News From

State Representative Ron Stephens

For Immediate Release: January 9, 2008

Contact: Rep. Stephens

618-651-0405

Illinois House votes to impeach Governor

Springfield…. The Illinois House of Representatives voted 114-1 Friday to impeach Democrat Governor Rod Blagojevich for abuse of power, according to Representative Ron Stephens (R-Highland). The vote marks the first time in Illinois history a sitting governor was impeached.

“This is not a day to be celebrated,” Rep. Stephens said. “Through his actions, the Governor has disgraced the state of Illinois and made us a national joke. Instead of cleaning up Illinois as he promised six years ago when he was first elected, he has added to the state’s already long-standing reputation for corruption.”

The impeachment process now heads to Senate, where the Governor will be tried. If he is found guilty in the Senate by a two-thirds vote, the Governor will be expelled from office.

The House vote comes 31 days after the Governor was arrested for allegedly trying to sell the Senate seat of the President-Elect. According to Stephens though, the Governor was impeached for a wide variety of infractions.

“The Governor has historically abused his power and office,” Stephens said. “His impeachment today did not come as the direct result of just one infraction. It was the culmination of his sins.”

Stephens cited the Governor’s refusal to resign despite facing potential serious criminal charges as one reason he voted for impeachment. Stephens went on to say the current state of the state also was considered in his decision.

“The Governor has steered Illinois into catastrophic shape,” Stephens said. “We are facing a record-high budget deficit, missed Medicaid payments, soaring unemployment and a generally weak economy. This is not the time to have a distracted leader, worried more about possibly going to prison than doing the work of the people.”

Stephens said the hard work of rebuilding the public’s trust in their elected officials must begin immediately.

“We need to show the people of Illinois that we are not all cut from the same cloth as the Governor,” Stephens said. “Elected officials around the state need to work toward making Illinois known more for its achievements and less for its embarrassments.”

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