Ill. GOP Leader Predicts Unanimous Vote to Oust Blago

Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross predicted Thursday that his fellow lawmakers will all vote to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) before the end of the week.

“My gut is that at the end of the day, there will be a vote, tomorrow, and it’ll probably be a unanimous vote for impeachment of the governor of the state of Illinois, sometime tomorrow,” Cross said on Fox News.

A special Illinois House panel on Thursday recommended the ouster of Blagojevich, who faces charges that he tried to sell a U.S. Senate appointment for personal and political benefits and that he engaged in pay-to-play schemes with Illinois businesses.

Cross didn’t say whether Blagojevich’s Senate appointee, Roland Burris, should be seated. The Republican said that Burris, who is scheduled to testify Thursday about Blagojevich’s impeachment, should answer “legitimate questions” about his relationship with the governor.

“What money has been given to Gov. Blagojevich by Roland Burris?” Cross said. “And what contracts have been received by Roland Burris and his consulting firm? And I think those questions will be asked this afternoon and should be.”

Cross and other Republicans have called for a special election to fill the Senate seat, which was vacated by President-elect Obama.