Senator-elect Mark Kirk (R-IL) “won’t join the U.S. Senate in time for the start of the lame-duck session, which complicates his pledge to fight any last-minute tax and spending bills,” the AP reports.
The postelection session of Congress begins Nov. 15. State officials say Kirk won’t officially be declared the winner of Tuesday’s Senate race until late November. That should still let Kirk participate in two weeks of the session in December.
Kirk not only won a six-year Senate term, he also won the right to serve out the last few weeks of the current term. His campaign would only say that he "looks forward to being seated as soon as possible."
Senator Roland Burris (D-IL) will continue to serve until Kirk is sworn in.
"Mr. Burris serves until Mr. Kirk is sworn in. That’s what the judge’s order says," Druker recounted, a transition of power that should come without controversy this time.
(credit image – daylife/reuters)
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