State Rep. Chapin Rose expects the resolution that begins the impeachment process of Gov. Rod Blagojevich to progress when the General Assembly meets for a new session next week.

Rose, R-Mahomet, said the House Republican Caucus supports the resolution, but is unsure of the response from the House democrats.

He added House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, agreed to meet with House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, to discuss impeachment proceedings.

“We can’t wait on this,” Rose said.

On Tuesday, the FBI arrested Blagojevich and John Harris, Blagojevich’s chief of staff, for charges related to political corruption. The federal prosecutors allege Blagojevich partook in numerous corrupt activities, including auctioning President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat for campaign contributions.

The resolution filed by Rose and other House Republicans would form a special investigative committee to research the feasibility of impeachment.

“This is the first step,” Rose said about impeachment proceedings.

If the House approves the resolution, the committee would gather evidence and subpoena witnesses, Rose said. He added the committee would then vote on a formal recommendation about whether or not Blagojevich should be impeached. The recommendation then is sent to the House. A simple majority is needed in the House for impeachment, Rose said.

This process was used in 1997 with Illinois Supreme Court Justice James Heiple, Rose said. Heiple was accused of using his influence to get out of traffic tickets. Heiple’s term ended in 2000.

If the House votes to impeach Blagojevich, the Senate would then conduct a trial and afterwards vote on whether or not to convict the governor. A two-thirds majority vote in the Senate is needed for impeachment.

Rose said Blagojevich should resign, but added he has made no indication of doing so.

“I don’t know what else we can do (except) impeach the guy,” he said.

The state has many important issues to resolve, such as higher education, Rose said. He added if Blagojevich remains in power, nothing is going to get fixed.

“Nothing is going to happen until this is over with,” Rose said.

Federal prosecutors have accused Blagojevich of many corrupt activities, all detailed in a 76-page criminal complaint.

Rose believes the one allegation made on Blagojevich that trumped them all was the selling of the Senate seat.

He added the one allegation that baffled him the most was Blagojevich trying to get The Chicago Tribune editorial board fired.

Rose said the audacity of Blagojevich’s alleged shakedowns was amazing.

The scope of his shakedowns was stunning, he added.

“This makes George Ryan look like a choir boy,” Rose said.

Stephen Di Benedetto can be reached at 581-7942 or at [email protected].