January 29, 2009/bc

SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) today joined Senate colleagues in voting to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office. The unanimous 59 to 0 vote came following a four day Senate trial which detailed charges the Governor abused his power and embarked on a pattern of insider “pay-to-play” deals aimed at boosting his campaign war-chest.

“Given the evidence in this case, the Senate had no choice but to remove the Governor,” Syverson said. “Since taking office, he consistently put his personal interests before the good of the people which often resulted in violations of state and federal laws. That type of behavior cannot be tolerated in our public officials, and the Senate acted accordingly.”

Syverson said he hoped incoming governor Pat Quinn would cast aside the partisan tactics of the Blagojevich years, and work with both political parties in good faith.

“I think people are tired of the partisan games and ego-driven battles we’ve seen over the past six years,” Syverson said. “I look forward to working with the new Governor in good faith to help address the fiscal and economic challenges we are facing in Illinois.”

January 14, 2009/bc

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Today State Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) announced State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) will be joining her on the Senate Republican leadership team. Syverson will be serving as the Caucus Chair, a position charged with helping develop ongoing policy and future strategy for the Senate Republican Caucus.

“I am very pleased to have Dave as a member of our leadership,” Radogno said. “His knowledge of state budget issues and determination to reform state government will be invaluable as we head into the difficult months ahead. I look forward to working with him closely in trying to bring fiscal discipline and honest government back to Springfield.”

“I am honored and humbled to be asked to serve as part of the Republican leadership,” Syverson said. “This appointment will give me a greater opportunity to address my constituents’ concerns, and to shape the policy affecting the people of the state-line area.”

Syverson has served in the Illinois Senate since 1993. He currently serves on the Senate Appropriations, Human Services, Transportation and Insurance committees.

January 9, 2009/bc

SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) says the Illinois Senate stands ready to conduct the trial of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, now that the Illinois House has formally impeached the chief executive.

“This is a responsibility I take very seriously,” said Syverson, who had called for the impeachment process to begin after the governor’s December arrest. “The charges against the governor are very grave, but I think every senator is determined to conduct a fair and comprehensive trial.”

Syverson said he hopes the Senate trial is thorough and methodical, given the wide-ranging allegations the governor is faced with, from allegedly trying to sell the Illinois Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama, to linking campaign contributions to official state business, to growing his health care expansion plan without a legal authority or funding source.

“This situation goes way beyond merely the sale of the Senate seat,” Syverson said. “The evidence brought before the Illinois House suggests that many aspects of the governor’s decision-making were based on pay-to-play deals, political retribution against his opponents and an unwillingness to follow the rule of law. The people of Illinois deserve to know the truth of how deep this scandal runs, and the only way that is possible is through a fair and thorough trial in the Senate.”

While Syverson says he expects members of both parties to work together to conduct a fair trial, he noted that many of the Democrat legislators who are now calling for the governor’s removal enabled his troubled administration over the last six years.

“It’s refreshing to see such strong bipartisan support in favor of moving ahead with the impeachment and removal process, but the governor has acted recklessly from day one,” Syverson said. “Many of his fiercest Democrat critics of today were his key allies of yesterday, defending his administration and helping him pass questionable policies that have crippled our state’s finances and put us in the dire fiscal situation we’re in. The governor will be held accountable through a fair trial – but where is the accountability for them?”