Lt. Gov. Quinn: 'First assignment' would be appointing Obama successor

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SPRINGFIELD — Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said today if he becomes governor, his “first assignment” would be appointing a successor to Barack Obama, and he urged state legislators to launch impeachment proceedings against Gov. Blagojevich next week if he doesn't resign before then.

Quinn stopped short of saying he would veto legislation to establish a special election next spring to fill the state's vacant U.S. Senate seat, but he cited the multimillion-dollar expense of holding a vote and the fact it conceivably might not be resolved until June as reasons he might move on his own to anoint an Obama successor if Blagojevich departs.

"I think it's important to get this matter resolved as quickly as possible," Quinn said.

On Tuesday, after Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were charged by federal prosecutors with conspiring to sell the Senate vacancy to the highest political bidder, Quinn urged the governor to "step aside."

Today, Quinn renewed his call for Blagojevich's resignation but encouraged the Legislature to make impeachment an immediate priority when it convenes in Springfield on Monday if the governor continues to cling to office.

"I don't think the Legislature next week should fail to address the issue of impeachment and should move forward immediately. If they don't, they won't be listening to the voters," Quinn told reporters during a nearly hourlong press conference in his Statehouse office.

The state's governor-in-waiting declined to spell out the process he would use to evaluate potential U.S. Senate candidates if the pick becomes his to make, but stressed he would not appoint himself, as Blagojevich had allegedly contemplated doing to short-circuit potential impeachment proceedings in the Legislature.

Quinn also said he would not rule out any of the potential nominees that courted Blagojevich, including U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.).

Federal investigators allege that Blagojevich and his brother Robert, chairman of the governor's campaign fund, were recorded three times in secretly taped telephone conversations discussing how they could get at least $1 million in campaign cash if Blagojevich appointed Jackson to the Senate.

Jackson adamantly denied promising campaign cash to the governor in exchange for the appointment.

Quinn said he had not contacted the governor about his intentions and had not spoken to Blagojevich since August 2007. Quinn said he has been contacted since the federal complaint against Blagojevich by former Gov. James Thompson, who offered his "advice and counsel" to Quinn.

The lieutenant governor also said he attended a Christmas party last night hosted by chief Obama adviser David Axelrod but denied having any conversations with the president-elect or his advisors about the Senate vacancy.

"Axelrod has been a friend of mine for 30 years," Quinn said. "He had his Christmas party last night, and I said hello to him."

The lieutenant governor also threw cold water on a topic that was a focal point in the feds' criminal complaint against Blagojevich: the potential state takeover of Wrigley Field from Tribune Co.

Prosecutors allege that Blagojevich, wife Patti and advisers were caught on tape discussing how the state might sign off on the deal that would net the Tribune a $100 million payday in exchange for a promise from publisher Sam Zell that he would impose layoffs on the newspaper's editorial page, which has been sharply critical of Blagojevich.

"I was never for that," Quinn said when asked his views on a state deal with the Tribune involving Wrigley Field. "I don't think that's a high priority during the economic meltdown in our state. That, to me, is a much higher priority than using funds for a sports franchise."