New Hurdle: Election To Fill Obama's Seat Could Cost Tens Of Millions
Here's yet another complication in the struggle to fill Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat: County clerks in Illinois say a statewide special election would cost $30-$50 million dollars, and they simply don't have that kind of money.
Indeed, holding an election like this would require the state to shell out a lot of cash to the local election officials. By itself, this probably isn't enough to stop a special election, but it definitely makes things uncomfortable if the state has to find the money to pay for it.
One possible solution by itself shows what a mess this is: Waiting to hold the race so it coincides with the local elections scheduled for next year, with the primary on Feb. 24 and the general election on April 7 -- leaving Illinois without a second Senator for four months.
This kind of fiscal reality could lead the legislature to the compromise idea that's been floated -- to allow Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn to make a temporary appointment while simultaneously opting for the special.
$50M is $50/person. Hardly seems worth it.
December 15, 2008 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jan Schakowsky, problem solved :P
December 15, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ha, or give Durbin two votes for four months :P
But I'd rather see Schakowsky in there kicking ass.
December 15, 2008 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
OMG, I am so sick of this subject. Hell, it is starting to rival Bill Clinton and Monica. Enough already.
December 15, 2008 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
The compromise sounds like the way to go since a special election looks increasingly unlikely.
Just do it already.
December 15, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just do it already.
Second that!
December 15, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
The February 24th and April 7th dates are for a LOCAL congressional seat that Rahm held and is NOT STATE WIDE.
Thus it doesn't matter when the special election will be held because it would be state wide.
I still think the smartest and least costliest plan is for Blago to temporarily step aside and let Quinn appoint an interim appointment until the standard state wide election in 2010.
December 15, 2008 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
That is the smartest and least costly and that means Blago most likely won't do it.
December 15, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Incorrect. Those are the dates for municipal elections in Illinois. Not every municipality has them next year, but many do. Chicago does not, however.
December 15, 2008 6:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Blago is obviously determined not to do any of this the easy way.
December 15, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is not a new issue. It came up on day one. Most are estimating $50M at a time when we do not have the money.
December 15, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
OT: Did you see this clip of Bush saying so what about the war? He truly just leaves me speechless every time he opens his mouth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhHamDHk-B0&eurl=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/15/bush-acknowledges-absence_n_151144.html
December 15, 2008 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jeeeeezuz - He's just as awful as he always has been, if not more so.
Thank you for that, Amelie. I was on the verge of feeling - not sorry for him, but I was starting to see him as a human being and that cleared that right up.
He doesn't deserve the title human being along the rest of us -he forfeited it. He has no humanity whatsoever.
December 15, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, since the Illinois GOP has stated that a special election is the only "fair" solution, then let them pay for it.
December 15, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't support an appointment, there are too many unanswered questions about those who would be in the position to play Blago's games.
It might be expensive, but this is the office of a senator for the people of Chicago, not some private board or high school government. It's about the rights of the people, not greasing the skids for what we already know, a corrupt administration.
December 15, 2008 10:43 PM | Reply | Permalink