JUST REPEAL THE 17TH:

Vacancy appointments defy voters (David Mark, Jun 14, 2007, Politico)

Less than a century ago U.S. senators were often chosen through backroom dealing, political favors and patronage schemes. Industrial tycoons, railroad barons and other fat cats were thought to have bought Senate influence by pressuring state legislators, who had a constitutional mandate to choose their federal counterparts.

Outrage over this arrangement led Congress to pass the 17th Amendment in 1912, giving people the right to choose their senators.

[I]n the Equality State, Democratic Gov. Dave Freudenthal has considerably less latitude than other chief executives in appointing an interim senator. Under state law, Thomas’ successor will be chosen in large part by the Wyoming Republican Party Central Committee. On Tuesday, that 71-member body – made up of state committeemen from each county – is scheduled to forward three names to Freudenthal, who then picks one to go to the U.S. Senate.

Utah is the only other state in which party committees choose potential Senate appointees. Alaska, Arizona and Hawaii require the governor to fill vacancies with a person affiliated with the same political party as the previous senator.

Like all the reforms of the Progressive Era, the 17th was a mistake.

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 15, 2007 7:41 AM