The governor of their state will appoint a replacement until the next election is held.
In Texas when Tom Delay left office, we ended up voting for both a person to finish out the current term and for a person to fill the office in the next term in the same election.
Is this legal?
If the governor can just appoint themselves, then would it be legal for SP to appoint herself if sen whassisname is convicted of the bribetaking and leaves office?
As a Chicagoan I hear much in the media about how low the opinion of Blago is, but they are always very sparse on specifics. Do you have insight on exactly what it is that he’s done that’s so fubar?
Don’t know why it wouldn’t be. Although the 17th Amendment gives state legislatures the authority to grant the governor the appointment power in this instance, so presumably the Illinois legislature could implement a rule which prevents the governor from appointing himself.
Same answer. (Except to mention that sen whassisname did get convicted today. He still has to stand for reelection next week in what was already a close race, so there’s a good chance the situation won’t arise at all.)
–Cliffy
In Alaska, the Governor can’t appoint to a vacant Senate seat…there wouild have to be a special election.
Do you want that list in order of importance, or alphabetical? I think the real controversy is that he seems very, very tied into Rezko’s maneuverings, including being “Public Official A” in the scheme involving consultants picked to present funds for the state pension. There’s an ongoing investigation into him, and maybe Rezko will try to get his sentence cut by talking. He’s also been accused of covering for extortionists in his employ who solicit “campaign donations” and other money from people who work with the government.
Not to mention he screws up many of his attempts at Doing Great Deeds, like illegally importing from outside the US extra flu vaccine that went unused, or declaring that the CTA must provide free rides to senior citizens (it used to be a greatly reduced fare), unbalancing the budget they’d finally hammered out and preventing a lot of needed equipment upgrades.
Word is that Rezko is talking.
“Pay for play” is an unfortunately familiar phrase in Illinois politics.
And a possible IRS investigation, because he remains a resident of Chicago, and uses state planes to go to Springfield, which they might consider a taxable perk and come down like a hammer on his head.
And he wants to shut down state parks, most (if not all) he has never visited.
I hear he is contemplating running for a third term. I convulse with laughter. Ms. Mattigan is clearly preferable, and I might have to hold a gun to my head to vote for her.
His “Gross Receipts” tax would have killed the agriculture industry in Illinois - which is a significant part of Illinois’ economy.
I could go on…
Quinn is advocating for a recall provision to be added to the state constitution so that… certain politicans… could be removed from office if the public so desires.
My money is on Jesse Jackson Jr. I used to hear Tammy Duckworth’s name being tossed around but I doubt it. Some conspiracy-minded folks have suggested that he’d appoint Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to the senate just to get her out of his hair. Ms. Madigan, when questioned on the radio, said (paraphrased): “He’s not going to reward me with a senate seat for making his life difficult.”
The Chicago Defender calls for Jesse Jackson Jr to replace Obama. Except for the Schiavo vote and the third airport nonsense, he’s been good to my area. But that puts my district into play… :eek:
Blago has been interesting. I think he had good intentions, but truly cannot govern–not even his own party.
Source: Rod Blagojevich - Wikipedia
If he wants to stay in politics, Blagojevich will nominate himself just to get out of Dodge, and then continue with his stupidity in the big leagues.