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Changing the Way Illinois Can Fill a Vacant Senate Seat May be Easier Said than Done
The lawmakers are back in Springfield Monday, and Governor Rod Blagojevich still has the power to appoint someone to succeed President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.

Members of the House and Senate want to try to change that, though Chicago-Kent College of Law professor Mark Rosen says there could be a problem with that, because of the U.S. Constitution.

"It seems to me," says Rosen, "that the 17th Amendment contemplates that both the executive and the legislature are to play a role in choosing the United States senator, and that it may well be problematic for a legislature to act so as to completely sideline the executive."

And, Rosen points out, changing the law requires either the governor's signature or a three-fifths majority of both the House and Senate. And Gov. Blagojevich, accused of corruption, has a history of delaying the implementation of bills which have passed both houses.

That said, Rosen says one thing the General Assembly may consider is to allow the governor to appoint someone to the Senate but then call a special election before the Senate term is up.

(Illinois Radio Network)
12 10 08 by Newsroom
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