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| Schock Wants Special Election Bill Passed in Congress |
Legislation proposed by a congressman from the area would virtually eliminate the process of governors appointing U.S. senators.
Representative Aaron Schock has introduced the Ethical and Legal Elections for Congressional Transitions...or ELECT Act. The act requires a special election within 90 days of a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. The Peoria Republican says there have been five Senate vacancies appointed by governors this year alone, highlighting the need to ensure that the American people have a say in determining who represents them in the Senate.
Schock says he believes 90 days is plenty of time to run for a vacant Senate seat. "We actually modeled the bill after special elections which are called in every open vacancy for a Congressional seat," Schock said. "We looked around the country, and there was not any state that allowed more than 90-days to take place for a special election for Congress. So this is actually giving the most leniency."
Schock says it's the most fair way to fill positions left vacant by a death, resignation or a senator leaving to take another job. The freshman congressman says only 33 percent of appointed U.S. senators win election when it's time to run for the seat, and he argues it shows that appointed senators don't have the support of those they are supposed to represent. Schock says his bill would allow governors to fill a U.S. Senate seat, but only until the election.
Lawmakers in Springfield say they're introducing a similar bill in the General Assembly Thursday. |
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| 02 19 09 by Newsroom |
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