Jackson Jr.'s Four-Month Absence 'Troubling' For Government, BGA Says
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The head of the Better Government Association says the continued absence of Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. is troubling. And certainly not good government.
BGA President Andy Shaw notes that Jackson's constituents have not had a representative for four months.
"There is no procedure for dealing with this," Shaw said. "Congress does not have ... a protocol for somebody to step in and that's the most troubling thing from a good government standpoint."
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Jackson, who was spotted in public for the first time in months on Tuesday outside this Washington, D.C. home, is being treated for bi-polar disorder.
The longtime Democratic congressman is reportedly under federal investigation for allegedly misusing campaign funds. He is also being investigated by the House Ethics Committee for his dealings with convicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
The state's top Democrat, Gov. Pat Quinn, said Jackson should not resign. He was elected by the people.
"We need to be sympathetic to anybody who is dealing with those challenges," Quinn said.
As for any chance that Jackson could lose in the November election, Shaw says it is nearly impossible.
"Hell could always freeze over," he said.
