Senate rejects recall proposal

EMIL JONES | 'No piece of legislation should be aimed at any individual'

SPRINGFIELD -- Senate President Emil Jones and his allies Thursday killed a proposed constitutional amendment that would have given voters the right to fire Gov. Blagojevich or other state and local officeholders they deem corrupt or incompetent.

"No piece of legislation should ever be aimed at any individual," said Jones (D-Chicago), Blagojevich's chief ally in the Legislature. "It's wrong."

The proposal -- sparked by scandals surrounding the governor -- needed 36 votes to pass but got just 33. Twenty-one Democrats voted "no" or "present," dooming the initiative.

The proposal would have placed a question on this fall's ballot on whether to change the state Constitution to permit the recall of state officeholders, judges and local officials.

"State government is hemorrhaging with scandal and corruption," said Sen. Dan Cronin (R-Elmhurst), the proposal's chief Senate sponsor. "Citizens, taxpayers, schoolchildren, they deserve better."

Last fall, the governor expressed support for a recall amendment, but his administration worked to ensure its defeat.

A spokeswoman for Blagojevich declined to discuss the vote Thursday.

The Senate quickly adjourned after the vote, rebuffing Republican attempts to revive a House-passed recall plan that Jones bottled up.

Sunday's the deadline for both legislative chambers to approve the recall amendment, which would have been presented to voters in November for their approval. But the Senate doesn't reconvene until next week.

Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville) predicted the vote would haunt Democratic candidates come election time.

"It was a blatant power play against the people of this state," Watson said.

Contributing: Jaclyn Brenning