Let the people vote on recall measure

Earlier this month, we used this space to express our measured support of a recall amendment to the Illinois Constitution that has been proposed by state Rep. Jack Franks of Woodstock.

We had been somewhat slow in coming around to that endorsement out of concern that recall initiatives might be abused. Ultimately, however, we decided that the state's long and sad history of political corruption demands a proactive response and that a recall measure could provide one of the tools in that response.

Ironically, our comments came as one of the latest political shenanigans was taking place in Springfield.

We refer, of course, to the apparent maneuvering by state Sen. Donne Trotter of Chicago to kill the legislation -- presumably with the blessing of Senate President Emil Jones Jr.

Trotter pulled the bill from consideration despite evident growing support within the Senate. In doing so, he strongly denied charges he was pulling the measure in order to kill it. Rather, he said it was his intent to retool the proposal so that judges and local elected officials also would be subject to recall.

Here's the problem with his contention:

That was more than a week ago.

Trotter has yet to return with a retooled version of the proposal.

There is a May 4 deadline for approval in order to get the required referendum question on the November election ballot.

Neither the House nor the Senate is in session this week.

If Trotter does eventually offer an amendment, the legislative process starts all over. It would require three separate days of posting in the Senate and then three separate days of posting in the House, which already has passed the original version.

That means if he changes the proposal but doesn't offer it until Tuesday, the earliest the Senate could approve it would be Thursday. Then, it would virtually be impossible to get it approved in the House on time. The House would have to schedule sessions all weekend.

And this all assumes the fastest possible action by both bodies -- an unlikely event considering the controversial nature of the proposal and the powerful forces lined up against it.

Frankly, if Trotter added judges to the recall list, we'd have some second thoughts ourselves. Would it make recall targets of judges who make rulings that may be unpopular but nonetheless are misunderstood applications of law? As it is, the retention ballot already provides a procedure to remove truly malfeasant judges.

It's unfortunate, but recall authority is needed in Illinois. It's also unfortunate that it looks like it's being killed by the kind of gamesmanship that makes Illinois politics a disgrace.

Sen. Trotter, let the people vote.