Sign me up!!!

Yeah, I really think we should have a recall provision in Illinois. I really admire what Californians did back in 2003 when they really didn't have a favorable view of the man who was replaced by The Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger. You know what this post from the Tribune's Clout Street blog was actually entitled "It worked for Arnold"...

Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock), one of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's toughest critics, has filed a proposal aimed at amending the Illinois Constitution to let Illinois citizens recall public officials, a right they don't have now.

Franks said Blagojevich is the inspiration for asking lawmakers to vote on whether Illinois should be allowed to recall officials. The governor's office did not respond immediately for a request to comment.

"I can't imagine anyone doing a worse job if they set out trying to do a bad job," Franks said of Blagojevich, a fellow Democrat. "He's like the perfect storm of bad governing."

Blagojevich and the legislature are engaged in a nine-week stand-off, with the four legislative leaders uncharacteristically working on a budget deal without him, despite his threats to keep lawmakers in Springfield until he gets an expansive and expensive health-care proposal approved.

Currently a state official, such as the governor, generally would have to retire, resign, die, be convicted of a crime or be impeached to leave in the middle of a term. But this proposal would let voters oust an official for incompetence. The Franks proposal gives citizens an opportunity for a political do-over, giving them a chance to replace an official rather than be stuck with him for a full term.

The proposal provides for recall of statewide elected officials, state lawmakers, judges in local circuit courts and justices on the appellate and supreme court benches. Franks' proposed amendment also would give the General Assembly the option to pass a law that would allow local officials, such as city and school board members, to be recalled. Franks wants the legislature to put the proposal before voters in the November 2008 general election. If voters approve the measure, they would be empowered to collect signatures aimed at having a recall election.
Franks said he would sign a petition for Blagojevich's recall.

The proposed amendment says a petition to recall an executive branch officer must be signed by a number equivalent to at least 12 percent of the total vote for the office that the targeted official holds. The signatures must be collected from registered voters in at least five counties. Franks said he hoped his proposal could be considered as early as next week. He already has a lawmaker lined up to sponsor the bill in the Senate. That would be Sen. Mike Jacobs (D-East Moline), who accused the governor of threatening his political career if he didn't vote for the governor's health-care plan.

Both Franks and Jacobs said they are taking the amendment seriously because voters need a chance to turn out a government official who is failing.

I haven't really covered the budget stalement in Springfield on this blog so far. I decided to stay as far away from the action and just read up on the stories with regards to what's going on downstate.

I've also seen some articles that suggest that the governor would rather have another month budget than to just sacrifice his pet project of universal health care. It seems that in spite of his inability to get even the Illinois House of Representatives on board for his proposed GRT to help pay for this program and he's still trying to push for this program is outrageous.

And while the governor insists on his health care program being passed, state legislative leaders are negotiating without him. It makes sense, because it seems the governor isn't really trying to negotiate and compromise. I really wonder, well I've always wondered, if he knows what he'd even doing.