From the AP:
New York Sen. Charles Schumer said Sunday that Democrat Al Franken is the clear winner in Minnesota's Senate race and should be seated as soon as possible. But a leading Republican lawmaker said calling the race for Franken would be premature...
Can we wait until a certification?
The state Canvassing Board is expected to certify the results of the re-count Monday, then there will be a seven-day waiting period before an election certificate is completed. If any lawsuits are filed during that waiting period, certification is conditional until the issue is settled in court. "With the Minnesota recount complete, it is now clear that Al Franken won the election ... and while there are still possible legal issues that will run their course, there is no longer any doubt who will be the next Senator from Minnesota," Schumer said. "With the Senate set to begin meeting on Tuesday to address the important issues facing the nation, it is crucial that Minnesota's seat not remain empty, and I hope this process will resolve itself as soon as possible."...The GOP is none to happy.
Sen. John Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, called Schumer's comments premature and troubling, since Schumer is the new chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, which has jurisdiction over contested elections.
"Senator Schumer will likely play a key role in determining who ultimately assumes this Senate seat," Cornyn said. "Pre-judging the outcome while litigation is still pending calls into question his ability to impartially preside over this matter when it comes before the Committee, as it most certainly will."
Why are the Dems in such a rush to confim Franken and refuse to seat Roland Burris? Hmmm....
There is no real advantage for the democrats to rush Minnesota while Illinois is unresolved, or vice versa. Tomorrow there will be 98 Senators (excluding Minn and IL), with the Democrats having 57 seats (counting Sanders and Lieberman). To break a Republican filibuster, the Democrats in this scenario need 2 Republicans to cross over (you need 3/5 and 3/5 of 98 is 58.8 rounded to 59). If, say, Franken, is seated then you have 58 democrats however 3/5 of 99 is 59.4 and the rules require a round up so you still need two Republicans. If, say, Franken and Mr Democrat from Illinois are seated, you then have 59 Dems, you still need 60 votes for cloture so you only need 1 Republican to cross over.
ReplyDeleteMinesota seems the cleaner one to resolve as once the Minesota Suprement court rules on this I think it will be hard to overturn that final decision.
As an aside I think this Franken/Coleman mess does make the Georgia statute of requiring a runnoff if no candidate gets 50% a good idea. There was a 3rd party candidate in Minnesota, I'm not sure where his voters would have split in a run off.