House Speaker Michael Madigan's proposal to eliminate the office of Lt. Governor advanced in the Illinois House yesterday, as the House Executive Committee voted 8-0 to send the measure to the full house. Under Madigan's proposed amendment, the office would be eliminated by 2015. The bill must still clear the state Senate and be approved by voters in November. The Madigan Amendment would provide for the State Attorney General to assume the governor's seat in the event that the sitting governor quits, dies or is removed from office. more ›

While Illinois grapples with the fallout from the Scott Lee Cohen debacle (not to mention Jason Plummer's vast lack of experience and qualifications on the GOP ticket), Rhode Island voters will have the opportunity to support a candidate for the number two slot that stands for nothing. Literally. Rhode Island lawyer Bob Healey is running for Lt. Governor of that state on the Cool Moose Party ticket, and his platform is simple: abolish the office. If elected, Healey promises not to hire a staff, not take the salary, and eventually abolish the office, which absorbs $1 million of the state's budget annually. more ›

With Scott Lee Cohen now out of the race for Lt. Governor, the question remains: who will replace him? Speculation is already focusing on Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Duckworth, who lost a 2006 run at Congress, is apparently a favorite with Gov. Pat Quinn. But what about the other candidates who finished behind Cohen? And what of others interested in the position? Dems are in a delicate position of trying to find someone who can win while not hurting feelings but it seems like things are already getting a bit heated. Per the Tribune: more ›