Those Democratic lawmakers in Springfield sure have some nerve. After rejecting the chance for voters to boot former Gov. Rod Blagojevich to the curb last year, they now vote to put a gubernatorial recall measure on next year's ballot. And, like most of their backbones, this offering for voters surely is weak.
State Sens. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, who also doubles as Lake County Democratic chairman and is an announced candidate for lieutenant governor, and Michael Bond, D-Grayslake, decided to join the rest of their colleagues this time around and let us nobodies vote to get rid of a sitting governor. Except, if voters approve it, the law specifies that 30 members of the General Assembly must support the recall measure and then supporters would have to get at least 15 percent of the total votes cast in the previous gubernatorial election.
And the kicker: It's only governor we can try to recall. Not, for instance state senators. Like most of what has been accomplished in Springfield this year, this is a nothing bill. Voters wold be wise to reject this bone tossed to us and make sure the candidates we elect next year won't be afraid to put the people's business before their political backsides.
" After rejecting the chance for voters to boot former Gov. Rod Blagojevich to the curb last year, they now vote to put a gubernatorial recall measure on next year's ballot."
You need to get some more oxygen to your grey-matter, Hound. First of all, the recall bill up for a vote last year, even if it had been passed, would not have removed Blago last year, or even this year. Secondly, I didn't realize that your 'fourth estate' also lived in a vacumn. It's nice that you omit that Blago was removed from office in record time, without legal challenge to the actual process, and at a cost less than it would have required for the state to print up recall ballots. All while these legislators were also dealing with the distribution of the stimulus funds (Oh, and by the way, Illinois ranks where among the states getting that money on the ground and into play? And who was the co-chair of that task-force?), beginning the first major ethics reform discussion in 2 decades, putting together the first capital spending bill in over a decade, and dealing with the worst economy in over 3 decades.
But no, you want the legislature to pass a bill that would give the people (and more importantly, the special interests in the State) the unfettered right to call for a recall whenever they are displeased. You talk as if that's such a clean and pure democratic process. Actually, you talk as if you've never heard of Gray Davis and Enron, and are utterly unaware that the people of California were dupped into spending 10's of millions on a recall of their Governor Davis, only to discover that the energy crisis they were so mad about was actually caused by the intentional market manipulation of electrical power supplies by Enron.
You also fail to mention where the cost of running a recall election is going to come from. We're already in debt up to our state-wide eyeballs and now you want us to pony-up for a second kick at the cat! Honestly, the people of the State of Illinois would be far better served if only the journalists entrusted with keeping them informed actually did their jobs. Back to the dog-house for you, Hound
THE HOUND SAYS: We're certainly otiose, aren't we Mr. Weeper. The cost of running a recall election is cheap compared to the cost of corruption in this state. And, you're about the only person lamenting the loss of Gray Davis as governor of California. As it is now, the Legislature did take the time to adopt a recall provision, despite dealing with the economic downturn, only one that hamstrings the voters. And, as the Chicago Sun-Times has shown through its series on "Blago's Job Machine", there were certainly lawmakers a plenty who begged the former governor for jobs, only to turn on him like a poorly trained dog.
Once again, a very weak attempt to distract voters from the fact that the pols in Springfield care more for their own political power (and the goodies that come with it), than the people who put them in their cushy jobs, and pay up the wazoo to keep them fat and happy. Another instance of 'reform' that keeps the Daleys, Madigans, Links etc., gorging themselves and their minions at the public trough. It's time to get off our duffs and vote out these bums, and put in people who aren't out to place their names on expensive bicycle paths, or university buildings, while collecting huge salaries and pension benefits on our dime.
THE HOUND SAYS: Hermie, The Hound couldn't agree more. It's our fault because we keep electing the same crowd of those concerned more for their political jobs and nice pensions, rather than how to solve the current state of affairs in Illinois.
Typical of Terry (broken promise) Link. Legislation that would not apply to him. Here are some suggestions for laws;
Term limits.
Having to resign from one elected office before you run for another.
I doubt Terry would like either of them as they would apply to him.
THE HOUND SEZ: Well, Bored, your proposed legislation would apply to more than just Terry Link.
"But no, you want the legislature to pass a bill that would give the people (and more importantly, the special interests in the State) the unfettered right to call for a recall whenever they are displeased. You talk as if that's such a clean and pure democratic process."
So, waiting for the special interests in Springfield (namely the entrenched politicians and their staffs.) to decide if they want to get rid of their buddies is a great system? Yeah, stick a Link or Daley or other career politician in office and wait until they make enough enemies during their term (or two, or three or twelve) to say "Gee, this guy is corrupt, I guess it's time to impeach."
Blago would still be in office if he hadn't been such a jerk towards everyone. The Mighty Quinn would still be playing solitare on his State PC, waiting for Blago to let him in on a meeting or two.
Too many Illinois politicians have been able to use their office for the primary purpose of staying in office; not actually watching out for the taxpayers. The deck is stacked towards incumbents (and their families), and political machines have made it easy for a mediocre lawyer to become a State Rep or Senator for decades. While you wait for the next election, you can watch your tax dollars and your freedoms go 'bye-bye', and another Springfield pol gets to laugh at the peons who work their tails off more and more, just to watch things in the Capitol get worse and worse.