* I live-blogged this yesterday, so let’s do a quick wrap-up of what we already know and move from there…
Senate Democrats on Tuesday advanced their own version of a proposal to let voters remove the governor and other elected officials, a move critics said was aimed at throwing the recall effort off track by running out the clock.
The competing Senate recall legislation would add local officials such as judges, mayors and county board presidents to the public servants who could be booted.
It also would require both the governor and lieutenant governor to be recalled together rather than just one or the other. That’s because they run together as a team in general elections, said Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago), the new plan’s architect.
* Quinn’s reaction…
Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, a Blagojevich critic and a strong proponent of the recall measure, criticized that provision in committee testimony. “I don’t believe I should have my record judged'’ based on the governor’s record, Quinn said. But he supported the measure anyway, calling it “a moment in history'’ for Illinois.
* There’s no guarantee yet that this will pass…
All 22 Senate Republicans figure to support the plan. But the question will be if or how hard Jones works to keep at least 14 of his members off the ballot initiative to keep it from getting the necessary 36 votes to move to the House.
* And there’s also a disagreement on when Gov. Blagojevich might be recalled if the voters approve it in November…
…the soonest Blagojevich could be recalled would be the 2010 primary, said Sen. Dan Cronin (R-Elmhurst), the amendment’s chief Senate sponsor.
Quinn, however, said a gubernatorial recall could occur as early as “late summer or early fall” of next year.
* There is some hope among Blagojevich allies that this recall proposal might lance the boil and stop or slow talk of impeachment, and Quinn seems to be helping that along…
Despite allegations of potential wrongdoing, it’s too early to launch impeachment proceedings against Gov. Rod Blagojevich, his running mate said Tuesday.
As talk of impeachment echoes through the Statehouse, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said he’d rather see the state Senate give voters the opportunity to recall elected officials.
“I think its time to trust the people,” Quinn said.
* On a related note, Michigan has a recall law, and some angry voters in that troubled state are raising money and organizing to recall the House Speaker and other state legislators….
A group aiming to recall state lawmakers for approving tax increases reports raising more than $100,000 since late October.
The recall effort recently has focused on House Speaker Andy Dillon, a Democrat from Wayne County’s Redford Township.
* There’s also a recall move against Detroit’s mayor…
Wayne County officials approved language for a recall campaign against Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, green-lighting the second effort to oust him since the $8.4 million whistle-blower scandal broke this year.
* The Senate’s somewhat about-face on recall was due in no small part to exploding voter anger. And that helps explain why a constitutional amendment to do away with the state’s flat-tax mandate failed so miserably yesterday. Here are a bunch of stories on that front…
* Illinois Senate rejects sliding income tax proposal
* Legislators reject possible tax overhaul
* Senate rejects income tax amendment
* Senate Dems Chicken Out on Income Tax Hike Measure