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Illinois Legislature Pushing Blago Aside, Will Pass Bill For Special Election
It's official: The Illinois legislature is now on track to pass emergency legislation to fill Barack Obama's former Senate seat by special election, rather than allow Gov. Rod Blagojevich to make an appointment under these circumstances. Here's the statement from state Senate President Emil Jones:
"The events this morning are shocking. The faith of the citizens of Illinois has once again been shaken. I will call the Senate back in to session to pass legislation that would create a special election for the U. S. Senate seat to help restore the confidence of the people of Illinois during this difficult time."
At his press conference earlier today, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn estimated that it could take at least three days to get a bill fully written and passed. But expect one to get passed as soon as they can do it, and possibly even on a unanimous vote in both houses.
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Once the state legislature passes the bill, how soon could the special election be held?
December 9, 2008 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
So imagine that it does not pass unanimously in both houses. What exactly is required to get it enacted into law if Blagojevich is not willing to sign it? Any IL lawyers here know the specfics?
December 9, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ouch. He's completely out to lunch if he won't sign it.
Which, sadly, would appear to be in keeping with past behavior.
December 9, 2008 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Blago definitely seems to be a text book case of someone with a screw loose. He'll probably appoint himself to the seat before they can pass the bill.
December 9, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
He'll probably appoint himself to the seat before they can pass the bill.
Oh, that would be must-see political TV, no?
Is this level of corruption isolated to Illinois, or are all state offices similar? Is David Patterson figuratively trying to shake people down for appointment to the Senate?
I don't get it. It's wrong to try and sell the Senate position. Duh. Even if I could set that aside, I'd be petrified I'd get caught. Why do so many politicians seem to lack a similar fear?
December 9, 2008 5:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's definately not isolated to one office or one party in IL. They don't call it Crook County for nothing. 1994 was the last year an IL Governor was elected that didn't leave office in handcuffs.
December 10, 2008 8:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Even Illinois political veterans are shocked at this one.
It was known that he was probably under some investigation, but no one really thought he'd be dumb enough to try to sell the President-elect's Senate seat...in phone conversations...while he KNEW he was most likely under FBI eyes and had been for three years.
Some background info: G-Rod was never the sharpest pencil in the box, and he married into a family whose name is synonymous with "crooked" in Illinois. As a native of Illinois, I can say with relief that I never voted for the man (never lived in his Congressional district, and I left Illinois about three months before he won his first gubernatorial election).
December 10, 2008 2:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Will that election should be a circus. With plenty of polls to pour over.
December 9, 2008 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
JAN SCHAKOWSKY!! The best, most progressive choice!
Plleeeassseee Illinois!
December 9, 2008 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
A special election would be good for her, because she could run without giving up her House seat. Hopefully she'd win but even if not, we won't lose her in the House.
December 9, 2008 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
With her husband's time in the federal pen in Terre Haute to come out from their past? Not likely.
December 9, 2008 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi,
I'm a former resident of Jan's district and a former volunteer of her political organization. I've lived in Bostn for 4 years or so. Jan pushed G-Rod and put her name behind him when he began his initial run. In fact, in the 4th of July parade in Evanston after he declared, we had to march beside his group, per Jan's instructions, down Central Street. There was obvious confusion on the part of the crowd seeing this . . . there was a collective-like, "WTH is going-on here???" I don't think Jan should profit from the error in judgement. G-rod, his wife & her father = scumbags. Jan helped with this. I simply don't believe Jan should profit from this. Sorry.
December 9, 2008 7:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think she'd *run* for the seat. She'd happily accept an appointment, though.
Somewhat OT: Still waiting for confirmation on the identity of Senate Candidate 5...current speculation is JJJ, but if it's Jan, that would be veeeeeeeery interesting too. :-)
December 10, 2008 1:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope Illinois will not elect a Repub. No wonder the trolls are out in force, salivating all over us.
December 9, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
They wouldn't replace Obama with a Republican, not in a million years.
December 9, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Over at Campaign Diaries, I explain why this could be a big opportunity for the GOP:
1. It would force Democrats to defend an open seat just months after suffering from such a major scandal instead of having a two-year incumbent defend his seat two long years after Blagojevich's arrest.
2. It would lead to a crowded - and most probably bloody - Democratic primary, as all Democrats who entertained Senate dreams would jump in and then have to quickly turn around to face the GOP.
3. A number of moderate Republicans like Rep. Kirk of IL-10 will surely realize they have nothing to lose in a Senate run (they would not have to give up their seat) and thus jump in the race - something they would be unlikely to do in 2010 when they'd have to give up the House.
December 9, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
What type of warchest does Kirk have? How much of it does he want to risk a year before he would need it in 2010 for his district if he doesn't win? How tapped out are the RNC and the RSC after having to throw money at saving Mitch, losing Dole, and saving Saxby *twice*? How quickly can they raise cash?
In contrast, think of the Obama Mailing List being used *nationally* to funnel money into protections *his* seat after the primary kicks out a Dem nominee.
Sure, there is going to be some heat on Dems for the scandal. But Candidate #1 comes out of the case looking clean as a whistle, as does Obama. If she's willing to run, and if enough stink falls on other potential candidates like Jackson to make it in their best interest to sit this one out while they rehab, you're going to have a clean candidate supported by the President to take his own *seat*.
The key is that as soon as there's a Special Election bill passed is for Dems in the state to Circle The Wagon around a clear candidate that can run on the good will of the new President. No doubt there will be a jackass or two Dem who will run anyway. But as long as they are marginal candidates, there won't be the bloodbath aspect.
John
December 9, 2008 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would like to think that there's enough unity in the party that a multi-candidate primary would not happen. They'll need to get behind one person either as a caretaker or who will have a good chance of winning in 2010.
December 9, 2008 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
You don't know much about Illinois politics. Remember who they got to run against Obama in 2004? The R's don't hold a single state-wide office and they didn't even really come close in the last election. Mark Kirk had to struggle to get by Dan Seals this year. Unless they can drag Jim Thompson or Jim Edgar out of retirement, the R's chances to win a special election are near zero.
December 9, 2008 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Borderline concern trolling.
Illinois is a deep, dark shade of blue right now. Not even Blunderovich can change that.
The only thing the state GOP can possibly hope for is that the public feels the same way now that they felt about Carol Moseley-Braun in '98 (which is how Peter Fitzgerald got his one term in office).
However, those situations aren't the same - and the state GOP is in MUCH worse shape now than it was in '98, when they still controlled the governor's office.
Bottom line: If there's a special election, the Republicans may not have a viable statewide candidate. Thompson's too old, and Edgar still has the same health problems that forced him not to seek a third term as governor. LOL...paging Jim Oberweis...
December 10, 2008 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Despite the stench from Blago's Chicago home, the odds of that happening are incredibly small. The Illinois GOP is in even worse shape than the national party. In last month's election, they took a real drubbing, losing several seats (including Dennis Hastert's). In fact, it's far more likely that a true liberal would win Obama's seat.
Just as happily, if Blago is impeached, Illinois may have - in Pat Quinn - the most progressive governor in the country. He's a longtime advocate for labor and the working people of Illinois - not a friend of the state Democratic (Daley/Madigan) machine.
December 9, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jezuz!!!! Will this election season EVER END?!?!?!?!?!?
Sorry ... I know this one is needed ... but damn!
December 9, 2008 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Illinois Constitution gives the guv the power to fill a Senate vacancy. Anybody know how the legislature gets around that? (Of course it's Illinois, so anything is possible.)
Personally I'd rather just have new governor Quinn appoint the fill-in and save all the trouble. On condition that he figure out how to change the process to a special election on a permanent basis. Really though, this is something the US should do to make it uniform in every state.
December 9, 2008 7:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
It seems to me that the person most likely to gain from a special election is Lisa Madigan.
December 9, 2008 7:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is bad news. It gives the GOP a decent chance for a Senate pickup that they did nothing to deserve. The Illinois dems should resist and insist on an appointment from the Lt. Gov to ensure that a Democrat takes the seat.
Do you think the Repubs would do otherwise if the situation were reversed?
December 10, 2008 12:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Highly unlikely. There is nothing even remotely close to parity these days between the two political parties in Illinois. The Democrats dominate everything.
December 10, 2008 12:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have a challenge for you.
Name three Republicans in Illinois who could conceivably win a special election right now.
I'll even spot you two of them: Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar (neither of whom is likely to run, but they *could* win).
December 10, 2008 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink