By Amanda Vinicky, Illinois Public Radio
Springfield, Ill. – It's likely the public will be allowed to watch the Illinois Senate's impeachment trial of Governor Rod Blagojevich, and state senators may be called on to testify.
Because it has never been done before, the state Senate has to finalize impeachment procedures. Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Pontiac, is on a bipartisan committee developing the precedent-setting rules.
"I believe we're at a very good stage for the rules for the Blagojevich trial, but I also think it sets a very good template for future moments, in case Illinois ever has to go through something like this again," Rutherford said.
Although an original proposal would have prevented senators from being called as witnesses, Rutherford said that's been taken off the table. In order to close deliberations from public view, or to amend any of the rules, a two thirds vote will be required. That's enough so that both Democratic and Republican votes would be needed.
Senators had been working on guidelines even before the House had impeached Blagojevich. Now that the rules will be put to use, senators said the plan is to officially adopt them Wednesday, the first day of the new General Assembly, and the expected first day of the trial.