Sangamon Sun

Veteran Republican state Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) believes the state is finally moving to do what he feels should have happened long ago.

“I’m in full support of any plan that gives voters the ability to take out elected officials in situations where the circumstances call for that,” McClure told the Sangamon Sun. “With the state’s history of political corruption and all the governor’s that have gone to jail, you would think that would be reason enough for voters to have this full ability.”

McClure added he stands in full support of the proposal put forth by Republican lawmakers state Rep. Mark Batinick and state Sen. Jason Barickman that would grant voters the authority to initiate the recall process for elected officials. While that ability has been on the books now for more than a decade in the case of the governor, McClure fumes much of what is now playing out in Springfield strongly points to the need for such powers to be extended.

Currently, longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan finds himself at the center of a still unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme where bribes were allegedly steered to him in exchange for favorable legislation. At the same, whispers of dissent about Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis are becoming more audible by the day.

The GOP sponsored proposal 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.

McClure adds everything now happening in Springfield screams for the need for such policing.

“These are unprecedented times in Springfield,” he said. “Right now, we have a House speaker under federal investigation, a sitting state senator that’s been indicted, and who knows what comes next? We need something that allows voters the ability to say we’ve had enough.”