Amid heated debate and personal invective, the proposed recall amendment stalled in the state senate yesterday. Rep. Jack Franks, the House Democrat who drafted the bill, said that it was aimed at Blagojevich. "I wouldn't have drafted it if I thought things were going well," Franks said. Along with Franks, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, who supports recall, urged senators to pass the bill before May 4, the deadline to get the amendment before voters on the November ballot. "This Senate has to have the fortitude not to duck the issue," Quinn said. Jones said it was unfair to give the senate so little time to consider such a bill. "You waited all that time to force us at that deadline," Jones said. "We have an obligation over here as well." more ›

Lt Governor Pat Quinn called on Rod Blagojevich to "rock the system" this weekend by leading the fight to pass a recall amendment to the state constitution. "If you really want to rock the system and end business as usual, recall is the ultimate weapon," said Quinn in a statement to the press. "Governor Blagojevich has long said that he joins me in supporting the voters' right to recall unfit, inept or dishonest elected officials. I hope he will join me in testifying in favor of HJRCA28 at Wednesday’s hearing in the Senate and demand a straight up-or-down Senate vote on this historic Recall Amendment." more ›