Substitute for SB 254 by Committee on Federal and State Affairs - Providing for the filling of a vacancy in the office of United States senator by appointment of a person of the same political party as the incumbent office holder and making such appointment subject to senate confirmation.
Impact
If enacted, SB254 would modify existing laws concerning the appointment and confirmation processes for U.S. Senate vacancies. The primary impact would involve streamlining the vacancy filling process, thereby establishing a clear and uniform procedure that requires appointments to align with the political affiliation of the previous senator, which could potentially help maintain party dynamics in the Senate.
Summary
Senate Bill 254 proposes a mechanism for filling vacancies in the office of the United States senator by allowing an appointment to be made. This appointment would need to be of a person from the same political party as the incumbent office holder. The bill aims to ensure political continuity by averting situations where vacancies lead to shifts in party control or ideological representation.
Contention
The introduction of SB254 may lead to debates over the appropriateness of party-affiliated appointments when filling Senate vacancies. Critics might argue that this bill could undermine the principle of appointing senators based on merit or broader consensus, especially during times of political upheaval or when the incumbent's party may not necessarily represent the interests of the voters in the state. As such, some stakeholders may view the legislation as a means to entrench party dominance in the upper chamber of Congress.
Substitute for SB 249 by Committee on Federal and State Affairs - Providing for the filling of a vacancy in the office of state treasurer, commissioner of insurance or lieutenant governor by appointment of a person of the same political party as the incumbent office holder and making such appointment subject to senate confirmation.
Providing for the filling of a vacancy in the office of state treasurer and the commissioner of insurance by appointment of a person of the same political party as the incumbent office holder and making such appointment subject to senate confirmation.
Requiring the governor to appointment persons to fill vacancies in the offices of United States senator, state treasurer and the commissioner of insurance from a list of names approved by the legislature.
Requiring the governor to appoint a person to fill vacancies in the offices of United States senator, state treasurer and commissioner of insurance from a list of names approved by the legislature.
Increasing the number of commissioners on the state corporation commission subject to gubernatorial appointment and senate confirmation and prohibiting the appointment and confirmation of any person who has a conflict of interest.