Impeachment memo won't fill potholes
Political circles were abuzz Wednesday after the revelation that Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has issued a memo outlining "talking points" to bolster discussion to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Most Illinois residents, however, probably just shrugged as they rattled along on pothole-filled roads in the mad scramble to make ends meet.
Who has, after all, time to watch our increasingly dysfunctional state government leaders bash each other -- again? And what taxpayer has the patience to -- again -- play spectator to what's become the annual end-of-session antics in Springfield?
Local businesses and residents are struggling to survive these tough economic times. Our infrastructure is literally crumbling around us. Our mass transit systems are at risk, our state is broke and the best our state leaders can do is play political games?
It's time to stop the backroom wailing and do the work of the people. Finalizing an effective budget should not be the annual crisis as it has become.
Does Madigan, one of the state's leading Democrats, really want to impeach a Democratic governor in an election year when his party's hopes are riding on a fellow Illinoisan to snag the presidency? That would hardly be in a normal political playbook. But this is Illinois, where rough and tumble define even calm times ... and these are, certainly, not calm times.
A "why impeach?" memo on the eve of a critical discussion to avoid another overtime budget battle could have been just another political volley meant to intimidate our narcissistic governor into finally negotiating with legislators. Or it could be that at least some of those legislative leaders truly have had enough and are poised to remove a governor they consider obstructive and destructive.
Either way, enough is enough. Yes, it's most tempting to remove the guy at the top when things aren't going well. If, ultimately, we learn of criminal misdeeds as alluded to in the recent trial and conviction of Antoin "Tony" Rezko, impeachment would certainly be the course to consider. And we are certainly not happy with the governor, whose failure to lead is an overwhelming disappointment.
But, for now, the only clear evidence of wrongdoing is that illustrated by the state legislature and governor's inability to pass a capital plan and an effective budget to carry this state through the next fiscal year.
Our state government, like our federal system, hinges on cooperation between all branches in order to be effective. The checks and balances provide an effective way to keep any one component from being out of control. Usually. And, usually, those in power find that compromise instead of conflict is amazingly fruitful.
It's time to find the compromise and absolutely critical the state soon pass a capital plan to rebuild aging roads and bridges and other infrastructure so vital to the state's economic development and everyday quality of life.
How can we talk of luring the 2016 Olympics to Chicago if we can't even get to work without popping tires and breaking axles? It's time for the governor and legislative leaders to all focus on the job at hand. Get it done.