Ill. House could vote on gov next week

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The Illinois House of Representatives could be voting on the impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich as soon as next week.

Speaker Michael Madigan sent a letter to members Friday that told them they should be prepared to be in the capital on Wednesday, The Chicago Tribune reported. A special committee holding a hearing on impeachment is scheduled to meet Tuesday.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald charged Blagojevich with corruption on Dec. 9, including allegations that he was trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat. This week, the governor announced that he had selected former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to replace Obama.

Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate have said that they will not accept Burris. Also Friday, a group of black Chicago ministers and community leaders headed by a 2007 mayoral candidate, William "Dock" Walls, demonstrated at city hall, demanding that Secretary of State Jesse White sign the proclamation naming Burris.