Roland Burris is currently testifying before the House impeachment committee about how he came to be appointed by Gov. Blagojevich to fill Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat. You can listen here or attempt to watch the hearing via CBS 2's feed.
House Panel's Draft Report Recommends Impeachment
by Josh Kalven on January 08, 2009 - 9:39am
The House "special investigative committee" released a draft report this morning recommending the impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich. An excerpt:
For all the reasons stated in this report and the evidence contained in the record before the committee, the special investigative committee for the Illinois House of Representatives, 95th General Assembly, finds that the totality of the evidence warrants the impeachment of the governor for cause.
You can read the entire draft here (PDF).
Special Election Back On The Table?
by Josh Kalven on December 31, 2008 - 1:38pm
Crain's Greg Hinz has eagle eyes:
A bill to hold a special election to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat may be getting another life in Springfield.
The measure, which had been shelved by House Speaker Michael Madigan, on Wednesday was quietly posted for a committee hearing next Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 7. [...]
Mr. Madigan’s spokesman said the bill was one of several to be posted at House members’ request “in the event the House returns to session” next week, and declined further comment.
Remember: when Speaker Madigan "shelved" the bill earlier this month, he left the back door open, telling Carol Marin that it was "still under consideration."
Blagojevich Impeachment Agenda: Day 5
by Josh Kalven on December 29, 2008 - 12:05pm
The fifth day of the Illinois House's impeachment hearing is underway, with Blagojevich attorney Ed Genson holding forth before the committee. Moments ago, he used the Obama transition team's report of contacts with the governor's office to argue that, because the Obama camp says they were not involved in any "quid pro quo" discussions with Blagojevich regarding the vacant U.S. Senate seat, he cannot be accused of wrongdoing in this case. "There's nothing in that affidavit but talk," Genson told the committee members, echoing his first press conference two weeks ago.
Today's agenda appears to be largely reserved for Genson's presentation in defense of his client. As the State-Journal-Register reported, he kicked off the day by requesting that certain Obama aides be subpoenaed by the committee -- a request that committee chairwoman Barbara Flynn Currie turned down.
You can listen to the proceedings via WUIS or watch streaming video via CNN.
Appoint, Then Confirm: An Alternative Senate Selection Process
by Will Burns on December 29, 2008 - 11:02am
The public does not like appointments to elected offices. Whether it’s a group of committeemen, the mayor of a city, or the governor -- the appointment process never seems or feels completely fair. For starters, the preliminary interviews and vetting typically occur behind closed doors. Prospective appointees advocate for the job, but only to those who control the appointment decision. The public might hear rhetoric about the criteria for the decision, but is left thinking that the rationale offered is little more than spin.
Normally, once the appointment has been made, there is some initial grumbling about the lack of public input in the process. And no more. But the recent allegations that Gov. Rod Blagojevich sought to sell an appointment to the U.S. Senate has changed the old political calculus about appointments.
Prominent Democrats, Republicans, and editorial boards have opined that this time the appointee should be elected rather than selected. I too have supported calls for a special election. And I continue to believe that a special election is the optimal solution for guaranteeing transparency and public accountability. But there is a considerable downside -- the cost. The bill for a statewide special election could reach $30 million. Not chump change at a time when the state has been forced to borrow upwards of $1 billion to pay its bills.
Burns' Plan To Fill Obama's Senate Seat
by Josh Kalven on December 26, 2008 - 1:05pm
At the beginning of the next legislative session in January, incoming State Rep. Will Burns (D-Chicago) plans to put forth what he's calling a "hybrid" proposal to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama. In the name of both expediency and legitimacy, Burns wants Rod Blagojevich -- or Pat Quinn, assuming Blagojevich has been impeached -- to make the appointment. The governor's choice would then have to be vetted and approved by the state legislature before becoming official. From WBEZ's report:
His proposal calls for two public hearings on the governor’s appointee. That person would then have to be approved by both chambers in Springfield. If passed, the new law would be limited to the Obama vacancy.
We're going to have a guest column from Burns early next week explaining his proposal in more detail, so check back then.
Impeachment Committee Adjourns For The Week (UPDATED)
by Josh Kalven on December 22, 2008 - 3:49pm
Originally posted at 3:21pm.
At the beginning of today's impeachment hearing, it sounded like we might hear from Ed Genson before the day was over. But at his request -- and due to the fact that they have yet to receive a response from Patrick Fitzgerald's office -- the committee has delayed Genson's presentation until next week. Moments ago, Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie adjourned until next Monday at 11 am. More on today's proceedings to come.
UPDATE: This teaser from MSNBC -- in which anchor Tamron Hall asserts that the committee needs Fitzgerald's go-ahead to impeach Blagojevich -- is way off base:
The committee needs the U.S. Attorney's permission to call certain witnesses. And as Ed Genson said during today's proceedings, the chances of Fitzgerald approving their list is "nil." But the federal prosecutor can't prevent the legislature from impeaching the governor, as Hall suggests.
UPDATE II: Illinois Issues has a comprehensive run-down of what occurred during today's hearing.
Blagojevich Impeachment Agenda: Day 4
by Josh Kalven on December 22, 2008 - 12:26pm
Day four of the Illinois House's impeachment inquiry commenced at noon today. Here are the items on this afternoon's agenda:
- Testimony from John Scully, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois
- Testimony from the Procurement Policy Board
- Testimony from an Illinois Campaign for Political Reform representative [UPDATE: It's executive director Cindi Canary]
- Responses from the Dept. of Health and Family Services to follow-up questions from the committee
Day 3 Of The Impeachment Hearings
by Josh Kalven on December 18, 2008 - 2:01pm
Gov. Blagojevich's attorney, Ed Genson, already made some news at the impeachment hearing this morning, asserting that the federal wiretaps of his client were illegal and therefore inadmissible. Rep. John Fritchey pushed back against this line of argument, according to CF.
Genson was also on MSNBC this morning, where he described the case as a "witch hunt":
Today's agenda has so far been largely focused on Gov. Blagojevich's dealings with the Joint Committee on Adminstrative Rules (JCAR), particularly with regards to the FamilyCare expansion. CLTV has posted video of the first 28 minutes of the hearing, for those who are interested (UPDATE: Here are parts two and three). If you want to listen in on the hearing, WUIS has the most dependable audio feed. The General Assembly's video feed works for some, but not for others.
The Happenings In Springfield
by Josh Kalven on December 17, 2008 - 10:38am
Wondering what went down in Springfield yesterday? Illinois Issues has published a great post describing the first day of the House's impeachment proceedings. They go on to lay out what's on tap for this morning:
Items on the agenda, starting at 11 a.m.:
- Digest the 76-page criminal complaint against Blagojevich
- Review the plea agreement of Ali Ata
- Review the plea agreement of Joe Cari
Of course, the big news today is that Blagojevich attorney Eddie Genson will be in attendance. Carol Marin writes today that he's "likely to infuriate" the committee members.
Illinois Issues also takes a look at tomorrow: