©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| Risinger, Moffitt Supporting Special Elections for Filling U-S Senate Seats |
The scandal surrounding Senator Roland Burris is prompting two local Republican state lawmakers and many of their colleagues to call to for a special election to let the people of Illinois choose their senator.
Burris is facing allegations of potential perjury related to his testimony during former Governor Rod Blagojevich's impeachment hearing. Blagojevich appointed Burris to the U-S Senate despite calls by Illinois House Republicans in December for a special election to fill the seat. The lawmakers proposed legislation for the election, but it was blocked from consideration in the House by Speaker Michael Madigan.
Senator Dale Risinger and Representative Don Moffitt are among the Republicans in Springfield who support holding a special election within 115 days of a U-S Senate seat being vacated. Risinger says it's disappointing that Burris hasn't been completely honest and up front, and he and Moffitt both argue that Burris had many chances to explain his position before coming forth with an affidavit.
Risinger says having a special election to appoint a senator rather than allowing a governor to do it, despite the cost, is the only way to gain the trust of the people the senator is representing.
"The question has come up: should we spend that kind of money for an electon? You know what, we need to spend that kind of money for an election because whenever it gets too expensive to hold elections to represent the people we're in trouble."
Burris submitted a revised affidavit to correct testimony he gave to the Special Investigative Committee during Blagojevich's impeachment proceedings. Burris now says he was solicited for a contribution to the Blagojevich political campaign after initially saying he wasn't.
Moffitt, also a proponent of a special election for appointing U-S Senators, says that would allow the people to decide who represents them. He says an election should have been held to fill the seat vacated by Barack Obama.
Federal legislation, called the ELECT Act, similarly calls for a special election to appoint U-S Senators---but within 90 days of the seat being vacated. |
|
| 02 20 09 by Newsroom |
Click here for the WGIL News Archive
Click here for national news
The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.
