Michael Madigan forming Blago impeachment committee

So it begins...

From AP:

Illinois' House speaker took the first step Monday toward impeaching scandal-plagued Gov. Rod Blagojevich, appointing a special committee to recommend whether he should be ousted after his arrest on federal corruption charges.

"We're going to proceed with all due speed, but we're going to make sure that what we do is done correctly," said House Speaker Michael Madigan, who often has clashed with fellow Democrat Blagojevich.

Once the committee comes up with a recommendation, the full House will formally decide whether to file impeachment charges. The Senate ultimately would rule on them.

Not that he would stick his neck out this far, but Barack Obama's onetime mentor, State Senate President Emil Jones, Jr., is retiring. Jones is, or was, the rarest of Springfield birds--even before the governor was arrested--he was a close Blago ally.

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