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June Surprise: Rell Signs Senate Vacancy Bill

by: tparty

Fri Jun 26, 2009 at 12:05:52 PM EDT

I don't think anyone saw this one coming, least of all the CT Republican party and their acolytes who spent the last few months arguing that giving CT voters a more functional democracy was somehow a partisan "power grab". From CTNewsJunkie:

In an unexpected move, Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed the US Senate vacancy bill which takes away the governor's power to appoint someone to a vacant US Senate seat.
"Although the current process for filling a Senate vacancy has worked well in our state for many decades, this bill gives directly to the people of Connecticut the decision on who would fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate," Rell said in a press release. "Since taking office as Governor, I have done everything in my power to make Connecticut a model for all states when it comes to openness, transparency and citizen participation in government."

Dear President Obama, is that Ambassadorship to Getthefuckoutofthesenate still unfilled? I can think of one supremely qualified nominee, and I hear it's lovely there this time of year.

(Update: Worth noting that Rell's complete 180 on a bill that her spokesman previously described as "blatant, partisan politics" happens to coincide with the likelihood that Democrats had the votes to override her veto. The legislation would have become law whether or not Rell signed it today.)

Update 2: Just got this postcard... I'm telling you it looks gorgeous!

tparty :: June Surprise: Rell Signs Senate Vacancy Bill

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June Surprise: Rell Signs Senate Vacancy Bill | 5 comments

Can I be the first to say... (4.00 / 1)

HOLY SHIT!!!

Connecticut Bob

by: Bob Adams @ Fri Jun 26, 2009 at 16:13:29 PM UTC

Awwwww, no wind in the windbag's sails? (4.00 / 2)

Priceless...

When asked what he thought about the governor's decision to sign the bill, House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero, R-Norwalk, said, "no comment."

by: ctblogger @ Fri Jun 26, 2009 at 16:32:36 PM UTC

Credit where Credit is due (0.00 / 0)

Anderson Scooper deserves an immence amount of credit for this.He was the first to lobby for this bill and continued his effort at every opportunity he was in shouting distance of any Ct legislator to the point where he made them agree with his view,

WOW,I'm truly shocked!

by: ctkeith @ Fri Jun 26, 2009 at 18:06:46 PM UTC

Good News, one caution (0.00 / 0)

Statement of Representative Spallone, Co-Chair of the Government Administration and Elections Commitee:

For IMMEDIATE Release Contact: Rose Ryan
June 26, 2009 Office: (860) 240-8527
Statement of State Representative James Spallone (D-Chester, Deep River, Essex & Haddam) the House Chair of the Government, Administration and Elections Committee regarding Governor M. Jodi Rell's signing today of Substitute Bill 913 - An Act Concerning United States Senate Vacancies:
"I would like to thank Governor Rell for signing this bill into law today and making Connecticut a leader in fair elections. Connecticut voters can now choose their Senator when a vacancy arises just as we already do for our congressional representatives, as we did from 1913 to 1945. This is the democratic way."
"Through this legislation, my colleagues in the General Assembly and Governor Rell have demonstrated their commitment to making Connecticut a national leader in election reform efforts."
"Connecticut is now the first and only state in the nation to reform its Senate vacancy process in the wake of the scandal in Illinois and controversy in New York."

My caution: Our senators matter. It is worth the estimated $6,000,000 cost of such elections, where our senators make decisions involving billions of dollars and thousands of lives. Such "Special Elections" should not be exempt (as they currently are) from the small cost and huge value of post-election audits. Such elections are not exempt from the risks of error and fraud.

because Connecticut voters count: http://www.CTVotersCount.org

by: BlastFromGlast @ Fri Jun 26, 2009 at 20:18:27 PM UTC