New law letting voters fill senate vacancies to be introduced (in MN) [View All]

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Source: KSTP

In light of the current situation in Illinois and New York, two Minnesota lawmakers plan to introduce legislation in the next session that would give voters the right to replace vacant US Senate seats. Currently, the governor has sole authority to appoint someone to that position.

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State Representative Ryan Winkler and Senator Ann Rest, both D FLers , plan to introduce a bill when the Legislature convenes Jan. 6 that would require a special election in Minnesota to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy.

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"This proposal in no way reflects a lack of confidence in (Republican) Governor Tim Pawlenty's integrity in making a decision to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate," said Winkler. "Regardless of who the governor may be, voters should get to decide who their senator will be. We're introducing this legislation before we know who the voters chose as our next senator to show that this is a needed reform."

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Marty Seifert, the Republican leader in the Minnesota House , is throwing his support behind the idea





Read more: http://kstp.com/article/stories/S724586.shtml?cat=1