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  Meet Pat Quinn: the man who might pick Barack Obama's Senate replacement
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ContributorCraverguy 
Last EditedCraverguy  Dec 09, 2008 01:38pm
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CategoryBlog Entry
News DateTuesday, December 9, 2008 07:55:00 PM UTC0:0
DescriptionIf you have a pool on who Barack Obama's Senate replacement will be, you should probably start over. Yes, even with the arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich this morning, there is still a possibility that the incumbent could be the one to make the pick. But since the allegations from the Justice Department involve the selling of the Senate seat, we should probably get to know Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn.


Quinn's reputation is almost the opposite of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (Note: governor and lieutenant governor candidates run separately in party primaries). By all accounts, they rarely speak to each other and generally don't like each other.

Quinn is a true reformer. He is best known for leading the successful statewide campaign to reduce the size of the Illinois House of Representatives from 177 members to 118 members. Quinn's other statewide role was as State Treasurer from 1991-1995.

In a midday news conference today, Quinn suggests Blagojevich should step aside, not necessarily to resign, so that the work for the people can be done. Though, he offers that the governor could resign. He advises the General Assembly to meet immediately to review the process in terms of the governor's powers to pick a replacement Senator.

Quinn said the General Assembly should quickly pass legislation to take away Blagojevich's power to appoint a Senate replacement for Barack Obama, and should override any potential veto.

Article 5, Section 6 of the Illinois Constitution deals with gubernatorial succession:
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