http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-session0603.artjun03,0,2189376.storyHARTFORD - In a controversial move, the state House of Representatives voted late Tuesday night to remove the governor's power to appoint a U.S. senator in case of a vacancy.
A special election would be held if one of the two U.S. senators — currently Christopher J. Dodd and Joseph I. Lieberman — stepped down unexpectedly from office before the six-year term ended.
Republican M. Jodi Rell's spokesman rejected the idea as "blatant, partisan politics," and Republican legislators decried the proposal as "a brazen power grab" that would tinker with the separation of powers. In addition, they said that a statewide special election in all 169 cities and towns would cost more than $2 million and potential primaries would cost even more.
During a debate that lasted 3½ hours, the House voted largely on party lines for the bill, 107-37, with seven members absent. The bill now goes to the governor, who has expressed opposition to it.
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