Monday, October 11, 2010

Constitutional Amendment for Recall: yea or nay?

Did you read the little white booklet sent out by the Illinois Secretary of State about the Nov. 2nd vote on the constitutional amendment to allow recall of the governor in Illinois?

Did you understand it?

First of all, did you pay any attention to the address panel, where your address as "Residential Customer ILLINOIS" appeared? I wonder what kind of mailing-piece rate the State got from the USPS to run that without a ZIP Code. But what I'm talking about appeared in the lower left-hand corner. OK, so I recognized the Spanish version of advice that the material was also available in English, Chinese, Polish and Spanish.

Right above that was what looked like Chinese to me. Is Chinese the third-most prevalent language in Illinois?

OK, back to the Illinois Constitution... Is it worth $101,070,000 to you to take a shot (figuratively) at recalling a governor? Recall couldn't start until after he was in office for six month. If it wasn't completed before his term ended, the attempt was moot.

Therefore, that leaves only a relatively short window of time to give a governor the boot. Is it worth it?

Seems the impeachment process worked pretty well to boot Blago.

After having my attention called to the "fine print", I shall vote "No" on this constitutional amendment. Has Jack Franks really done us a favor?

1 comment:

Cal Skinner said...

And you should vote, "No."

This is what legislators call a "headline bill."

It gets a headline, but does N-O-T-H-I-N-G!!

It doesn't allow recall of local officials.

It doesn't permit recall of legislators.

It doesn't put judges on the hot seat.

Jack Franks either didn't put such a provision in his original proposal or took it out in order to get something, anything passed that had his name on it.

It is worth than useless, because it gives the appearance of reform.

It is not.

Any governor in as much trouble as this amendment requires one to be in would be impeached, just as Rod Blagojevich--the governor Jack Franks asked for jobs for his friends and family--was impeached.