Atheist crashes committee hearing, calls for Rauner impeachment

Posted on September 28, 2015

By Dave Dahl/Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – Could Illinois impeach its second out of three governors?

An Illinois House committee heard from a surprise witness who barged into a hearing on a spending bill to say he’d been in talks with House members and the president of the Senate to initiate impeachment proceedings against Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Rob Sherman, a Buffalo Grove-based activist perhaps best known for the advocacy of his freedom to express his atheist views, says the impeachment could be used to force Rauner to sign the bill, which would spend $3.8 billion for lottery prizes as well as for such programs as breast cancer screenings.

The grounds?

“The governor has made a number of appointments to boards and committees,” said Sherman, noting most of the appointees are male. “Illinois has a gender-balanced appointments act.”

Once Sherman was rolling on his impeachment case, committee members shouted him down, quickly passed the bill as Republicans walked out, and adjourned the hearing.

The bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), noted Sherman was not invited and distanced himself.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…