House OKs right to recall vote

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich's political critics sent a message Tuesday as the Illinois House approved a constitutional amendment that would let voters recall a governor, lawmakers and other elected state officials.

Avid Blagojevich detractor Jack Franks, a Woodstock Democrat, sponsored the proposal, but claimed it was about more than just the current governor.

"If we have an extremely bad elected official, an extreme remedy may be required," Franks said. "The need for a recall goes beyond any one officeholder."

The amendment was approved 75-33, garnering four votes more than the minimum needed. It now goes to the Illinois Senate and faces a May 4 deadline if it is to be put before voters in November.

However, it's doubtful the plan will ever make the ballot.

Senate President Emil Jones Jr., a Chicago Democrat, is a loyal Blagojevich supporter and indicated he's not keen on recall. "As long as they include the House members I'll support it," Jones said with a laugh.

That's a hint of the lingering bad blood between the Democrats that rule the Senate and the Democrats that control the Illinois House.

Eighteen other states allow voters to recall state elected officials. Only two, California and North Dakota, have used it in the last century.

If the Illinois amendment were adopted, a recall question would be put to voters when supporters collect enough petition signatures to account for 12 percent of votes in the last election for executive officers such as governor or attorney general, and 20 percent for lawmakers.

For example, more than 400,000 signatures would be required to force a vote on whether to remove the governor or any other statewide executive.

Not all Blagojevich critics, however, supported the amendment.

Despite his self-proclaimed disdain for the governor, state Rep. Lou Lang said regular elections exist to get rid of someone who has not been convicted of crimes.

"This recall amendment is not about this governor," said the Skokie Democrat. "This is a change forever."

The recall vote comes just a week after a heated debate on the issue in which state Rep. Jay Hoffman uttered a profanity over the House loudspeakers. Hoffman, a downstate Democrat, is Blagojevich's closest ally in the House.

He continued to assail the idea Tuesday, albeit with cleaner language.

"Don't do this so you can send a press release. Don't do this because you don't like one man," Hoffman said. "Don't do this, because you're trampling our representative government."

Only three suburban House members voted against the recall amendment: Elaine Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat; Robert Biggins, an Elmhurst Republican; and James Meyer, a Naperville Republican. Skip Saviano, an Elmwood Park Republican, voted present.