ItÕs
difficult to take seriously this weekÕs House vote to establish a recall
provision in IllinoisÕ state Constitution. The constitutional provision passed
Tuesday with 75 votes — a pretty solid majority and above the
three-fifths majority needed.
The
tiny minority who opposed the amendment pointed out that the proposal could
cause all sorts of problems.
A
Democratic legislator with an active core of social conservatives in his or her
district could face recall whenever he or she voted for a liberal proposal, for
example.
Others
pointed out that voters are given a choice every two or four years to toss out
legislators and statewide officials, and perhaps they should take that
responsibility more seriously.
Still
others claimed that this was a wholly transparent device to attack and undercut
the hugely unpopular Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
The
part about legislators facing nuisance recalls has plenty of merit. The Òvoters
already had their chanceÓ argument works for statewide officials, but
legislative districts are drawn of, by and for incumbents, so far too often
voters have little or no choice in general elections. In areas where voters
overwhelmingly belong to one party or the other, it almost doesnÕt matter who
the opponent is. Recall would probably be an effective weapon in places like
Cook County, the center of so much voter angst, but also the home of millions
of dyed-in-the-wool Democrats who refuse to vote for just about any Republican
alternatives. The same goes for the overwhelmingly Republican DuPage County.
However,
the last point — about this being a ploy to slam the governor — is
spot on.
The
constitutional amendmentÕs sponsor, Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock), freely
admits he would never have introduced the plan had it not been for Gov.
Blagojevich. ÒI would not have filed it but for the dismal performance of this
governor,Ó Franks was quoted as saying. Franks has been carrying a grudge
against Blagojevich ever since the governor outrageously attempted to falsely
implicate him in a kickback scheme, so you should consider the source.
The
Chicago TribuneÕs editorial board has been banging the drum in favor of a
recall law for months, ever since it ran an editorial asking what people
thought and was flooded with responses favoring the recall of Gov. Rod
Blagojevich. The paper has since used the example of Gov. Blagojevich as its
prime example for why recall of elected officials is needed. Last FridayÕs
Tribune editorial attempted to goad Senate President Emil Jones and his members
into passing the amendment when it reaches their chamber: ÒWill JonesÕ timid
followers in the Senate keep letting him further the governorÕs bizarre
behavior without challenge?Ó the paper asked.
But
this is all just talk. ThereÕs no way on GodÕs Green Earth that Senate
President Jones will bring that thing up for a vote. Jones and Blagojevich are
tied at the hip. They are the closest of allies, and the Jones/Blagojevich team
are bitter enemies of House Speaker Michael Madigan, who allowed the recall
provision to come to the floor mainly to tweak the governor.
The
efforts by the Tribune and the House are mainly just feel-good distractions
that wonÕt become law in the foreseeable future.
WeÕre
being subjected to a meaningless and mean-spirited circus led by the largest
newspaper in the state. Because this proposal has no chance in the Senate, the
House vote on recall wonÕt chasten the governor in the slightest. ItÕll just
give some House members something to crow about to angry voters back home and
allow the Tribune to pat itself on the back and bloviate some more. At the very
least, letÕs not kid ourselves into believing otherwise.
If
you want recall added to the Illinois Constitution, your best bet is to vote in
favor of calling a constitutional convention this November. But a convention
and final approval wonÕt come early enough to oust Gov. Blagojevich. Either
weÕll have to wait until the 2010 election for that, or the House will have to
vote to impeach him and the Senate would then have to remove him from office.
And thatÕs not likely to happen, either.
Face
it. WeÕre stuck with the guy.
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Rich Miller also publishes
Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and thecapitolfaxblog.com.