Here's the text of an e-mail that I received today from Senator Dan Rutherford:
Legislation has been introduced to amend the state Constitution to allow for Recall of an elected official, such as the Governor.
If approved by the General Assembly and, subsequently, the state's voters, the amendment would allow the electorate to Recall statewide officeholders, legislators and judges.
The effort was inspired by California's recall provision, which voters used in 2003 to oust the sitting Governor and bring in Arnold Schwarzenegger.
If Recall became part of the Illinois Constitution, a petition to remove a statewide officeholder, such as the Governor, would require 418,559 signatures. If petitioners were successful in getting that many signatures, the Recall election would then be on the ballot.
The Committee For Legislative Action (CLA) was established in 1995 to bring sunlight to inappropriate government spending and raising Fees and Taxes. The CLA has been asked to help gauge public support on whether Illinois should have a Recall provision or not. CLA is asking for input via the internet on CLA's website and by US postal mail.
CLA has accepted the project to see if 50% of the number necessary to put the question of recalling a Governor on the ballot, 209,280, would "register" their support for such action. The intent is to actually gauge the public's interest. We will periodically update the website on the number that have "registered" in support.
Those that "register" in support of recalling the Governor will be notified of the petition procedure if Recall were to become a part of the Constitution. They will then be offered the opportunity to participate if they desire.
Information is available on the CLA webpage, http://www.CommitteeForLegislativeAction.org Please register your opinion on the question of Recall.
You may also make a donation at https://egon.cmititestbank.com/cla/contribute/contribute.asp or by mailing a check to CLA, 220 West Howard Street, Pontiac IL, 61764, to help fund the outreach. If donating online, be sure and memo in the comments section "Recall" and we will know where to credit it. The infrastructure and database CLA has is quite good and activities are happening at this very moment.
Thank you. We look forward to hearing from you and working on this important project.
Sincerely,
Dan Rutherford
State Senator
Chairman CLA
220 W. Howard Street
Pontiac, IL 61764Paid for by the Committee for Legislative Action. A copy of our report, filed with the State Board of Elections, is available for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois. Contributions or gifts to the Committee for Legislative Action are not deductible for federal or state income tax purposes.
So, maybe, just maybe, we can get Illinois a new governor too?
-Bob
