Obama Senate seat getting cold fast
SPRINGFIELD - A special election for the U.S. Senate seat - the one Gov. Rod Blagojevich is accused of trying to sell - appeared in serious doubt after lawmakers adjourned without addressing the critical issue Tuesday.
The inaction stands in stark contrast to a series of strong calls for a special election in the wake of Blagojevich's arrest on federal corruption charges last week. And as it stands now, Blagojevich still has the power to appoint a senator, something his spokesman noted on Tuesday.
"Now that this bill is not coming, the powers remain with him to appoint a senator," spokesman Lucio Guerrero said, adding that he didn't know what Blagojevich planned to do. "It is still his responsibility until - the powers are taken from him."
Top Democrats in the U.S. Senate have threatened to not seat a Blagojevich appointee.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn were some of the loudest voices calling for a special election last week. But their positions shifted in recent days as they argued an appointment could land a senator quicker.
However, there appears to be no quick route for an untainted appointment.
The impeachment proceedings against Blagojevich could take months and Quinn wouldn't be allowed under law to make an appointment until the sitting governor is ousted.
If lawmakers wait until after impeachment, Illinois could go without two senators in the Senate. Quinn said on Monday that would leave Illinois residents "disenfranchised."
"There are going to be decisions made by our country in the United States Senate that are going to affect the rest of our lives - momentous decisions about war and peace and about the economy," Quinn said.
President-elect Barack Obama chose to stay out of the debate Tuesday, saying he would leave it up to lawmakers to decide the best course of action.
For his part, House Speaker Michael Madigan says he didn't call special election legislation for a vote because he said lawmakers couldn't agree on a proposal. There are concerns about the cost of a special election.
"Therefore the speaker suggested we defer consideration," said Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan.
The Senate also didn't act, pointing to the House's inaction as their reason. Lawmakers also floated the idea of letting Democratic Secretary of State Jesse White name the replacement rather than the governor.
Republicans exploded at the lack of action. The state Republican Party is already airing television ads demanding a special election to fill the seat and turned over public opinion polling Tuesday showing widespread public support.
GOP members say if lawmakers act quickly, the election could piggyback on local municipal elections across the state, cutting the nearly $30 million price tag.
Republican members accused Democrats of being more concerned about political power than good government. Incoming Republican Senate leader Christine Radogno of Lemont rejected the special election cost argument.
"If you follow that to its logical conclusion, maybe we ought to stop having elections," she said. "Democracy costs money."
State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, a Northbrook Democrat and head of the House Elections and Campaign Reform Committee, said impeachment could end up being the faster route for getting a replacement senator named because Democrats can't agree on a special election.
Any proposal to take the appointment away from the governor would need to go to the governor for his consideration. If he were to reject it or change it even slightly, it'd be dead and lawmakers would have to start the process all over when new members are seated Jan. 14.
"There are good arguments on both sides. To this minute, I feel torn," Nekritz said. "I think that to the extent that (no action is) a mistake, it's a political mistake not a policy mistake."