The Cat-Tribe
13-12-2008, 01:22
From the Chicago Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-blagojevich-lisa-madigan-attorney-general,0,5919374.story):
Atty. General Lisa Madigan called on the Illinois Supreme Court today to temporarily remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office and appoint Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn as acting governor, "so the business of the state of Illinois can go forward."
One of her goals is to prevent Blagojevich from using his power to appoint a U.S. senator to replace President-elect Barack Obama, who abandoned the seat as he prepares to enter the White House.
Madigan also said she wants the court to bar Blagojevich from directing state contracts along with a broad range of state business.
"We think it is very clear he is incapable of serving," Madigan said of the governor during a news conference in downtown Chicago.
She said, "We want to make sure the people of Illinois have a governor who can legitimately fulfill the duties of that office."
Blagojevich has been charged in federal court with trying to sell the seat to the bidder that would help him out politically and financially.
A spokesman for the state Supreme Court confirmed Madigan filed the motion this morning.
Madigan said she is asking the court to intervene because it would be quicker than impeachment. She said papers related to the motion were being delivered to the governor immediately.
In the motion, Madigan argues that, given the nature and severity of the federal corruption allegations against Blagojevich, the Supreme Court should stop the governor from performing his duties. She asks the court to allow Quinn to temporarily assume those duties under the Governor Succession Act in state law.
If the court doesn't hand over the governor's duties to Quinn, Madigan argued, Blagojevich should be blocked from appointing a senator to fill the Obama seat. She also sought to prevent Blagojevich from acting on legislation sent to him by the Illinois House or Senate, directing state agencies in the negotiation and execution of contracts or directing activities of the Illinois tollway.
Madigan also said she wanted the court to prevent Blagojevich from directing the activities of the Illinois Finance Authority, an agency caught up in a funding controversy with Tribune Co. Blagojevich allegedly threatened to withhold state financing to Tribune Co. for assistance with Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs, unless the Chicago Tribune newspaper fired critical editorial board writers. The writers are still on duty.
Further, Madigan called on the court to stop Blagojevich from spending state funds and give the authority to Quinn.
Madigan's motion is untested in the state's history. The case could determine whether the governor is fit to serve.
It is not clear how quickly the Supreme Court could consider Madigan's request.
Here are the related documents:
Motion for temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction (13p pdf) (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-081212-madigan-blagojevich-motion,0,1091467.acrobat)
Brief in support of the motion (28p pdf) (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-081212-madigan-blagojevich-brief,0,7060937.acrobat)
The supporting record (11p pdf) (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-081212-madigan-blagojevich-supporting-record,0,164776.acrobat)
I haven't read all the documents yet, but this is a most unusual motion and I can't really judge its merits -- although the goal it seeks is laudable.
Any comments? concerns? outraged declarations?
Atty. General Lisa Madigan called on the Illinois Supreme Court today to temporarily remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office and appoint Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn as acting governor, "so the business of the state of Illinois can go forward."
One of her goals is to prevent Blagojevich from using his power to appoint a U.S. senator to replace President-elect Barack Obama, who abandoned the seat as he prepares to enter the White House.
Madigan also said she wants the court to bar Blagojevich from directing state contracts along with a broad range of state business.
"We think it is very clear he is incapable of serving," Madigan said of the governor during a news conference in downtown Chicago.
She said, "We want to make sure the people of Illinois have a governor who can legitimately fulfill the duties of that office."
Blagojevich has been charged in federal court with trying to sell the seat to the bidder that would help him out politically and financially.
A spokesman for the state Supreme Court confirmed Madigan filed the motion this morning.
Madigan said she is asking the court to intervene because it would be quicker than impeachment. She said papers related to the motion were being delivered to the governor immediately.
In the motion, Madigan argues that, given the nature and severity of the federal corruption allegations against Blagojevich, the Supreme Court should stop the governor from performing his duties. She asks the court to allow Quinn to temporarily assume those duties under the Governor Succession Act in state law.
If the court doesn't hand over the governor's duties to Quinn, Madigan argued, Blagojevich should be blocked from appointing a senator to fill the Obama seat. She also sought to prevent Blagojevich from acting on legislation sent to him by the Illinois House or Senate, directing state agencies in the negotiation and execution of contracts or directing activities of the Illinois tollway.
Madigan also said she wanted the court to prevent Blagojevich from directing the activities of the Illinois Finance Authority, an agency caught up in a funding controversy with Tribune Co. Blagojevich allegedly threatened to withhold state financing to Tribune Co. for assistance with Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs, unless the Chicago Tribune newspaper fired critical editorial board writers. The writers are still on duty.
Further, Madigan called on the court to stop Blagojevich from spending state funds and give the authority to Quinn.
Madigan's motion is untested in the state's history. The case could determine whether the governor is fit to serve.
It is not clear how quickly the Supreme Court could consider Madigan's request.
Here are the related documents:
Motion for temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction (13p pdf) (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-081212-madigan-blagojevich-motion,0,1091467.acrobat)
Brief in support of the motion (28p pdf) (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-081212-madigan-blagojevich-brief,0,7060937.acrobat)
The supporting record (11p pdf) (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-081212-madigan-blagojevich-supporting-record,0,164776.acrobat)
I haven't read all the documents yet, but this is a most unusual motion and I can't really judge its merits -- although the goal it seeks is laudable.
Any comments? concerns? outraged declarations?