This week, Washington has focused on President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package, but just a short time ago Roland Burris was the talk of the town. The newly-appointed state senator eventually gained acceptance from the Democratic party after being denied access to the Senate chamber.

Tony Wadas, junior political science major and president of the Campus Democrats, said he is sure politics come into play when representatives are appointed. He thinks Governor Rod Blagojevich probably wanted to leave a mark on Illinois by appointing Burris.

A Jan. 9 article from the Seattle Times even noted how Burris testified that he did not make a deal with the tainted Illinois governor. Burris just needed to assure everyone the sins of the governor were not passed on to his appointees. Then everything seemed fine — at least for a short time.

After Kirsten Gillibrand, the last senate appointee from New York, replaced Hillary Clinton, the real test started. While governors do have the ability to appoint senators when a seat opens, selecting politicians can be a risky move.

The factors that contribute to a representative selection are not completely clear, but one thing is certain: the citizenship has little say in the matter.

Andrew Bogda, senior geography major and president of the Campus Republicans, believes a governor should go with the will of the people when appointing a replacement representative. He favors voting over appointing.

“I would have favored a special election,” Bogda said.

A lack of public opinion may only be the beginning of problems for appointed representatives.

A Jan. 28 article from CBS news claims Republican party members are watching Burris and Gillibrand closely. Because the new senators are Democrats, GOP members hope close scrutiny will help win senate seats come election time. A representative not voted into office carries a weaker standing than one supported by a constituency.

Republicans are already attempting to stagnate legislation proposed by the Obama administration. If Burris and Gillibrand are associated with a majority party unable to bring change, their seats may fall to Republicans in the next election.

By appointing representatives from the same party, governors may just plug a hole. Politicians stay in office because a majority supports them. While special elections can be risky for a party majority, they favor the consensuses of citizens and construct secure relationships with voters.

This week, the appointees take their test. The GOP will probably watch more closely than the average citizen does, but that will change at election time. Any politician can fall from grace, but a politician without support can plummet to obscurity.

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