Kay: Impeachment Investigations Should Start In Veto Session

State Representative Candidate Dwight Kay is calling upon the Illinois House to launch the pre-investigative hearings for the impeachment of Governor Blagojevich and to finally introduce an impeachment resolution to start the formal process.  Kay, who has been the leading proponent of impeachment hearings, says that Hoffman’s close relationship as the Governor’s legislative leader makes him incapable of representing local voters in the impeachment process.

A poll of 112^th District voters from mid-June showed more than 65 percent of voters wanted legislators to form the special impeachment committee (poll attached).  Voters in the 112^th District supported the actual impeachment of the Governor by a more than 2:1 margin.

“Jay Hoffman is the lead-defender of the Governor.  His relationship with Rod Blagojevich makes him incapable of representing voters on what is likely to be the biggest issue in front of the General Assembly in 2009,” said Kay.

In July, Kay launched a website, ImpeachTheGov.com, which has collected more than 1,300 signatures in favor of impeachment, a majority from within the 112^th District.

“The Governor’s conduct – whether trying to impose the Gross Receipts Tax, side-step the legislature on healthcare expansion, shielding himself from new ethics reforms, or refusing to answer for the multitude of unethical practices – has been an embarrassment to Illinois.  He has tried to rule as a dictator and has lost the confidence of the public, the legislature, and even his own party,” said Kay.

Kay said that there are plenty of issue-based reasons for impeachment, plus the ongoing investigations into Pay-to-Play fundraising practices and the Blagojevich and Hoffman connections talked about in the prosecution of Tony Rezko.

“Hoffman is admittedly one of his closest advisors and friends,” said Kay.  “If the Governor’s possible impeachment or indictment looks to be the most important issue in 2009, Hoffman is simply not qualified or impartial enough to represent the voters of the 112^th District.”

Kay says there is more than enough evidence to start the first step: an impeachment investigation.

“If elected, the first item I will file in January will be a resolution to start a formal impeachment investigation,” said Kay.  “If voters choose Jay Hoffman in November, our representative will instead spend next term as the Governor’s chief defender.  It’s the most important difference between us.”