Breaking News: Former Speaker Hastert to resign

The Roll Call newspaper in Washington reported on its website this evening that former House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois intends to resign his House seat later this year.

The subscription-only site said Hastert, who had already announced he would not seek reelection in 2008, was calling friends and associates today and telling them of his decision. His early departure would create the need for a special election in his exurban Chicago district, possibly on Illinois' Feb. 5 presidential primary day.

The 65-year-old former high school teacher and wrestling coach, first elected to the U.S. House in 1986 after six years in the Illinois house, has easily won reelection in the state's 14th District in recent years, racking up majorities of 74% where George W. Bush won with 54%.

Republicans would be expected to win a general election, but a special election could create special problems for the GOP. With its new congressional majorities, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has built up larger sums of campaign cash than its Republican counterpart.

Three Republicans--Chris Lauzen, Jim Oberweis and Kevin Burns--are already vying for the party's nomination, while Bill Foster, a wealthy Democrat, appears to lead the waiting Democratic field.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Hank Essay]

Classic Republican move. Sticks his district with the cost of running a special election while he bails---instead of just waiting until next year---because the work has become too hard now that his party is in the minority in the House. Heckuvajob, Denny!

[AngrySicilian]

This story is older than dirt... how is this breaking?

[AngrySicilian]

Missread that story. Actually, with illinois election laws, the gov has to have a special election date set within 5 days of hasterts vacating the seat... which roughly coincides with the primary anyhow. Looks like the GOP wants to appoint a heir to the throne.

[GOP Chair]

Senator Lauzen will be the GOP guy.

[Joe Serra]

Candidate Joe Serra Comments on Hastert Resignation

GENEVA, IL – October 18, 2007. Mr. Hastert’s announcement that he will resign is shamefully, one year too late. While Mr. Hastert was Speaker of the House, he had an abundance of knowledge regarding Congressman Foley’s lewd and criminal behavior and chose to protect a potential pedophile and powerful political colleague over a congressional page. Mr. Hastert was negligent for not taking the evidence that he had fully into account and ordering an investigation - or he deliberately looked the other way for his friend and political ally. In either case Mr. Hastert is finally doing the right thing.

Joe Serra’s position on Child Molestation Laws

Child Molestation Laws need to be toughened. Child molestation and child sexual assault is the most rapid growing violent crime in the United States.

Sexual offenders who prey on children are the vilest of all offenders. A strong message must be sent to these offenders that they must seek treatment or suffer the consequences when caught. Just as importantly, I want to send a message to mothers and fathers indicating that I

understand their concerns and fears and I am taking steps to contain and control this heinous

crime.

As your representative I will strongly advocate for the following

· Upon conviction of a second offense, a child sexual predator will receive life in prison.

· Death of child while committing, requires a mandatory death sentence.

· I will work to have crimes of a sexual nature against children to become Federal Offenses, enabling the courts to hand down harsher sentences and avoid early releases.

· I will advocate much longer sentences and advocate a two strikes law enabling our courts to put Sexual Offenders and Sexual Predators away forever upon conviction of their second offense.

· I advocate Sexual Offenders and Sexual Predators to be fitted with permanent monitoring devices upon their release enabling law enforcement officials to track their whereabouts anywhere in the country.