News From

State Representative Ron Stephens

For Immediate Release: February 26, 2009

Contact: Rep. Stephens

618-651-0405

Stephens: Democrats Won’t Even Debate a Special Election

Springfield… Representative Ron Stephens (R-Highland) continues to call on Democrat leadership to release the bill creating a special election to fill vacant U.S. Senate seats from the House Rules Committee.

Rep. Stephens believes the Democrat members of the House need to stop flip-flopping regarding a special election and debate the issue outright.

“The Democrats in Illinois have all fallen under the thumb of the Chicago Democrat Machine,” Rep. Stephens said. “The Democrat members all say one thing, supporting a special election, to their local media and to their constituents. However, when they come to Springfield, and have an opportunity to debate a bill creating a special election process, they fall in line with the Speaker and the Chicago Democrat Machine.”

House Bill 2503 states that if a vacancy occurs in the office of U.S. Senator less than 180 days before the specific Senate seat would be normally up for election, the Governor will make a temporary appointment, subject to the approval of the General Assembly. If the Senate vacancy takes place more than 180 days prior to the normal election date for the seat, the vacancy will be filled with a special election, designated by the Governor.

Rep. Stephens believes the Democrat leadership needs to consider the issue further, especially following today’s report from Attorney General Lisa Madigan supporting the call for a special election.

“Just today, the state Attorney General released a report supporting our call for a special election,” Rep. Stephens said. “All we’re asking is for a chance to debate the bill. If Speaker Madigan won’t listen to our side of the aisle, won’t he at least listen to his own daughter?”

ALTERNATIVE LAST PARAGRAPH…

“Just today, the state Attorney General released a report supporting our call for a special election,” Rep. Stephens said. “When the top legal authority in Illinois publically supports an idea, one would think it would be worthy of at least some debate.”

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