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The Mechanics
« Classroom Mechanics on WBEZ Chicago Assyrians Protest Iraq Attacks, Official Inaction »

IL-SEN Mon Nov 08 2010

Mark Kirk Becomes Senator Nov.23, A Week After Senate Reconvenes

One important thing to remember about Senator-elect Mark Kirk: he was actually elected twice on November 2nd. Once for the normal six year senate term starting in January, and once to finish the last few weeks Sen. Burris's term. Both The Wall Street Journal and Politico have good writeups of when Kirk will drop the "elect" in his title. Here's The Wall Street Journal's Danny Yadron:

State officials told Washington Wire that the five-term Republican, who defeated state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias in the contest for President Barack Obama's old Senate seat, can't fill his new post until Nov. 23, a week after the Senate convenes for the lame-duck session. The reason for the gap: Illinois election officials need time to certify the vote.

Mr. Kirk will miss a week's worth of cloture votes, a bummer for the congressman who campaigned that he would be the "42nd Republican senator, with the opportunity to put the brakes on any lame-duck overreach." He even created a separate website for the issue, saveusfromthelameduck.com. Mr. Kirk's office had no immediate comment on the dates.

 
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Feature

Parents Still Steaming, but About More Than Just Boilers

By Phil Huckelberry / 2 Comments

It's now been 11 days since the carbon monoxide leak which sent over 80 Prussing Elementary School students and staff to the hospital. While officials from Chicago Public Schools have partially answered some questions, and CPS CEO Forrest Claypool has informed that he will be visiting the school to field more questions on Nov. 16, many parents remain irate at the CPS response to date. More...

Civics

Substance, Not Style, the Source of Rahm's Woes

By Ramsin Canon / 2 Comments

It's not surprising that some of Mayor Emanuel's sympathizers and supporters are confusing people's substantive disputes with the mayor as the effect of poor marketing on his part. It's exactly this insular worldview that has gotten the mayor in hot... More...

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About Mechanics

Mechanics is the politics section of Gapers Block, reflecting the diversity of viewpoints and beliefs of Chicagoans and Illinoisans. More...
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