Illinois' top lawmakers to strip Gov of senate pick power

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D) and Senate President Emil Jones (D) said they will call a special legislative session next week to repeal the state law that now gives the governor the power to fill the state's open US Senate seat. Both said they will press instead for a special election to fill the remaining two years of former-Sen Obama's term. Though a special election technically would leave the decision in the hands of voters, it also would help well-known, well-funded potential contenders because of the difficulty of mounting a state-wide election on short notice. That could work to the advantage of several area members of Congress who have expressed interest in the seat, including Reps Jesse Jackson Jr. (D), Luis Gutierrez (D) and Jan Schakowsky (D). A quick special election also could draw interest from one top Republican, north suburban Rep. Mark Kirk.