Pass the popcorn. It’s going to be a bumpy ride to 2010 in Illinois.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITI…
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn called Friday for Sen. Roland Burris to resign.
“At this time we have a senator who has a cloud over his head,” Quinn said at a news conference. “It’s time (for Burris) to put the interest of the people of the land of Lincoln ahead of his own and step aside and resign from office.
“I think very highly of his career. He’s done so many good things,” Quinn said. “But at this time… to step away and resign (would be) a heroic act.”
It was a “gigantic mistake” for Burris to accept a Senate appointment from disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Quinn said. Quinn replaced Blagojevich when he was removed from office last month.
The Senate Ethics Committee has launched an investigation of Burris in the wake of disclosures that he spoke with Blagojevich’s brother about possibly raising money for the former governor. Watch troubles mount for Burris ยป
The Sangamon County, Illinois, state’s attorney is also considering whether to file perjury charges against Burris.
Burris insisted Wednesday that he was innocent of any wrongdoing in his appointment to the Senate seat formerly held by President Obama.
“It is time to “squarely address the issue and do what’s right for the public interest,” Quinn said. iReport.com: Should Burris resign?
Quinn said he supported a bill introduced in the Illinois legislature that would set up a special election for all future U.S. Senate vacancies.
Illinois needs a “clear process for dealing with the issue of vacancies when it comes to the United States Senate,” Quinn said.
The bill would allow the governor to set the date of a special Senate primary within 72 days of the vacancy. A general election would follow within six weeks after the primary.
The governor would be empowered to name a temporary replacement until the special election.
Quinn said that if given the power to name a replacement he would not name someone with an interest in running in the special election.
Quinn was sworn in as Illinois’ governor on January 29. He had been serving as the state’s lieutenant governor until Blagojevich was removed from office.