Politics

Viewer Comments On Stalled Recall Amendment

The amendment that would allow voters to recall elected officials stalled in the Illinois State Senate Wednesday. We asked if you favor the idea of recalling elected officials. Here are some of your responses:

I do agree that we need the Recall Amendment. It should be an amendment for the whole United States. From the President on down to the local and State Government. --Joan

I think this legislation is long over due. Illinois has had corruption problems with its elected officials for many years now, and they should be thrown out of office, by the people.If they cannot or will not follow the laws set forth in the Constitution that the Founding Fathers has set up for them to follow, then they have no business being in public office.The days for the politicians that lie to the voting public, and weasel their way into public office, just so they can have a cushy job for themselves and their buddies are over.We want honest Constitution-abiding politicians that will honestly represent the will and the needs of the people of this state. If they can't represent the people in Illinois than get them out of office. -- Mike

Yes I would like the chance to recall any elected official. Make them accountable to the people that elected them. --Glen


Blago is the worst governor in my lifetime. he should face recall, rightfully so. What bothers me is there are politicians that feel the constitution shouldn't be changed to allow this. Mr. Jones, please do the voters a service and resign. Why are you and your cohorts holding this process up? Seems to me, the voters aren't being heard and that Chicago is the capital of Illinois. --Tom Corbett


It's no surprise that Emil Jones, Jr. and his corrupt cronies oppose the recall amendment bill... why should they support it? They play "kissy face" with our dear Governor, and, without him, they would lose many of the perks and privileges they've received. Illinois needs a recall amendment... and maybe it SHOULD extend to all elected officials. I can name at least one other crooked politician (Cook County Board President Todd Stroger) who should also be booted out for deceiving the people.
--Mike B.


Oh yes most definitely. I think that having a recall of state elected officials would make them take a more significant role in goverment eliminating most of the corruption for which ILLIONS POLITICS for what it is known for Especially during the CIVIL WAR and Mr LINCOLN for which the state is known for and it woulk keep corupter officals out. --Mike


Considering Chicago / Illinois politics, it would be in the best interest of the people of Illinois to have the recall amendment passed. --Barry Tarleton

I do agree with the recall amendment, but that it should only apply after the current Governors term is over. Otherwise this truly looks supscious and reeks of political mess! -- Kelly

Progressive and long over due. Given some of the state officals and others in public office they finally may realize they can be held accountable. – Martin Rudolph

It's about time that the people should have the right to recall an elected official who is not doing their job, or is using their clout to benefit themselves or family & friends. Besides the governor, who would be the first targeted recall, there are other state & local officials that deserve the same attention by the People of Illinois. This bill should not be held up by the State Senate. – Layne Gabiner

Should we be allowed to recall elected state officials? Absolutely. The answer's a no-brainer; ironically, so are most Illinois politicians from the Governor on down, which is why we need the law in the first place. – Joe Sinkovits

There should be a recall provision in the State constitution. The Senate should agree to the House version. – Norma Watkins

My family and I think it is the best idea to have "recall' of state officals. We are the only state in the union that has put 3 former governors in jail. I think that is sick. There are alot of people that are in high positions now that should be removed. No names need to be mentioned. Thank you in advance for giving "the people" a chance to be able to have a say in this. – Donna Sparrow

I think it should have been done long ago. Just like any other job you're hired into. If you don't fulfill your duty, you're out. – Ron H.

Yes recall them... Now – Robert

I am in favor of a proposal to recall state officials. I believe the people that elect an official should be able to recall them if they do not do as they stated they were going to do in the campaign. If they are involved in any illegal or corrupt activity, we should not have to wait for the next election to be rid of that official. I think it should be a vote by the people not the politicians in office to decide if we can recall them. – Jane Graves

I favor an amendment that would allow voters to recall elected officials. There should be no obligation for the public to be subjected to leadership that has proven to be grossly negligent and ineffective as a policy maker. Most americans have to be productive to some extent in order retain their jobs, this should apply to politicians as well. – Chris Johnson

I like it; the voters should be given the opportunity to make recall the law in Illinois.We should have a similar law for local elected officals as well as Senators and Reps. – John Hoeger

We need this on the ballot. The people need a start in regaining their voice in how this state/country is run. Right now our elected officals are concerned about one thing THEMSELVES. Their pay, pension perks friends not the people who elected them. We need to have more say – Daniel Ahern

I love this idea. One of the reasons that some politicians are so corrupt is that there is no immedidate repercussions to pay for their wrong doing. If politicians are aware that they can be immediately removed from office for corruptness or failure to do their jobs, they might be less likely to do so. If they knew their jobs were on the line every day, that would be their insentive to perform better and honestly. – Armando Varela

Oh boy, you bet I do. This man has managed screw up most everything in the State of Illinois. I imagine if he could sell Illinois to a foreign country he would. He has caused more debt and more heartache for all. – Janette

Elected officials should be held accountable for conducting government business in the public's best interest. I think the standard for recalling an elected official should be higher than the 50% of votes cast it took to put them in office. – David Billingham

Absolutely! We've been thinking that a long time ago. – Donna Johnson

YES! With so many politicians running all but unopposed, it's our only hope of reform. – Betsy Burns

Where does it say a political office holder can't be fired. You fire a mechanic if he repeatedly did not fix your car. It just seems like common sense, add that to the list of traits our elected officials seem not to have. No integrity, honesty, common sense. – Ethan Jones

I don't agree with it because people vote for certain electives and whoever wins deserves it. It's not right. – Debra

I'm soory that it is needed, but with the state our state government is in, we can't afford not to be able to recall the governer. – Elizabeth Hallaron

I deffinately agree that we should be able to recall state officals. If I don't do my job, I get fired then and there, not two to four years down the road like politicians at re-election time. We the voters 'hire' them at election time and should be able to 'fire' them at any time! – Christopher

We should have the ability to remove elected officials who are not effective or who are costing tax payers millions without waiting until the next election. This should not be taken lightly or overused but we do need to have that right. After how much our Governor cost the state with overtime sessions, commuting costs, and so on, we can't continue to have a governor that doesn't respect other elected officials, doesn't understand checks and balances, and can't compromise. We, the citizens, are footing the bill as well as dealing with the problems of not have a governor that leads. – Cynthia Rung

Absolutely necessary!!!!!!! These politicos were so smart when they rewrote the constitution in the 1970's cuz they new they would get recalled out of office post haste if they ever let it pass – Richard Ullrich

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