Looking around some, I found this article which suggests that more often than not seniority is not lost.
Apparently the Senate may choose to seat her on January 3 even if the election challenge is still continuing. But that may depend on the state “certifying” the election results before that date, which might not happen in Alaska.
OTOH, the article claims that the Senate Minority Leader held places open on Norm Coleman’s committees so he could rejoin them if he had prevailed. Though whether he would have retained his senior status on the committees was not addressed.
Miller is giving every indication of taking this to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Judge Beistline, the federal judge who issued the current stay, has asked the sides to submit arguments on whether a certification could be revoked if later found to be in error.
How quickly will SCOAK take this up?
When Miller takes it to the Federal court, how quickly will it be resolved?
Can AK governor appoint someone (obviously Murkowski herself) to fill the seat untill this is resolved?
Arguments are Friday. How quickly will a decision be issued?
Insert more puzzled smilies here. Although the governor has looking into his legal options to fill the seat, I haven’t seen any more on that. I suspect that Alaska vacancy law doesn’t apply to this situation.
Per Franks cite:
*Miller has been challenging the results of the Nov. 2 election with the help of money from South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint’s political action committee, the Senate Conservatives Fund. *
Murkowski has started showing a fierce independent streak. Crossing the aisle and voting to get some things done.
I don’t blame her. The Republicans treated her like crap. The party leaders could reign in DeMint if they wanted.
Now, she has 6 years to vote to help her state and not necessarily walk the party line. Lisa may be a much better Senator than she was previously. She has nothing to lose now.
Almost assuredly. She could try to run as an Independent, since there are so many registered Independents in Alaska, but it would probably be seen as a shift to the left by Alaskans, who are generally unhappy with her already.
