Special Election Hopes Dim: State Democrats Cancel Hearing On Proposal

t's a bit unclear whether a special election could even be considered until any resolution was reached on whether Burris will be seated in the Senate - a process that could take months. In addition, as long as Blagojevich remains in office, he would have the opportunity to veto such legislation.
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Illinois Democrats have since canceled the scheduled committee hearing taking up the special election legislation.

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Comments

[SurrealPumpkin]

Help me with this one. Other then the fact that Blagojevich appointed him what are the problems with Burris as Senator?

[postman606]

Should have passed a law a implementing this three weeks ago. It's too late and would be a costly waste of time.

[SurrealPumpkin]

As long as Blagojevitch is governor he has to sign every law for it to pass. The State Senate and Legislature can pass all the bills they like about special elections, etc. If Blago doesn't sign them they aren't law.

[ReesieKitty]

The special election could be piggy-backed onto the one we already have to hold to fill Rahm Emmanuel's state seat. It would not give candidates as much time to get their names out there, but it would be one clear way for the citizens of IL ( of whom I am one) to both get someone into office with no taint of corruption and to send a message to Blagovich and others like him that we won't tolerate his behavior. Burris is guilty of greed, if nothing else, in accepting this appointment. That alone shows me he will not be the best choice to serve Illinois.

[SurrealPumpkin]

Don't forget, that's the kind of argument that branded Obama a terrorist.

[Kaye08]

I do not support a Special Election for someone to fill Obama's Senate seat. It would cost way too much money that this state does not have. The amount of time the person would be in office is not that long to warrant a 30 million or 50 million dollar election. Our state is in financial trouble, like most all states, and to spend it on a Senator for 16 months or less is ridiculous. Plus, this state would be without a Senator for way to long to wait until someone is elected. We need to be represented by 2 Senators ASAP and the country and our new President needs 2 Senators representing Illinois.

Blago needs to go ASAP. Then Lt. Gov. Quinn would become governor and could appoint somebody for the short time that this person would be in office before they would need to run for that Senate seat.

It is not our best interest to hold a Special Election for a Senate seat from any way I look at it.

[SurrealPumpkin]

It's too late for Quinn to appoint anyone. Burris is the appointed Senator for Illinois. In the unlikely chance that the courts find that the Secretary of State has veto power over the Governor, then Quinn, if acting Governor, could appoint someone. The Senate Dems are making themselves look foolish. They played chicken with Blagojevich and lost.

[serindipity803]

There is no time to waste, Blago must go, his foolish and humiliating Burris appointment does not serve Illinois.