State Democrats' memo outlines impeachment of Blagojevich
SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich is accusing House Speaker Michael Madigan of playing political games by helping legislative candidates call for impeachment hearings targeting the Democratic governor.
Impeachment "talking points" distributed by Madigan aides are meant to distract from the fact that Madigan is not working with other leaders on the state's budget problems, Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said.
"We wish he would drop his behind-the-scenes maneuvering and come to the leaders' meetings," Ottenhoff said in a statement Tuesday. "It's time for the speaker to join the rest of the legislative leaders who have been working with the governor to pass a capital bill that will put thousands of people to work."
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The Associated Press obtained a copy of talking points that Madigan, chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, has provided to some legislative candidates.
The memo compares corruption under the governor to a tumor.
"One thing we learned from the (imprisoned former Republican Gov.) George Ryan case is that we should excise a tumor when it is first discovered; not leave it in the body to continue to spread and do further harm," the memo reads.
The 14-page rundown of Blagojevich's alleged "misdeeds and malfeasance" is sure to deepen the feud between the two Democrats and lend substance to talk of impeachment.
Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said the party sent the memo to a "bunch of candidates" requesting more information about impeachment.
It's not Madigan's viewpoint or a House Democratic caucus position, Brown said, but simply more research for candidates who are interested in talking with voters about the issue.
"There's issues that pop up," Brown said. "People can do with it what they want."
The revelation comes as Blagojevich and other legislative leaders accuse Madigan of blocking an agreement on a capital construction program and not personally attending meetings with all the leaders on the capital program and an unbalanced state budget.
The leaders and governor are scheduled to meet again Wednesday in Chicago.
The memo suggests the candidates, if asked, say they aren't discussing impeachment at Madigan's behest. "This has nothing to do with Mike Madigan," the talking points say.
Candidates are also told to say Madigan's staff wasn't involved in researching impeachment. "I've researched the issue on my own and after careful consideration believed that now is the right time to do it," says the suggested comment.
"A review and examination of his ability and interest to be the governor of the state is in order," the talking points say. "The level of dysfunction and disagreement has reached a fever pitch under his watch. He shows remarkably little ability to govern."
It even features 30 of Blagojevich's "misdeeds and malfeasance from high to low (a far from complete list)."
They include the governor "wasting his time and efforts" to have the state buy the Chicago Cubs baseball home at Wrigley Field; cutting the budget of the auditor general and of Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Michael Madigan's daughter, after sharp criticism of the administration; and calling the speaker a "conservative Republican" when he "would not go along with the governor's wishes."
Talk of impeachment at the Capitol has heated up as Blagojevich has found his administration entangled in a federal corruption investigation.
Top fundraiser and friend Antoin "Tony" Rezko was convicted last week on several corruption charges. A contributor testified at Rezko's trial that he talked about getting a job on a state board with Blagojevich after making two large contributions to the governor's campaign.
The governor has not been charged with any wrongdoing and has denied doing business that way.
At a rare Statehouse news conference as lawmakers wrapped up their spring session May 31, Madigan acknowledged his staff had researched the impeachment issue. He would only say it would take 60 votes in the House when asked what would need to happen for the House to pursue impeachment.
Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, said impeachment is not warranted and should not be used to divert attention away from passing an operating budget and a capital bill.
"I think it's wrong for the Democratic speaker and Democratic Party chairman to promote the impeachment of a Democratic governor," Jones said in a statement.
Brown said he believed Democratic candidate Emily Klunk-McAsey, who is running against Republican Rep. Brent Hassert for a seat in Chicago's suburbs, received the information for a recent news conference on impeachment. Klunk-McAsey did not return a phone message seeking comment Tuesday afternoon.
Other lawmakers who have discussed pursuing impeachment said they had not seen the memo but were not surprised it went to candidates.
"I don't think that he (Madigan) is pushing for impeachment at this time, because if he was we'd be in Springfield right now," said Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock. "He wants to make sure that he does well with the House. This is one way of giving his candidates some options."
Rep. John Fritchey, D-Chicago, said he sees nothing wrong with informing candidates about the issue but cautions politicians not to use the issue "lightly or for political motivations."
"This isn't a tool that you use to win elections," Fritchey said. "It's an extremely serious and unfortunate situation that we find ourselves in."
Could it happen?
The Illinois Constitution does not specify what triggers impeachment. It gives the House powers to investigate and move to impeach executive and judicial branch officials. It is then up to the Senate to conduct a trial. A two-thirds vote of the 59 state senators is required to remove an official from office.
Source: AP