U.S. & World News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― House Speaker Michael Madigan Monday formed a House committee to begin preparations to impeach embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich. A resolution to being the impeachment proceedings passed unanimously, 113-0.

The 21-member committee will work every day from now through the end of the session on Jan. 14 with the exception of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve and New Year's Day to move the impeachment ahead through the House. The House as a whole will then vote on whether or not to impeach the governor.

If they choose to impeach Blagojevich, there will be a trial in the Senate, with Illinois' Supreme Court Justice presiding. Respresentatives Lou Lang of Skokie, John Fritchey of Chicago and Jack Franks of McHenry County will serve as managers or prosecutors.

"We have given the governor six days to resign,'' Madigan said. "He has declined to take the opportunity to resign. It is time to move forward."

Madigan refused to comment on whether he thought the governor should resign, because he'd preside over the vote, but he made no secret of his feelings when asked if last week's charges against the governor surprised him.

"I've had the opportunity to know Governor Blagojevich for six years and I was not surprised."

On the other hand, the Republican House Leader Tom Cross wasn't as cynical.

"It was like getting hit or run over by a cement truck. I don't think anyone of us can comprehend what we read and what we heard about that morning," said Cross.

State Rep. Barbara Currie, the majority leader and a 20-year veteran of the House, will chair the committee. Madigan said the panel will ask the U.S. Attorney's office to cooperate with their investigation.

The hearings begin Tuesday morning and won't be easy or quick. Currie says they shouldn't be.

Despite public outrage in the wake of the federal charges, Currie emphasized fairness rather than speed.

"This is not a kangaroo court," she said. "Just because people are calling for his head, it doesn't mean we should cut off his head and do the trial later."

Madigan said that he has been reviewing grounds for impeachment for a year, well before the governor's arrest on federal corruption charges last week. The speaker, a long-time rival of Blagojevich, said the governor's rights to due process will be fully protected. The committee will be comprised of 12 senior-ranking Democrats and nine Republicans.

Meantime, there are signs that Blagojevich may not be ready to back down, and may fight the charges against him. He was arrested last week on charges that he attempted to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

Earlier, there had been reports that the governor intended to resign possibly as soon as Monday. But now a spokesman for the governor says it appears that he has no intention of announcing his resignation. At this point, the governor seems to be ready to fight the charges.

Impeachment has become the main topic of conversation as politicians from both sides of the aisle call for Blagojevich's political head.

Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn would take over if the governor is impeached and voted out of office by the state senate. He favors a temporary appointment to Obama's seat, and then a special primary election in February, with the general election set for April.

But while impeachment proceedings were the buzz at the capitol, a motion for a special election to appoint a senator to Obama's old seat was never made, outraging Republicans. The decision was made in a caucus of Democrats who control the House.

Madigan said there was disagreement in the caucus over costs for the election. Other called teh cost of the decision incalculable.

Blagojevich emerged briefly from his house Monday morning, but answered no questions from reporters who had gathered outside the residence.

Blagojevich was dressed in running attire when he stepped out of his Ravenswood Manor home early Monday. He was carrying a maroon suitcase, which he placed in the back of a blue minivan.

The governor's wife, Patti, then got into the van with the couple's two daughters and drove off.

Blagojevich headed to work again as he continues to ignore calls for his resignation.

The governor told reporters Monday that he was going to the office to sign a bill to give tax credits to filmmakers if they come to Illinois.

Blagojevich has refused to bow to pressure that he step down.

The governor also was asked if he saw "Saturday Night Live" this weekend, where there was a parody about him. Blagojevich said he hadn't seen the show.

His spokesman says the governor hasn't ruled out signing a bill that would strip him of his power to name a Senate replacement.

Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero said Monday that the governor hadn't yet seen the bill calling for a special election but might be willing to sign it.

For the past week, the governor's security detail has tried hard to avoid both cameras and reporters' questions.

So far the governor has ignored nearly unanimous calls for his resignation from Illinois and the nation. Those who have spoken with him say he truly believes he will be exonerated and at this point is not inclined to either resign or step aside temporarily. Of course, those insiders stress that's the way he feels right now. And things could change.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)