Lawmakers to discuss Blagojevich

Illinois lawmakers return to the state Capitol today with plans to dislodge Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose arrest over an alleged attempt to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat has thrown state government up for grabs.

Blagojevich, arrested Tuesday on charges alleging he sought bribes for everything from Obama’s former Senate seat to state jobs and contracts, met with a prominent defense attorney Sunday but stayed largely out of sight.

In his absence, leading Democrats and Republicans jockeyed for position in the battle for the office of governor and a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where he said he was looking at legislation that would allow for a temporary appointment to fill the Obama Senate vacancy until a special election could be held. Quinn is still calling for his two-time running mate to resign.

Appearing with Quinn was state Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan, daughter of the Illinois House Speaker and state Democratic Party chairman, who refused to rule out accepting an appointment to the Senate seat.

Madigan’s reluctance to take herself out of consideration presents an added political dimension as she urges the Illinois Supreme Court to remove Blagojevich from office at least temporarily and put Quinn in charge -- a position that could allow the lieutenant governor to make the Senate appointment.

Meanwhile, Republicans unveiled a campaign aimed at tying Democratic leaders to the blossoming Blagojevich scandal in an effort to bolster the GOP’s chances of gaining the Senate seat through a special election.

Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago), Blagojevich’s closest legislative ally for years, and Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) have called the Legislature back to Springfield to vote on a measure that would put the selection of an Obama successor into the hands of voters with a special election.

Blagojevich met for the second straight day with criminal defense attorney Ed Genson, who told reporters he expected to be hired as the governor’s lawyer. Genson has defended newspaper baron Conrad Black, R&B; singer R. Kelly and numerous public figures on corruption charges, earning a reputation as the lawyer that big shots call when they get in a bind in Chicago.

Emerging with his wife, Patricia, from Genson’s office, Blagojevich ignored questions from reporters and wished everyone a merry Christmas.

Blagojevich plans to return to work today, where he is expected to sign another bill into law, said his spokesman, Lucio Guerrero.

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Tribune reporter Rick Pearson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.