Quinn stumps for recall amendment

SPRINGFIELD -- Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn made his mark in Illinois politics as an outsider mobilizing people to challenge the powerful. Now a political insider himself, Quinn is in the curious position of crusading against his election partner, Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Quinn is trying to build support for a constitutional amendment that would give voters the option of recalling public officials. On Tuesday alone, he scheduled six news conferences on the topic.

His campaign for the amendment is just the latest example of Quinn's split with Blagojevich, even though voters have twice sent the two men to Springfield as a team.

Quinn has criticized the governor's tax proposals, scolded him for not pushing for ethics legislation and called for him to apologize to voters for corruption in the administration. The two men haven't talked since February, according to Quinn's staff.

Still, Quinn won't say whether he thinks Blagojevich should be recalled if voters ever get that option. Quinn also wouldn't talk about whether he'd be interested in running for governor if that happened.

Quinn described his relationship with Blagojevich as "strained" since last year when he criticized the governor's proposal for a major new business tax and his practice of soliciting campaign contributions from contractors.

"My job is not to be a cheerleader for the governor but rather a watchdog for the public," Quinn said. "And I see recall as the ultimate power the public needs to straighten things out when they really get out of hand."

Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said Quinn's vocal role on the recall issue wasn't surprising and differences of opinion between the men are not unusual.

"In a democracy, that's natural," Ottenhoff said.

Jay Stewart, executive director of the Better Government Association, said Quinn's position is nothing new.

"He's been for recall practically three decades, long before Blagojevich was contemplating becoming an elected official," Stewart said.

The Illinois House last week voted to put the recall proposal on the November ballot but many hurdles remain. Blagojevich has endorsed the amendment but hasn't actively worked to pass it, and Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, could block the idea.

If the Senate did approve the recall, it would go on the ballot this fall and voters would decide whether the amendment actually takes effect.

The Senate Executive Committee will likely discuss the measure on Wednesday, and Quinn said he worries the amendment will be sabotaged. "There has been a tradition of parliamentary maneuvers and tricks to not allow an issue to get a straight up and down vote," he said.

Rep. Jack Franks introduced the recall amendment and acknowledges he took the step because of his dissatisfaction with Blagojevich's performance. He said Quinn called him in November to say he liked the proposal and would support it.

"I figured we'd put the prestige of his office behind our effort," the Woodstock Democrat said.

Franks sees no conflict for Quinn. Even if Blagojevich were recalled, Quinn would not automatically replace him. The amendment requires an election to determine who would fill out the remainder of the governor's term.

Blagojevich and Quinn have never been close politically. They wound up running on the same ticket because Democratic voters nominated one for the governor's job and the other for lieutenant governor.

Still, they were a successful team in 2002 and again in 2006. For most of that time, Quinn was a loyal member of the administration, handling the duties assigned by Blagojevich and keeping quiet about any complaints he had about Blagojevich's performance.

The relationship changed after Blagojevich won a second term and proposed a massive, and ultimately unsuccessful, tax on business. Quinn openly criticized the idea. The split has only widened since then.

Some legislators look at the recall amendment and seen an idea based more on personality clashes than good public policy. Rep. Ken Dunkin offered an amendment, which was rejected, requiring the lieutenant governor's ouster voters recall a governor.

"He rode in off of the governor's coattails by being on that ticket, so they need to be together," said Dunkin, D-Chicago. "If he could ride in here off of the governor's coat tails, he should be able to ride out."