Senate Could Reject Illinois Appointment, Minnesota Victor

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/12/23/pub-senate-option-reject-illinois-appointment-minnesota-victor/

The disputed race in Minnesota and the politically toxic appointment by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich have left open the possibility that the Senate could reject two would-be lawmakers.

By Chad Pergram

FOXNews.com

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The disputed U.S. Senate race in Minnesota and the politically toxic appointment of a replacement to the Illinois seat being vacated by President-elect Barack Obama have left open the possibility that the legislative body could reject two would-be lawmakers.


A rejected Minnesota ballot challenged by Al Franken (AP Photo).


While the scenario seems far-fetched, Article I, Section 5 of Constitution holds that "Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members."

In other words, if Minnesota certifies either Norm Coleman or Al Franken the winner, a bloc of senators could object on the Senate floor to seating him. The same could happen if embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich appoints a "tainted" successor to Obama.

The new Congress starts Jan. 6, and the potential for havoc is immense.

Either scenario could prompt special investigative committees or even floor votes on whether to seat a candidate if their election certification remains controversial.

And if history is a guide, it's possible the outcome may not be known until late next year.

FULL story at link.

[ThomWV]

1. Looks like wishful thinking on the part of FOX news if you ask me

[EFerrari]

4. It's a naked attempt to taint Al's win by comparing it to corruption.

[Idealism]

2. They won't reject the Minnesota result

There weren't motions to reject Bush v. Gore in 2000.

If the Minnesota election gets verified by the Secretary of State, it is a done deal. Only the courts can see further action taken at that point. The Senate could theoretically issue their own investigation into the election, but at a time of national fiscal crisis, that would not be anywhere near a top priority of the next Congress.

[gratuitous]

3. I don't know the procedural mechanisms, or if they've been followed

But as a practical matter, if Franken's thin win is certified by the Minnesota Secretary of State, the Senate will seat him. It would set a VERY bad precedent to refuse to recognize the state-certified election results, and every Senator would wonder if his or her colleagues weren't secretly planning to turn the next election into a popularity contest and disregard the certified will of the voters, no matter how muddled the returns or the process followed in arriving at a result.

As for Illinois, this is another instance where refusing to recognize a gubernatorial appointment where all the procedural t's are crossed and the i's are dotted will set a bad precedent. Blagojevich may be a scumbag, but he is still the governor and hasn't been convicted of anything, and his appointment has to be respected if for no other reason than that.

[Initech]

5. It's pretty easy to see that Faux Noise hates Franken.

[rvablue]

6. Who in their right mind would accept the Blago appointment.....their political career would be

officially over on the day it started.

Anyone that is stupid enought to accept will not be able to get within 20 feet of another Senator....the other 49 senators will have nothing to do with anyone Blago appoints.