December 16, 2008/bc

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The U.S. Senate seat formerly held by President-elect Barack Obama belongs to the people of Illinois, but is in danger of being hijacked by political insiders, State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) warned today.

Lawmakers were called back to Springfield on Monday and Tuesday to vote on a measure setting up a special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat. However, following dissent by Democrat Party insiders, Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) and House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) adjourned the General Assembly without taking a vote on the issue.

“Last week we had strong bipartisan support for a special election to give the people the opportunity to choose their next senator,” Syverson said. “President-elect Obama and Sen. Durbin were both supportive of a special election, and the public continues to be strongly in favor of it. By blocking a special election, President Jones and Speaker Madigan are denying the public a voice, and embarking on the same insider political games we’ve seen these past six years under Gov. Blagojevich.”

Syverson and other members of the Senate Republican Caucus called Tuesday for public and media pressure to force Democrats in the legislature to allow the public to pick the next U.S. Senator from Illinois.

“The Democrat leadership of this state seems intent on keeping Illinois on the path set by Gov. Blagojevich – the path of insider games and backroom deals,” Syverson said. “The people of our state are the ones who should select our next U.S. senator, not a bunch of Chicago politicians.”

December 15, 2008/bc

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The people, not politicians, should decide who should replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate, according to State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford). Syverson is backing a measure that provides for a one-time special election to fill the Senate vacancy.

“People are tired with the political gamesmanship that has characterized Democratic rule in Illinois,” Syverson said. “The decision to appoint our next senator shouldn’t be made in a backroom, it should be decided by the people of Illinois.”

Under the measure, the special election primary would be held concurrently with the consolidated primary election to be held on February 24, 2009, and the special election would be held concurrently with the consolidated general election to be held on April 7, 2009 if it becomes law before January 1, 2009. If the bill becomes law after the first of the year, the special primary election would be held on the same day as the consolidated general election (April 7, 2009), and the special general election would be held on May 26, 2009.

Syverson criticized plans by House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) to have his chamber leave Springfield without considering the special election measure.

“Only a few days ago, the Democratic leadership promised to move ahead with legislation giving the people of Illinois the opportunity to select our next senator through a special election,” Syverson said. “It’s unfortunate Speaker Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) seem to be backing away from that commitment.”

Rockford senator says it’s time for lawmakers to move ahead with impeachment.

December 12, 2008/bc

SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) is expressing deep skepticism about Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s move to have the Illinois Supreme Court remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office.

Syverson agrees the governor should be removed, but says the best course of action would be through the impeachment process, which would give lawmakers the chance to closely investigate the charges against Blagojevich.

“To remove the governor the way the Attorney General wants to would put us down a slippery slope,” Syverson said. “To have the Supreme Court come in and summarily remove a sitting governor could set a dangerous precedent for the future. There’s no question the charges against Gov. Blagojevich are reprehensible and, if true, he doesn’t deserve to serve. But the better way to do it is through a comprehensive impeachment process where we can thoroughly consider the governor’s questionable actions.”

The Rockford senator expressed skepticism as to why Madigan was pursuing the governor’s removal now, when his conduct throughout his administration has always been highly dubious.

“Since taking office in 2003, the governor has embarked on a pretty transparent policy of rewarding his political donors and allies with state contracts and jobs,” Syverson said. “Many lawmakers on my side of the aisle have been urging a closer scrutiny and investigation of the governor for years. It’s a little puzzling why Attorney General Madigan has waited so long to pursue the governor’s removal when his actions have been raising red flags since practically the day he took his hand off the Bible at his first swearing in.”

In other news, Syverson urged local residents to visit a new Web site, set up by the Senate Republican caucus, detailing the impeachment process and what it could mean for Illinois.

The Web site, which can be found at www.impeachment.senategop.net contains sections on the background and procedures for impeachment and trial, discusses the Illinois Constitution’s provisions for impeachment and looks at the Senate Rules adopted in 1832, the last time there was an impeachment trial in the Illinois Senate.

December 9, 2008/bc

SPRINGFIELD, IL – It’s time for Illinois to move ahead with impeachment proceedings against indicted Gov. Rod Blagojevich, says State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford). The senator today is calling on Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) and House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) to promptly convene a special session to address the impeachment and removal of the governor.

“The governor’s arrest has destroyed his ability to govern in any legitimate way,” Syverson said. “The General Assembly needs to immediately call a special session to begin the impeachment process, so we can move beyond this scandal and get back to the work of the people. Today Illinois faces a fiscal crisis of historic proportions thanks to the governor’s policies, including a $4 billion backlog in unpaid bills and a massive budget deficit. Come this January, we will need a full-time chief executive who can work with lawmakers to tackle these problems. Our current governor’s legal entanglements have rendered that impossible unless he is removed from office.”

While Syverson stressed Blagojevich like all accused defendants, deserves the presumption of innocence under the legal system, he said the governor’s arrest is a wake-up call that Illinois needs to move forward with tougher ethics reform measures that would shed more sunshine into government and curb “pay-to-play” politics.

“Illinois and the City of Chicago have long held the reputation of being the wild, wild West when it comes to government corruption,” Syverson said. “The governor’s arrest, while unfortunate, will hopefully strengthen efforts by myself and other lawmakers who have been trying to reform the system and end the ‘pay-to-play’ we’ve seen under the past two administrations. It’s crucial we have a new governor in January who can start off with a clean slate, and who will work with lawmakers to clean up our government and address the major problems facing our state budget and economy.”