The Illioins house launched Tuesday the impeachment against Governor Rod Blagojevich who was arrested last week over a political scandal of selling the senator seat vacated by President-elect Barak Obama, local media reported.

Illinois lawmakers voted 113-0 to authorize a committee to investigate a host of pay-to-play allegations leveled against the governor, who was arrested last Wednesday in Chicago. Asked about the criminal complaint against the governor, House Speaker Michael Madigan said: "I've had an opportunity to know Mr. Blagojevich for over six years so I was not surprised."

The House panel is expected to hold several weeks of hearings, scheduled to begin Tuesday, and has the power to issue subpoenas and compel witnesses to testify. The panel also will seek information from the U.S. attorney's office as well as information gained from other parts of the federal investigation, such as information arising from the conviction of top Blagojevich adviser and fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko.

"This is not a kangaroo court," said Barbara Flynn Currie, who will chair the investigations panel. "It's absolutely critical that we do this deliberately, that we don't rush to judgment, that we don't say, because the public is clamoring for his head, we should take the head first and do the trial later."

Blagojevich showed no signs of giving up his post. On Monday, he signed a dozen bills into law, including one involving the horse-racing and casino industries that federal prosecutors allege Blagojevich was using to squeeze campaign contributions in exchange for his signature.

Some Democratic House members said they believed the attorney general's plan to have the state's highest court declare Blagojevich incapable of carrying out his duties a long shot, and lawmakers were restless to move forward with impeachment.

In one indication of how long the impeachment investigation may take, Madigan said rules would be written to allow the panel's work to continue through the inauguration of the next General Assembly in mid-January.

(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2008)