason, and in the extreme circumstance where someone genuinely needs to be removed, there is the impeachment option.
Comment by slow down Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:26 pm
No. We get to recall most elected officials every two or four years. Adding extra elections…why, why, why?
Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:29 pm
As Shaw Media’s Scott T. Holland’s op-ed pointed out over the weekend, Illinoisians already have a means to Recall a governor, under the Gubernatorial Recall Amendment voters approved in 2010.
Controls were put in place to make a Recall necessary ONLY for most egregious circumstance when the Illinois House fails to impeach a governor.
Yes, on the surface, Barickman and Batinik want to expand Recall to all offices, including local governments, but the process MUST have very stringent controls, and in this day-and-age of paid petition circulation, a VERY high signature threshold must be in place.
If proponents can get the advisory referendum on the ballot, great, but right now, I’d vote “No” and simply wait until the next election to remove a bad officeholder, like how voters dealt with McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks voting him out of office.
Comment by John Lopez Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:31 pm
No. Voters already possess the right to recall an official. It’s called a general election.
Comment by WillRez Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:34 pm
I do want to comment to this “straight up” as well, and in brief.
===The proposed Advisory Question asks, “Shall Illinois voters be given the power to recall their elected officials?”===
No. We have elections. No.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:35 pm
I vote yes because it’s harmless. It’s only advisory, not a proposed amendment, so I don’t see where the cost would come from. Besides,the results are no more binding than were the results of Madigan’s advisory referendum on a millionaire surtax.
Comment by anon2 Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:36 pm
No. We already have elections, impeachment, and expulsion. Heck we even have recall for the Governor (admittedly with a near impossible hurdle, but it exists.
Comment by SAP Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:38 pm
I vote No - recalls are for poor losers. The people who don’t like the election results waste a lot of energy, time and money on a recall like the one in CA.
Comment by M Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:47 pm
No.
“Voters should have the ability to hire and fire their elected officials,” said Rep. Batinick.
We already do. It’s called elections. We have a primary and general, and I hope that Rep. Batinick already knows this.
Comment by Steve Rogers Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:53 pm
No, just another partisan grab at talking points for an election cycle. As we’ve seen by the California fiasco, recalls are wildly expensive and usually worthless.
Comment by A-Man Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:54 pm
I would vote NO, but I’m fine with the question going on the ballot because at least it’s not frivolous Madigan millionaire’s question.
Also, while I’d vote no, recalls aren’t always bad for Democrats. Had Rahm not interfered with the Wisconsin governor’s recall the Democrats would have very likely recalled Scott Walker (instead they had an expensive, wasteful primary even though nobody had significant issues with the candidate who looked to win before the mayor of Milwaukee, with Rahm’s help, got in the race, sapped energy from the general recall vote, and lost by a hair).
Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:58 pm
No … because it is useless and just being used to gin up election turnout by tapping into voter’s frustration with the Legislature.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:59 pm
yes, one more tool that allows individual Illinois citizens to be heard. The current recall process has impossible hurdles - it also only applies to the Gov.
“requires that at least 20 state representatives and 10 state senators, equally balanced from each party in each chamber, sign a notice of intent to recall the governor before a petition can begin to be circulated”
Comment by Donnie Elgin Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 2:04 pm
No.
This is one of the few areas where I agree with George Will. This will also just shift even more power to donors with deep pockets who can fund recall efforts.
Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 2:11 pm
No. We have elections set at reasonable intervals. This is a Republican power play to use dark money to fund recall elections to weaken and distract Democratic elected officials.
Comment by City Guy Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 2:11 pm
No. I’m in complete agreement with majority of prior commenters and they’ve said what I think as well.
Comment by Hot Taeks Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 2:16 pm
Ah yes, Batinick.
The guy complaining about corruption, when within the last 9 months his campaign treasurer has been federally indicted for wire fraud and embezzlement, and his legislative director was/is under FBI scrutiny for her participation in the Jan 6th insurrection.
Those aren’t even elected positions, and he had no problem keeping them on his staff.
What exactly is his criteria to remove someone from office. I’m going to guess it’s what party they belong to, and nothing else.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 2:19 pm
Caption; Two minority party members struggle for relevance.
Comment by Al Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 2:35 pm
===Voters should have the ability to hold him, or any statewide office holder, accountable. Clearly the legislative branch has no desire to do so.===
November, 2022.
Vote early.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 2:39 pm
No, and jeez what a cheap sleazy load of gaslighting that statement is.
Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 3:39 pm
I say, “yes.” Just imagine the state of the state if we could have gotten rid of Bruce Rauner 30 months earlier than we did.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 4:03 pm
Sore loser laws make my skin crawl.
Comment by SubRosa Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 4:04 pm
I am pretty sure that was the whole point of switching our constitutional officers off the national cycle, and it work for a long time.
Comment by Annon3 Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 4:07 pm
Vote No.
Clearly just a scam to collect names and addresses.
Pritzker should counter with referendum to merge Sparsely populated downstate counties with the slogan “Don’t recall politicians, Eliminate them.”
“You wanna know how to get Capone? They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. *That’s* the *Chicago* way! And that’s how you get Capone. Now do you want to do that? Are you ready to do that? I’m offering you a deal. Do you want this deal?”
Happy to run that effort Quentin and Anna, just give me a call.
Comment by Hamlet Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 4:08 pm
Do I want more elections…more political ads on TV…constant phone calls and political drama?
No thank you!
Comment by Enviro Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 4:08 pm
=== My annual medical checkup is this afternoon ===
Turn your head and cough. You’re fine. That’ll be $350.
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 4:29 pm
No. My son and daughter-in-law just went through the California recall and they don’t want to see another recall vote for at least ten years. Elections provide the ultimate recall.
Comment by Retired SURS Emolyee Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 4:34 pm
I oppose this measure for the reason I oppose most term limits. We have elections for this. Recalls are unnecessary.
Comment by Tony DeKalb Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 5:22 pm
As much as I couldn’t stand Rauner, I didn’t support recall even when he was destroying our state.
I certainly don’t support it while Pritzker is rebuilding it.
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 5:29 pm
NO. It’s a waste of money on the side of losers. Now, if the loser of the “recall” had to spend their money funding a recall instead of the state…also, even Ruiner was stymied due to having a strong Democratic General Assembly. The CA recall law is prolly the worst, because you don’t have to show mismanagement/corruption, just, I don’t like his looks.
Comment by Union Thug Gramma Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 5:32 pm
No. One more excuse for these yahoos to avoid trying to become a normal, electable political party in this state.
Comment by The Ford Lawyer Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 5:35 pm
Oppose. This notion that it provides more accountability is nothing more than fodder for those that want instant gratification and/or to upend government.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 6:05 pm
Of course the GOP was silent when Rauner was around. No interim good governance; just partisanship. Ugh
Comment by Tired Teacher Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 8:26 pm
No. This is truly stealing and nullifying my vote.
Comment by Lt Guv Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 8:33 pm
No Seems like a waste of money, look what happened in Cali put in term limits if you want to limit the power.
Comment by NorthsideNoMore Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 8:38 pm
No.
But I could support Cumulative Term Limits of 16 years. You can serve in one or multiple elected positions for a total of 16 years.
There are good folks who win reelection - but 16 years total is long enough.
Comment by Corn Country Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 9:10 pm
Barickman would be the first one I’d recall.
Comment by Afam H Wednesday, Sep 22, 21 @ 3:12 pm