Kankakee Times

State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) has joined his Republican colleagues in sponsoring a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow for the recall of legislative leaders and executive branch officers. 

Senate Joint Resolution 0003 also seeks to make changes to the procedures for the recall of a governor. 

“For too long the Illinois political class has just been unwilling to clean up the corruption that so obviously exists in our state,” Barickman said during a recent news conference. “Everywhere I go, the people of this state feel powerless. They think the system by design is stacked against them.”

Barickman argues the legislative maps recently pushed through by Democrats send the wrong message. 

“Those maps drawn solely to fulfill a partisan purpose do more to erode the public's trust in their government and ... has left the public numb as to what it is that they can do to address the indictments, the investigations and things that swirl through the news cycle,” he said. “This is nothing new of course in Illinois, but the erosion of confidence that exists in Illinois is at an all-time high. We think it's time to give power back to the people so that the government is serving them in the way it is supposed to.”

Slated to go into effect if the voters approve, SJRCA003 also seeks to amend the suffrage and elections article of the state constitution to provide for the recall of all state executive branch members, the auditor general and members of the General Assembly.

“There's a number of states around the country that have recall provisions, many of them strong recall provisions that actually allow the public to hold their public officials accountable,” Barickman said. “Illinois has a wildly limited recall provision that only applies to the governor and it includes roadblocks, things like seeking the permission of a bipartisan group of legislators before you can even proceed with it”

Barickman argues the limitations leave Illinois with a recall process that exists in name only.

“Under Illinois Law and under the Illinois constitution there's no ability to recall lawmakers,” he said. “There's no ability to recall other statewide officials and there's no ability to recall your local officials. The corruption that exists in Illinois transpires against all levels of government. Ultimately, we just don't think democracy is well served when the public is denied this important tool to hold people accountable.”