Illinois: Voters will not get recall option

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By Mike Riopell | Friday, May 2, 2008 12:07 AM CDT | () comments

SPRINGFIELD — A fiercely debated concept to let voters recall elected officials won’t be on November’s ballot after the Illinois Senate effectively killed it Thursday.

Republicans in the Senate led Thursday’s efforts to change the state constitution to let voters oust officials — anyone from the governor to local mayors and judges.

But too few Democrats voted “yes,” and the proposal came up three votes short on a 33-19 vote.

State Sen. Mike Jacobs,

D-East Moline, has been a frequent critic of Blagojevich and has called for him to resign. But he nonetheless voted against the recall option. Jacobs said a special election would cost millions of dollars to pull off.

“In my opinion, the notion of recall is better suited for cars than the governor of Illinois,” the East Moline Democrat said.

Controversy surrounding Gov. Rod Blagojevich is often cited as the reason surrounding recent pushes for the recall concept. But during debate, Republicans argued it was a general policy matter and an option voters should have.

“This isn’t necessarily all about the governor,” said Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville.

State Sen. Bill Brady, a Bloomington Republican and possible candidate for governor in 2010, urged Blagojevich supporters to vote for recall even if they support the Chicago Democrat.

“That is still not a reason to vote against this constitutional amendment,” Brady said.

Even if lawmakers approved, 60 percent of voters in November would have had to vote “yes” before the constitution would be amended. After that, recalling an official such as the governor would take thousands of petition signatures and another statewide vote.

Some Democrats supported recall.

“We need to hold elected officials at all levels to the highest ethical standards and demand they serve with integrity and honesty,” said state Sen. Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete.

Voters in more than a dozen states have recall powers, and the process was last notably used in California to remove Gov. Gray Davis in 2003. Arnold Schwarzenegger was then elected governor.

For Illinois, lawmakers had to approve legislation by Sunday if they wanted to get the recall question on the November ballot.

HOW THEY VOTED

Lawmakers rejected a proposal Thursday that would have allowed voters to recall public officials before their terms ended. A “yes” vote was to allow for recall, and a “no” vote was to reject the idea. Here’s how area senators voted.

Yes

Tim Bivins, R-Dixon

No

Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline

Mike Riopell can be contacted at (217) 789-0865 or mike.riopell@lee.net. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.