Kentucky GOP lawmakers remove Democratic governor’s role in filling US Senate vacancies WCHS
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FRANKFORT,Ky.(AP)—RepublicanlawmakersinKentuckyonFridayremovedtheDemocraticgovernorfromanyrolefillingfutureU.S.Senatevacancies—amovesupporterssaidwasunrelatedtorecentscrutinyaboutthehealthofthestate’sseniorsenator,RepublicanleaderMitchMcConnell.
TheGOPsupermajorityLegislatureeasilyoverrodeGov.AndyBeshear’svetoofthemeasure.ThelegislationcallsforaspecialelectiontofillanySenatevacancyfromtheBluegrassState.Thespecialelectionwinnerwouldholdtheseatfortheremainderoftheunexpiredterm.
“ThepeopleshoulddecidewhoaUnitedStatessenatorisbyelectionalways,”HouseMajorityFloorLeaderStevenRudy,aRepublicanandthebill’sleadsponsor,saidduringabriefHousedebateFriday.
TheSenatesuccessionbillmovedthroughtheLegislatureatatimeofpendingtransitionforthe82-year-oldMcConnell.InFebruary,thevenerableKentuckysenatorannouncedhewillstepdownfromhislongtimeSenateleadershippositioninNovember.
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