Connecticut does the right thing, Republicans screech.
In an unexpected move, Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed the US Senate vacancy bill which takes away the governor’s power to appoint someone to a vacant US Senate seat.
"Although the current process for filling a Senate vacancy has worked well in our state for many decades, this bill gives directly to the people of Connecticut the decision on who would fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate," Rell said in a press release. "Since taking office as Governor, I have done everything in my power to make Connecticut a model for all states when it comes to openness, transparency and citizen participation in government."
"We are fortunate to live in a participatory democracy, where our people do indeed have a voice in how they are governed," Rell said. "This law is consistent with my long-held belief that we should take every action possible to involve our citizens in their government."
Republican lawmakers had called the bill a "power grab" during lengthy debates in both the House and the Senate.
Seriously, only Republicans would consider elections "power grabs". And not just Republicans in Connecticut, but those in Minnesota. And who can forget Florida 2000...