Who didn't vote to impeach?

SPRINGFIELD - Only two out of 116 Illinois House members casting votes Friday didn't support impeaching Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Both are Chicago Democrats and neither is returning to the General Assembly next week when new members are sworn in. One didn't seek re-election. The other was defeated in the Democratic primary.

State Rep. Milton Patterson was the only member to vote "no." He said his vote should not be confused with support for Blagojevich.

"I'm not defending anybody. I did not feel comfortable voting given what I've heard and read. Simple as that," Patterson said.

He said the impeachment committee did excellent work but it wasn't enough for him to vote "yes."

"I went by my own gut feeling, it's as simple as that," he said. "I read the report. If the government is going to indict him, let them go ahead and do that. That's their job. I'm doing my job."

Patterson, who did not seek re-election, said he's not talked to the governor about the vote.

State Rep. Elga Jefferies was the lone member voting "present."

A "present vote" is politically viewed as a cop out. It has the same practical effect as a "no" vote but affords the lawmaker the opportunity to say that officially he or she didn't vote against something.

Jefferies disagreed with that characterization. She said she didn't vote up or down because she was on the fence, believing some of the allegations are true but that the impeachment is also partially a personal vendetta against Blagojevich.

She told reporters she might ask Blagojevich for a job since she'll be looking next week when her term expires, but has not contacted him yet and said that did not impact her vote.

"Had I been coming back, I still would have voted the same way," Jefferies said.

Jefferies does not believe Blagojevich should resign and says he deserves his day in court. She believes he should be able to stay in office until a federal trial concludes, even if that takes several years.

"Sure," she said, "I think that there is still a chance he can make adjustments and make things right."

There are 118 House seats but only 116 votes were cast Friday. The official roll call was 114-1-1. State Rep. Ken Dunkin, a Chicago Democrat and Blagojevich supporter, did not show up for the vote. There's also a vacant seat because of a recent downstate legislator's death.