HR0092

LRB096 11218 RCE 21620 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The United States of America has an economy that 
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is currently in recession; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The most recently-reported Illinois figures show 
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that in December 2008, our State's unemployment rate was 7.6%; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, In these  times, it is urgent that the two United 
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States Senators from Illinois be persons who are able to spend 
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all of their time on lawmaking for economic recovery and who 
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are not distracted by personal challenges, especially 
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challenges of an ethical nature; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Roland Wallace Burris, the current junior senator 
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from the State of Illinois, has stated, for the public record, 
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that he had contacts, prior to his appointment as Senator, with 
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key individuals connected with former Illinois Governor Rod 
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Blagojevich, and he had, during the course of these contacts, 
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made arrangements to take a key role in fundraising efforts for 
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Blagojevich; and

 
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    WHEREAS, These admissions raise grave concerns about 
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Senator Burris's fitness for the public office which he now 
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holds and his ability to serve in his position during the 
 


 






HR0092
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LRB096 11218 RCE 21620 r




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challenging times currently facing our nation; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Many voices of the Illinois public, including the 
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editorial page of the "Chicago Tribune" daily newspaper, in its 
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morning edition of February 18, 2009, have urged Senator Burris 
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to resign from office; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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urge Roland Wallace Burris to resign from his position as a 
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United States Senator from the State of Illinois, effective 
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immediately; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That the State of Illinois enact suitable 
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legislation to enable the people of the State to select a new 
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senator by special statewide election of the people; and be it 
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further

 
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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this preamble and 
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resolution be presented to the Illinois delegation to the 
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federal  House of Representatives, and to the senior and junior 
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federal senators from the State of Illinois.