From the Tribune:

Recall measure gathers momentum, targets Gov. Blagojevich
By Kevin McDermott

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Blagojevich’s recent performance in office has been “a profound disappointment” that should convince Illinois to pass a California-style recall-election law, Blagojevich’s own lieutenant governor said Thursday.

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn stopped short of calling for Blagojevich’s removal. But Quinn said public anger at Blagojevich has created “a moment in history” that could finally get a recall mechanism approved in Illinois.

“If someone is doing a bad job in a private employment job, the employer doesn’t have to wait four years to let them go,” Quinn said in a news conference.

Quinn has long supported a recall mechanism, but the timing of Thursday’s announcement was significant. The Chicago Tribune and others have begun a drumbeat lately demanding Blagojevich’s removal for what one editorial called his “multiple ineptitudes.”

Quinn insisted he wasn’t “personalizing” the issue around fellow Democrat Blagojevich.

“I believe in recall (authority), period, whether it’s applied to the incumbent governor or any elected official,” Quinn said.

But the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, was unambiguous about his own motives.

“This governor is the poster child for recall,” Franks said.

As Quinn stood nearby, Franks cited a litany of controversies surrounding Blagojevich, including allegations of insider influence, a federal corruption probe and political gridlock in Springfield.

Some downstate lawmakers also support a recall measure. State Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, has called for one, and state Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline, said he plans to push the issue next year.

State Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, is using a campaign fund and Web site poll to take stock of what Illinois residents think about it. Rutherford said he’s in the middle of sending 50,000 mailings across the state to draw attention to the poll.

It’s unscientific, but of about 2,000 votes cast so far, 94 percent support allowing recalls in general and 71 percent support recalling Blagojevich. Rutherford said he’s not advocating for or against recall.

“We’ve been very careful about not wanting to do that,” he said.

Franks’ legislation would seek a constitutional amendment allowing petition recall of politicians during their terms. Even if it is put on the November 2008 ballot, approved, and then utilized, the earliest Blagojevich could face the voters’ wrath is mid-2009, about a year and half before his current term in office ends.

Like California’s recall law, the Illinois system would choose a new governor while removing the old one. That process is how California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger initially took office.

Blagojevich won re-election last year but has since been mired in political showdowns with leaders of his own party. He has repeatedly ordered legislators to Springfield with no clear purpose, is suing the Democratic House speaker, and allegedly made threatening physical gestures at one senator during a confrontation over health care funding.

The ruckus almost shut down state government earlier this year, still threatens school funding and has torpedoed Blagojevich’s once-formidable popularity.

Two recent Illinois polls both put his positive approval rating under 25 percent — lower than President Bush —in a solidly Democratic state.

Blagojevich has supported the concept of recall legislation in the past. Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch argued that Blagojevich is doing “exactly what he told voters he would do” in fighting for health care and other issues that have caused some of the current conflict.

Mike Riopell of the Lee Springfield Bureau contributed to this report.