In my political travels, both real-world and virtual, I have witnessed much discussion about the Illinois Governor's election contest. Much of the recent discussion among Republicans has centered upon what support, if any, Republican challenger Judy Baar Topinka can expect from the 60%+ of Republican voters who voted for a different candidate in the March 21 Primary Election. That discussion strikes me as a bit misguided, both in substance and spirit.

The real question that bears discussion concerns how and why Illinois voters would even consider granting Governor Rod Blagojevich, (D) - Chicago Machine, another four-year opportunity to assault the people of Illinois with his tyrannical exercise of executive power and usurpation of our laws, our State Legislature, and our constitutional freedoms. This man has single-handedly thumbed his nose at the will of the people, expressed through our Illinois Statutes and overreached the executive authority granted his office by the Illinois Constitution. He has also trampled on the exercise of Civil Rights protected by Title VII, U.S.C., particularly freedom of conscience.

At this writing, we witness continued gridlock in our General Assembly over the Governor's proposed budget.  News of the latest back room deal between Daley lackeys Blagojevich, Jones, and Madigan is slow to seep out. Another $15 Million in funding for controversial Embryonic Stem Cell Research was disingenuously buried in that budget, despite claims that the Blagojevich administration would submit separate legislation for ESR funding to the GA for public debate. One must recall that the Illinois General Assembly has twice before voted down similar ESR public funding measures.

It should also be noted that Governor Blagojevich issued an executive order last year 'creating' the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute, ostensibly to fund controversial Embryonic Stem Cell Research after the GA adjourned, thereby usurping the role and authority of our Illinois Legislature.

I note that it was one year ago today that a public controversy boiled over another Blagojevich gubernatorial edict (AKA executive order) aimed squarely at denying freedom of conscience to Illinois pharmacists. The Governor's so-called 'emergency rule', forcing pharmacists to dispense the controversial 'morning-after pill' abortifacient, despite their moral and religious reservations regarding that act, resulted in the filing of a lawsuit against the Governor and his administration in the Circuit Court of the 19th Judicial Circuit of Lake County. The suit sought relief for a pharmacist from enforcement of the emergency rule on the grounds that the rule violated the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act, that clearly holds that public policy of the State of Illinois is to “respect and protect the right of conscience” of all health-care professionals in the conduct of their duties.

Both of these cases clearly demonstrate Governor Blagojevich's calculated disrespect for the rule of law and the will of the people of Illinois. The Governor seeks to govern by edict, rather than by promotion of legislation that seeks approval through reasoned public debate. He has repeatedly demonstrated a pattern of callous disregard for the role and authority of other branches of Illinois State Government.

If this were not an election year, the loud calls for impeachment of Governor Rod Blagojevich might well echo from Rockford to Rosiclaire. But his removal from office will be more expeditiously realized by the People of Illinois, on November 7th, by secret ballot.

Don Castella, Chairman - Vernon Township Republican Central Committee

 

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