Progress Illinois

It's official.  By a unanimous vote, the Illinois Senate just removed impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office.  Pat Quinn automatically took over as governor at the time of the vote and will be formally sworn shortly.

UPDATE: The Senate also voted unanimously to bar Blagojevich from ever holding public office in Illinois again.

UPDATE II: We'll be posting reactions from public officials and organizations below:

Rep. Bill Foster:

“After a dark period of time, it is a new day in Illinois. With Rod Blagojevich’s removal, the citizens of Illinois can start the healing process, and the government can return to tackling the serious problems that face our state. I congratulate Gov. Quinn on assuming the duties of his new office, and I look forward to working with him to move our state and our country forward for the people we represent.”

AFSCME Council 31 executive director Henry Bayer:

"The removal of Rod Blagojevich should be a beginning, not an end. Now leaders must restore faith in state government, reverse cuts to its services and raise revenue to pay the bills. [...]

"Today the state of state government is bleak. We face billions of dollars in bills for Medicaid providers and pension obligations, failing schools and crumbling infrastructure, shuttered parks and dangerous prisons. The ranks of state workers have been drastically depleted, with those remaining facing forced overtime, huge caseloads and long service backlogs. And our broken tax system can't support the reinvestment we need to confront these challenges.

"Our union and the nearly 40,000 state employees represented by AFSCME want to work with Governor Quinn and the legislative leaders to rebuild a state government that better serves Illinois residents, appropriately stewards their tax dollars and regains their confidence. It won't be easy, but we can do it—and we must."

State Rep. and 5th Congressional District candidate Sara Feigenholtz:

"This is a sad day for the people of Illinois, not only because of this impeachment, but because so many opportunities to help people who need it have been squandered by former Governor Blagojevich and others in Springfield who've been consumed by politics and their own egos. Now is the time for the state to start a new chapter. Too much is at stake for our families who are struggling through these tough economic times. It's time to put the needs of people before politics and the special interests and start getting things done for Illinois' families."