Local News

State Senators Begin Battle For Presidency

Emil Jones's Departure Leaves Hopefuls Jockeying For Power

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) ― The State Senate convened for a few hours in Springfield Tuesday, just long enough to deal with some of the governor's budget vetoes, and to begin the battle over who will replace retiring Senate President Emil Jones.

CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports it's the first time the senate has convened since Jones announced that he will not run for re-election this fall. While working behind the scenes to hand his South Side seat to his son, Emil Jones III, he's saying very little in public.

As he moved across the chamber, Jones spoke and joked with several of those now maneuvering to replace him, including West Rogers Park's Sen. Ira Silverstein.

As talkative as he was with colleagues, Jones had little to say to reporters as he went from his office to the Senate floor.

(SOT Jones)

Also coming and going from Jones's office Tuesday were many of the would-be senate presidents, each touting his plan to end the fussing and feuding here, and to break a long-running legislative logjam.

"We've had a lot of needs that have gone unmet," said Chicago Sen. John Cullerton. "We don't have a capital bill, we don't have our bills paid off yet, we have a problem with our pension system… There's been personality conflicts down here, which I think I can overcome."

"I've worked very hard with the house speaker. I've worked very hard with the governor," said Belleville Democrat Sen. James Clayborne. "And I would go in with an open mind, hoping that we'd come together on that issue and compromise to address the infrastructure needs for the state of Illinois."

What comes next for Jones may depend on what comes next for his longtime protégé, Barack Obama. Should Obama win the White House, Jones could be in line for a federal appointment.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

---