State senator wants voter input on recall
An Illinois state senator says he's pushing an idea that would allow voters to send a message to lawmakers on the idea of recalling elected officials.
Republican Bill Brady of Bloomington said he wants a November advisory ballot question in all 102 counties asking whether the General Assembly should allow voters a chance to decide if a recall provision is needed for the governor and others elected to statewide office.
Brady's action comes in the wake of the Democrat-controlled Illinois Senate's rejection Thursday of a proposal to let voters determine whether to amend the state constitution so there can be recall of public officials. Critics of the idea say it's being stoked by animosity toward Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
While the votes in an informal advisory referendum don't count, the result would be noticed by the General Assembly, said Brady, who plans to run in the Republican primary for governor in 2010.
Blagojevich and Democratic Senate President Emil Jones were criticized for their "arrogant antics" by Brady in his letter to Republican leaders seeking their support for the November advisory referendum.
"I'm asking for your help to take this issue to the people," wrote Brady, who failed in his effort to be the GOP's nominee for governor in 2006. "I'm asking each of you to contact your local county board president or individual county board members to get their support and give our citizens a powerful voice on this issue."
Jones' spokeswoman, Cindy Davidsmeyer, declined to comment Friday, saying she had not seen Brady's letter.
County boards can place up to a maximum of three advisory questions on the ballot not less than 65 days before the Nov. 4 election. Brady said he'll be soliciting all of the state's county board leaders in letters next week.
Brady said his advisory referendum effort isn't related to his desire to be governor. He said it's about giving Illinois voters a voice on the recall debate.
Lake County Republican Party Chairman Daniel Venturi said he's willing to assist in getting the advisory measure on the ballot in his area.