Improving Illinois government will require more than just unseating Rod Blagojevich as governor. The arrogant Senate President Emil Jones must go too.

Last Thursday's disgusting display at the Illinois Statehouse – a Senate vote to deny citizens the right to vote on adding a recall provision to the Illinois Constitution, plus Senate President Emil Jones' outrageous insistence that he and other lawmakers deserve more money ("I need a pay raise. I need a pay raise," he told reporters) – is another sign of the need for big changes in Illinois government.

Whether by recall, impeachment, federal indictments or a constitutional convention, this level of disdain by elected officials for the public must not go unanswered.

There already have been indictments. And more are likely – including "Public Official A," Gov. Rod Blagojevich. But Illinois' sordid political history shows that indicting, even convicting, a governor isn't enough. There is no shortage of other arrogant, crooked politicians with their hands out who have no respect for clean, responsible government.

That's why recall is needed. Illinois' extraordinary record of government corruption and public contempt requires that citizens have an extraordinary means to fight it. The ballot box, obviously, isn't enough.

Last Thursday's vote was not about allowing recall in Illinois. More precisely, it was about empowering voters and giving them the ability to decide on recall at November's general election. Even that small step was too much democracy for Illinois' Democratic Senate.

So Jones and his allies in the Senate have decided, unwisely we believe, to follow Rod Blagojevich over the cliff. That's their choice. But that outcome may take time, perhaps years, to play out. In the meantime they will continue to do more damage to state government, including its budget, its pension systems and its reputation. Unless Illinois' feeble Republican Party makes a sudden and miraculous recovery, citizens can't count on the GOP to overcome the Jones crew.

A challenge to Jones from within his Democratic majority might be the best option. Eleven Senate Democrats, including Sen. Michael Frerichs, D-Champaign, voted last Thursday to put recall on the ballot. Time will tell whether theirs was a courageous challenge to Jones or just a calculated maneuver that gave them political cover in their home districts. The real test is whether those Democrats, and others, are willing to offer an alternative leader to Jones and restore some semblance of respect and responsibility to the people and the government of Illinois.