Goodbye Blagojevich

With only one Chicago Democrat voting against impeaching Rod Blagojevich, the Illinois House sent articles of impeachment to the Illinois Senate this morning at approximately 10:30 am, making him the first Illinois governor to be impeached in the state's 177 year history.

The committee on Thursday unanimously recommended impeachment based on the criminal charges but other allegations as well -- that Blagojevich expanded a health care program without proper authority, that he circumvented hiring laws to give jobs to political allies, that he spent millions of dollars on foreign flu vaccine that he knew wasn't needed and couldn't be brought into the country.

The Illinois House mustered 114 to vote for impeachment. One, Rep. Milt Patterson (D-Chicago), voted, “No.” Rep. Edna Jeffries (D-Chicago) voted “Present.” Rep. Kenneth Dunkin (D-Chicago) was “excused,” whatever that means.

Click here to view the roll call.

Representative Jefferies stated that he felt that this action should be for the government to decide on. Too bad he doesn't realized he IS the government. Does he not know that they people put their trust in him?

What was Blagojevich doing during all this? Praying? Nope, he was jogging during the debate.

The next step is a trial to be held in the Illinois Senate, where 2/3 of the members will need to find the governor guilty of the charges in order to be removed form office.