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January 26, 2009

Constitutional Amendment Considered to Hold Special Elections for Vacant Senate Seats
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Senator Russell Feingold has announced plans to introduce an amendment
to the US Constitution to require special elections in the event of a
Senate seat vacancy, taking the power away from governors. Feingold
said, "The controversies surrounding some of the recent gubernatorial
appointments to vacant Senate seats make it painfully clear that such
appointments are an anachronism that must end.” Feingold cited the
spectacle of seeing Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich appoint a
successor to fill President Barack Obama’s seat weeks after he was
arrested for trying to sell the seat. Blagojevich’s impeachment hearing
begins today, but the governor won’t be attending. Instead, he will be
on a national media blitz, appearing on Good Morning America, The View
and Larry King. New York Governor David Paterson has also come under
criticism for selecting conservative Democrat Congresswoman Kirsten
Gillibrand to fill Hillary Clinton’s seat.



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