Schock statement on Blagojevich impeachment vote
CONGRESSMAN AARON SCHOCK STATEMENT ON HIS FORMER COLLEAGUES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTING TO IMPEACH GOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH
(Washington, DC) Congressman Aaron Schock today expressed relief that the Illinois House of Representatives voted to impeach Governor Rod Blagojevich and issued the following statement:
The vote of my former colleagues in the House today is the first step toward ending the nightmare that Rod Blagojevich is for the State of Illinois.
The next step is a trial in the Senate. Of course it is easier for the House to vote for charges of impeachment and another matter altogether for the Senate to consider the merits of those charges
However, the systematic corruption of this Governor has been clear for any objective person for several years now. Having reviewed the House charges and with the nearly unanimous vote of the House, I see absolutely no reason for a supermajority of the Senate to not follow through and remove this cancer from Illinois’ government.
Long before the astonishing transcripts of wiretaps by the U.S. Attorney’s office were released it was clear to all who followed Illinois government that we had the equivalent of an organized crime ring systematically shaking down people who dealt with Illinois government for personal and political gain. It was racketeering pure and simple.
That is why as far back as 2005, it was reported in newspaper headlines that I called Rod Blagojevich the most corrupt Governor in Illinois’ history—and that was despite ex-Governor George Ryan being in prison at the time.
As someone who just left the Illinois General Assembly this week to serve in the U.S. Congress, I regret not having been able to cast a vote for impeaching Governor Blagojevich myself but I am beyond gratified that Joan Krupa was able to do so in my place.
Again, with my first-hand knowledge of Illinois government, I can say that while removing Rod Blagojevich from Illinois government will be a huge step in the right direction regarding both the corruption and dysfunction that has become the norm in the Statehouse, it will not solve those problems in and of itself. There is still more work to be done on both fronts by both Illinois’ public officials and by vigilance of the people of Illinois to not get worn down or cynical that the system cannot be changed. Nothing less than an honest, transparent and effective government should be tolerated or settled for by the people of Illinois.
I am proud of what my former colleagues did today in their historic action to overwhelming vote for impeachment charges of Rod Blagojevich.
