Blago: Governor-recall idea OK by him
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Monday he's OK with the idea of allowing Illinois voters to recall a governor from office, a concept being pushed by a Republican state lawmaker. </font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Blagojevich added there should be term limits for lawmakers.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"I think the concept and the idea of having people have the ability to recall their elected officials and put term limits on terms is a good idea and one I've supported since I've been in elected office," Blagojevich, a former state legislator and congressman, said at an unrelated Chicago appearance.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">The governor, however, dismissed Sen. Dan Cronin's motives as "Republican partisan politics." Cronin, the Elmhurst-based chairman of the DuPage County Republican Party, said he filed his Calfornia-style resolution this week at a time when "people are really unhappy with this governor." </font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">He said his long-shot proposal to add a recall provision to the Illinois Constitution would require a three-fifths' majority of support in the House and Senate and also approval from voters. Thereafter, they could yank a governor or other constitutional officer through referendum.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">If all goes well, Illinoisans could be deciding Blagojevich's fate as early as November 2008, Cronin said, adding that his idea would be to hold a new election, rather than have a lieutenant governor complete the state executive's term.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"(Lt. Gov.) Pat Quinn's a fine fellow," Cronin said. "It's not about giving him a promotion."</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Blagojevich has been publicly feuding with most legislative leaders over a new budget, and he arguably has received more bad press than they have in the ongoing impasse that threatens to shut down state government. The governor made light of his status among some Illinoisans by recounting the negative reaction he received from a Springfield resident while jogging through the capital recently.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"After I ran past him," Blagojevich said, "I heard him say, 'Hey, governor, you -'... I better not say the next word, but it rhymes with 'luck.'"</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">An aide to Blagojevich said the expletive started with an S.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Mike Ramsey can be reached at (312) 857-2323 or ghns-ramsey@sbcglobal.net.</font>