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SR0497 |
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LRB096 15431 KXB 30619 r |
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| SENATE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been |
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| indicted on 16 racketeering, fraud, and extortion charges; and
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| WHEREAS, Authorities have accused him of embarking on a |
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| "wide-ranging scheme to deprive the people of Illinois of |
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| honest government"; and
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| WHEREAS, The charges against him include seeking the sale |
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| of President Barack Obama's former United States Senate seat to |
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| the highest bidder; and
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| WHEREAS, The severity of the charges against Rod |
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| Blagojevich led the Illinois General Assembly to impeach him |
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| and remove him from the Governor's Office; and
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| WHEREAS, The Illinois Senate vote to remove him from office |
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| was unanimous; and
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| WHEREAS, The former Governor's poor fiscal management of |
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| the State of Illinois has led to record-breaking budget |
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| deficits and debt; and
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| WHEREAS, Through his reckless and selfish actions, Rod |
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| Blagojevich damaged the reputation of Illinois and its |
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SR0497 |
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LRB096 15431 KXB 30619 r |
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| government; and
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| WHEREAS, The name "Rod Blagojevich" will forever be |
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| associated with "play-to-pay" corruption scandals; and
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| WHEREAS, Illinois State government has tried to turn the |
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| page on the Blagojevich years through his removal from office |
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| and the pursuit of enhanced ethics laws; and
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| WHEREAS, The NBC network is considering allowing Rod |
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| Blagojevich to appear on "The Celebrity Apprentice" television |
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| program, hosted by Donald Trump; and
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| WHEREAS, Prosecutors have expressed concern that Rod |
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| Blagojevich's appearance on the show will prejudice the |
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| potential jury pool for his upcoming trial; and
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| WHEREAS, The people of the State of Illinois are entitled |
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| to see justice be done; and
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| WHEREAS, Mr. Blagojevich deserves to receive a free and |
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| fair trial, without a tainted jury pool; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL |
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| ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that lawmakers appeal to the |
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| NBC television network and "The Celebrity Apprentice" host |