Harry Reid (WDCpix)
“Senate’s ruling on Burris affects seating Franken,” said a Star Tribune headline today. Not so, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told The Politico.
“People have gotten the certificate thing messed up,” Reid said, referring to documents said to be essential to taking office under state laws. “State of Illinois is an appointment. State of Minnesota is an election. Two different things.”
Even as he counseled patience to those seeking a resolution to the contested Minnesota Senate election, Reid said he was prepared to refer Franken’s situation to the Senate’s Rules and Administration Committee, whose new chairman, Sen. Charles Schumer, was mum on the issue today. (Schumer expressed eagerness to seat Franken as recently as Monday.)
Franken’s 225-vote lead over former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman was certified Monday by Minnesota’s State Canvassing Board. But a second certification (of election) requiring the governor’s signature is on hold, pending the outcome of a lawsuit (called an election contest) that Coleman filed Tuesday. The Senate appointment of Roland Burris by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been held up by controversy over a signature and seal missing from his certificate.
4 Comments »
Comment posted January 8, 2009 @ 4:13 pm
As much as I would like to see Franken seated, I wish the Senate would just FOLLOW THE RULES - wait until Franken’s election is certified, then go ahead and seat him. Coleman’s contest of the election is well within the laws of MN, and should be heard. I notice Franken is not taking the Canvassing Board certification up to the US Capital and request that they seat him (a la Burris). This shows respect for the process.
Pawlenty’s signature is the only thing that is necessary for Franken’s credentials to be in order, and Reid and the Senate should wait for that. In my opinion, that signature should wait until the outcome of the contest is decided. If the people of the state of MN are upset about their lack of representation, they should take that up with Governor Pawlenty.
Comment posted January 8, 2009 @ 4:42 pm
Kudos - Ralph. Well said.
Comment posted January 8, 2009 @ 11:29 pm
Remember OJ? He walked. So will Governor Sh lack head. So seat him and then scream like bloody el for Campaign Reform.
Comment posted February 26, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Republicans have publicly stated that keeping Franken from being seated is their goal when the goal should be to seat the winner. With that being their goal they will stall and fund raise, which they are doing now, to further this goal. Anyone who has watched the trail on the uptake knows that the Coleman camp is arguing against its previous positions and are doing everything in their power to keep this trail going for as long as possible.
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