Wednesday, February 25, 2009
COLUMBUS (AP) — An influential state lawmaker said Tuesday he wants Ohio’s governor stripped of his power to fill vacant U.S. Senate seats.
State Sen. Jon Husted, a Republican from suburban Dayton, said he’s drafting legislation that will require such vacancies to be filled by special election, placing Ohio among a growing list of states considering a similar switch.
Husted, who served as speaker of the Ohio House until December, when he left because of term limits, said his plan is prompted by the case of Illinois Sen. Roland Burris.
Burris, a Democrat, is under fire over accusations that he lied about circumstances surrounding his appointment by impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, also a Democrat.
“A vacancy in the United States Senate is incredibly important and shouldn’t be left to the discretion of just one person,” Husted said in a statement.
Lawmakers in Illinois, Maryland, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Connecticut, Colorado and New York have introduced bills to require special elections for open Senate seats.
Husted’s proposal comes at a time when Ohio’s veteran senior senator, Republican George Voinovich, has announced he will not run for re-election in 2010.
Should Voinovich leave early, Ohio law allows Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, to fill the coveted seat.
Strickland spokeswoman Amanda Wurst said the governor is eager to get more information.
“The governor is interested in learning more about the proposal, and if it would apply to the state Legislature’s vacancy process as well,” she said. According to the Conference of State Legislatures, 38 states allow governors the sole power to appoint an interim senator when a seat is vacated.
Nine states require special elections for the open seats, and three let governors choose from a list provided by the outgoing senator’s political party.
Though there is no immediate indication that Voinovich would vacate his seat before the end of his term, such a move would give fellow Republicans a political opportunity if a special election were allowed.
As things now stand, there is no advantage to Republicans in Voinovich’s leaving before his time. Strickland would then be able to appoint his replacement.
Democrats view Voinovich’s departure as their best chance in years to again hold both of Ohio’s Senate seats.
They last held both positions in 1994, before Democrat Howard Metzenbaum’s retirement opened the door for then-Lt. Gov. Mike DeWine to win one of the seats.
Voinovich won the seat long held by former astronaut John Glenn, a Democrat, in 1998.
2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.