Will County Gazette

Veteran Illinois State Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) is throwing his support behind a GOP sponsored proposal that would grant voters the power to initiate recall proceedings against elected officials in Springfield.

"What we need in Illinois is more accountability for office holders,” Oberweis told the Will County Gazette. “The influence peddling and insider dealing we see all too often in Springfield goes largely unchecked. If citizens had the right to bring a recall referendum directly to the ballot, politicians might think twice before crossing ethical lines.”

While voters have held such powers in the case of the governor for more than a decade now, Oberweis says, much of what is now playing out in Springfield strongly points to the need for those powers to be extended.

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) | File Photo

Currently, longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) finds himself at the center of a still unfolding federal corruption investigation. This investigation allegedly involves ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme where probes were allegedly steered to him in exchange for favorable legislation. 

At the same time, whispers of dissent about Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s (D) handling of the COVID-19 crisis are becoming more audible by the day.

“We need to root out corruption once and for all,” Oberweis said. “Maybe citizen led recall efforts are a way to do this.”

The proposal put forth by state Rep. Mark Batinick and state Sen. Jason Barickman, measure would require voters from at least 25 counties across the state signing off on a recall petition. In addition, a bipartisan group of current state representatives and senators must also endorse the action.

Finally, to start the recall process against statewide lawmakers, the plan would require signatures from 12% of the voters who cast votes for governor in the prior election. The issue would require the vote of at least 60% of all voters in order for an official to be shown the door via the recall process.