Dec 17, 2008 1:54 pm US/Central
Supreme Court Rejects Blagojevich Fitness Case
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Seth Perlman/Getty Images
The Illinois Supreme Court has refused to hear a challenge to Gov. Rod Blagojevich's fitness to hold office.
A spokesman said Wednesday that the court rejected the challenge without comment.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan had argued Blagojevich's legal and political troubles are keeping him from performing his duties.
She had argued they amount to a disability, so Blagojevich should have his authority removed temporarily.
Madigan released a statement Wednesday afternoon expressing her disappointment in the Supreme Court decision.
In the statement, she says, "I am disappointed in the Illinois Supreme Court's decision. Because of Gov. Blagojevich's refusal to resign, the State of Illinois is in an unsustainable situation... I am hopeful that the General Assembly will act with deliberate speed."
That was a reference to the impeachment proceedings that have now begun.
The man who would automatically become governor, if and when Rod Blagojevich goes, was hoping for a very different decision as well.
Lieutenant Governor Patrick Quinn said, "It was a disappointing decision. I was hoping the court would act. I think the petition done by Attorney General Lisa Madigan was well done. It deals with the crisis we have in state government. We need leadership and we are not getting it now. There are important decisions that are not being made. "
Quinn says among the most important decision yet to be made is how the state will deal with a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall that gets worse by the day and that the current governor does not seem to be dealing with.
Despite the fact that Blagojevich was taken in handcuffs last week by the FBI, he could remain in office for several months more.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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