Mitch McConnell working with Kentucky Legislature on Senate Exit Strategy

[DonViejo]

Legislation informally referred to as the Daniel Cameron Election Bill is moving through the Kentucky General Assembly.

Nick StormNick Storm
March 4 2021, 6:00 a.m.

SENATE MINORITY LEADER Mitch McConnell has compiled a short list of successors in his home state of Kentucky, preparing for the possibility that he does not serve out his full term, Kentucky Republicans tell The Intercept.

The list is topped by his protégé, state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, and also includes former United Nations Ambassador Kelly Craft, whose billionaire coal magnate husband is a major McConnell donor, as well as Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, a former McConnell Scholar.

Under current law, the power to appoint McConnell’s replacement falls to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. But new legislation McConnell is pushing in the Kentucky General Assembly would strip the governor of that power and put it into the hands of the state GOP.

McConnell’s scramble to secure his legacy comes as his position in the party he effectively built from the ground up is increasingly shaky. McConnell’s denunciation of former President Donald Trump — even as it was accompanied by a vote of acquittal and a pledge to endorse the former president in 2024 if he is the GOP nominee — has brought on calls for his censure by party leaders across the state. A candidate running in McConnell’s mold would face an uphill climb through a primary in the new Republican Party — unless, that is, the candidate has the benefit of incumbency.

more
https://theintercept.com/2021/03/04/kentucky-mitch-mcconnell-senator-replace/

[milestogo]

1. McConnell's exit should be a perp walk.

[2naSalit]

4. Perhaps...

He's anticipating that or he's worried about being poisoned or something. Considering that his spouse is being investigated for bad things, he might be implicated in some way.

[lagomorph777]

21. Also, that bad case of Newt Gangrene on his hands might be something deadly.

We can only hope.

[riversedge]

2. How is it possible to put selecting a new Senator into the hands of the GOP??

I really do not know how this would be legal??


....Under current law, the power to appoint McConnell’s replacement falls to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. But new legislation McConnell is pushing in the Kentucky General Assembly would strip the governor of that power and put it into the hands of the state GOP.

[Omnipresent]

5. I would think one branch of government stripping another branch of a power...

Would be unconstitutional, unless Kentucky is different?

[Celerity]

9. if the KY supreme court says it is oki, then they can do it nt

[jorgevlorgan]

15. Any clue how the ky sc would act in this case?

I know Beshear has one justice appointed. But not sure where the others would lean on this, although I do get a hunch it is a conservative majority -which would likely rule in favor of the law if they rven intervene at all.

[Celerity]

20. I do not. I will look into it though.

[jorgevlorgan]

22. Thanks!

Last edited Thu Mar 4, 2021, 12:30 PM - Edit history (1)

So I just checked and it does appear that this rule is under section 152 of the constitution. KY requires a 3/5 majority to amend the constitution -which the gop has (they have 3/4 majority combined in both houses). But they would also need a simple majority approved by the voters. Depending on Mitch's timeline, it might be tough to get a special election before a vacancy opens. My guess is they first try to change the law to prevent a democratic replacement, and will only change the constitution if that doesn't work for some reason.

[Celerity]

24. thanks for all the research

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

10. Depends

It all depends on if the power for the Governor to appoint a replacement Senator is codified in their state Constitution or in state law. If its law, then the legislature can change it like any other law.

[jorgevlorgan]

16. Just checked. Looks like it is in the constitution

Click section 152. The law around it is based on the constitution and I would imagine the constitution will need to be changed for this to change as well.
https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/constitution

[ramblin_dave]

6. GOP has supermajority in Legislature and can override veto by Governor

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/ky-general-assembly/2021/01/08/kentucky-general-assembly-advances-bills-strip-power-beshear/6598452002/

[jorgevlorgan]

17. But is it enough to change section 152 of the constitution?

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/constitution

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

7. Some states have laws that require the that the appointment of a replacement Senator

be from the same party as the outgoing Senator. The Kentucky legislature could pass a similar law. And I believe the GOP expanded their supermajorities in both houses there, so they could likely override the inevitable veto by Beshear.

[snowybirdie]

3. In light of recent revelations

Anyone wondering if his lovely wife, Elaine, might have been a Chinese agent married to this man involved in the highest levels of US Government? She held two Cabinet appointments in different areas of expertise, under two Republican presidents. No one, who came out of nowhere, has ever done that before. Why? The Chinese think very long term.

[sop]

8. It's all going to come out now: Mitch is a Russian asset and Elaine's a Chinese agent.

And Trump probably has all the incriminating kompromat, so Mitch and Elaine are heading for the tall grass before the feds move in.

[obamanut2012]

12. She is from Taiwan

[kairos12]

11. Putin will choose Moscow Mitch's successor.

[brush]

13. So this is an acknowledgement that McTurtle will be stepping down soon.

Hmmmm? Wonder why? He just got re-elected.

Oh, I get it. He doesn't like being minority leader.

[gratuitous]

19. Yup

Not so much fun when you're not sitting in the Big Chair. Losing McConnell's long history of and expertise in gumming up the Senate works might be a heavier blow to Republicans than losing their majority in the Senate.

[jorgevlorgan]

18. The question is are there enough votes to change the constitution?

This is a rule in the state constitution section 152. If they cannot change that, they may be SOL.