Jan 9, 2009 5:47 pm US/Central
Gov: Vote No Surprise, Blames House 'Struggle'
Governor Blames House For Blocking His Efforts To Fight For The People
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Gov. Rod Blagojevich, responding to the Illinois House's vote to impeach him, said he has been "engaged in a struggle with the House" since his reelection in 2006, and that the result of today's vote was a foregone conclusion.
During the Friday afternoon news conference, Blagojevich touted his efforts to improve health care and cut property taxes for Illinois residents. He says members of the House resisted those efforts, and he contends his impeachment is related to their ongoing dispute.
"From the very moment of my re-election, I've been engaged in a struggle with the House to try to get things done for people," Blagojevich said.
The governor and his aides produced a dozen or so everyday citizens, Illinoisans Blagojevich said had been helped by some of the governor's programs, such as the health insurance plan for children and teenagers.
The Illinois House fought him on the program, he said. That's why they impeached him.
"I took action with the advice of lawyers and experts to find creative ways to use the executive authority of the governor to help the people who rely on us," Blagojevich said.
"In many cases the things we did for people saved lives. I don't believe these are impeachable offenses," Blagojevich said.
The governor reiterated he is not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing and, gesturing toward the group gathered next to him said, "They hired me to fight for them and I'm going to fight for them every step of the way."
He ended the news conference by quoting a poem from "Ulysses" by Lord Alfred Tennyson, ending with: "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
Lt. Gov. Quinn is not so sure of Blagojevich's innocence.
"The governor did not address the central issue which is the abuse of power that he has maintained," Lt. Gov Pat Quinn said.
Quinn said he had hoped Blagojevich would resign Friday.
"The people of Illinois want a governor who can be their leader," Quinn said. "Governor Blagojevich has lost the confidence of the people of Illinois. He's lost the consent of the governed."
CBS 2's Mike Parker and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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