Quinn Favors Special Election

UPDATE: Gov. Blago sets special election dates for Rahm Emanuel's 5th congressional seat. Crain's.***Illinois Lt. Governor Pat Quinn calls Illinois an "international laughing stock" and calls for a special election. Well, at least that's something. This should happen now. Quinn should not be appointing a temporary replacement--he's tainted too--plus we could have two tainted picks vying for the same seat, bogged down in legal challenges. And his idea of an "ethics commission" is a joke.

Statements from the Illinois GOP:

Statement from Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna on Senate Rejection of Burris Senate Certificate

“Today’s rejection of Blagojevich Democrat Roland Burris in the United States Senate is another reminder of the need for a special election in Illinois.

“Democrats refused to strip Rod Blagojevich of his appointment powers resulting in the current constitutional crisis so lawmakers need to act immediately to avoid making the same mistake twice and give the people the power to choose their next United States Senator.

“A vote of the people is the only way to avoid tainting the Illinois Senate seat."

Statement from Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna on Lt. Governor Pat Quinn's creation of an ethics panel:

"Pat Quinn's attempts to re-write history and cultivate a newfound reformer image are laughable.

"In 2006 Pat Quinn called Rod Blagojevich honest in the face of myriad federal investigations and was more than happy to be a direct beneficiary of Blagojevich's tainted campaign funds.

"If Pat Quinn was serious about reforming Illinois, he would have done it prior to being Rod Blagojevich's running mate in 2006 and before the Governor's arrest 27 days ago."