Posted on 03/06/2009 1:35:57 PM PST by Ultimatum
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Supreme Court on Friday blocked Democrat Al Franken's petition for an election certificate that would put him in the U.S. Senate without waiting for a lawsuit to run its course.
The decision means the seat will remain empty until the lawsuit and possible appeals in state court are complete. Republican Norm Coleman's lawsuit challenging Franken's recount lead is at the end of its sixth week, and both sides expect it to last at least a few more weeks.
After a state board certified recount results showing Franken 225 votes ahead, he sued to force Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie to sign an election certificate. Franken argued that federal law stipulates each state will have two senators when the Senate convenes, and that law trumped a state law that blocks such certificates while lawsuits are pending.
But the state Supreme Court disagreed. In their ruling Friday, the justices said states aren't required to issue such certificates by the date that Congress convenes.
The justices wrote in their unsigned opinion that "if the Senate believes delay in seating the second Senator from Minnesota adversely affects the Senate, it has the authority to remedy the situation and needs no certificate of election from the Governor to do so."
Coleman's team hailed the ruling for giving the state courts space to sort out Coleman's lawsuit.
"This wise ruling will ensure that Harry Reid, Al Franken and Chuck Schumer cannot short-circuit Minnesota law in their partisan power play," Coleman adviser Ben Ginsberg said, referring to two Democratic leaders in the Senate.
Franken's campaign had no immediate comment on the ruling.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
It’s time to revote that mess.
It’s been a rough year for guys named Al. LOL!
I suspect Coleman would win handily. Or am I wrong?
Does this qualify as breaking news?
I don’t know, but WA state did it in 2004 in the governor’s race. It went to court and all that (more votes than voters) was presented to the judge, and it didn’t seem to bother him. He upheld the “election” of the ‘Rat. There seems to be a great reluctance on the part of the judicial to even consider any decision that might overturn the results of an election “in the books”. This, I think, was the Frankenputz strategy all along. Get enough votes to “win”, then get it booked and certified, and count on the historical reticence of the courts to upset the apple cart on a “decided” election.
However, it is wise to remember that the voters of MN also gave us this too!!
Ahhhhh...the pride of Minnesota!
The only thing that comes very readily to mind that is by far, worse than these two, is this one!
What the heck is up with the Midwest all of a sudden???
Well, that's enough for me...I'm heading down south where men are moral, women are comely and bright, and .....and.....
AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggg!!
What have I done?????
I thought the court said he can be seated as he does not need a certificate to be seated.
Hey Al they made a funny, something you know nothing about! One more clown in the circus of fools.
I was about to say, you give us down south a little too much credit.
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