Illinois officials issue fresh calls for governor's resignation

CHICAGO -- A handful of Illinois' top politicians called disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich incapacitated Sunday, issuing fresh calls for his resignation as lawmakers gear up for a session that could lead to his impeachment.

Fellow Democrats Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn, both likely candidates in the 2010 gubernatorial campaign, criticized the governor anew during appearances on NBC's "Meet the Press" and CBS's "Face the Nation."

"We don't have a governor that can legitimately govern," Madigan said.

Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on federal corruption charges, including allegations he tried to sell president-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder.

Blagojevich met with renowned criminal defense lawyer Ed Genson in his downtown office Saturday. The governor left his home again Sunday morning. Genson has said the two would make "mutual decision" as to whether Genson would be retained today.

Madigan, a longtime Blagojevich foe, has asked the Supreme Court to declare Blagojevich unfit to serve, likening his corruption scandal to a debilitating illness. She said Sunday she expects word on whether the justices will hear her request "probably just in a few days."

Citing what she called "rumors in the media," Madigan also said she'd heard Blagojevich himself could make an announcement about his political future today.

Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero said Sunday that he has "no knowledge" of an announcement of any kind and that the governor "has no plans on resigning [today]."

Quinn said he did not know what Blagojevich's plans were but that resignation would be best for the governor, his family and the people of Illinois.

"He's gotta do something because our state is in crisis," Quinn said on "Meet the Press."

The Illinois Legislature meets Monday to consider stripping Blagojevich of his power to pick a replacement to fill Obama's seat and calling a special election.

They'll also discuss whether to heed calls to launch impeachment proceedings against the wildly unpopular Blagojevich. A survey of Illinois lawmakers by GateHouse News Service found that 80 percent of those responding believe the Legislature should pursue impeachment quickly.

State House Minority Leader Tom Cross, a Republican, said on "Fox News Sunday" that when it comes to filling Obama's seat, a special election is the best option to "eliminate any appearance of impropriety."

"We've just been shocked as a state over the last four or five days and in order to restore whatever integrity we have left in this state, we have to make it as transparent as possible," Cross said.

Quinn said he has seen legislation that would allow him to temporarily appoint someone to the Senate seat until a special election if Blagojevich stepped down.