* From the AP…

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said today that if he’s made governor, he may opt to appoint President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate replacement rather than wait for a special election.

Speaking on NBC’s “Today” show, Quinn said he may have to move quickly to name Obama’s successor because of the country’s economic woes.

“In general I’m for the voters deciding who the next senator would be or any other public official. We may have extraordinary circumstances here,” Quinn said. “Illinois does not want to go to Washington in this time of economic crisis without having two senators.”

With Gov. Rod Blagojevich ignoring calls for his resignation, legislative leaders in the state capital moved forward Wednesday on several fronts to force him from office or rescind his power to name Obama’s successor. The General Assembly will meet at a special session Monday to consider changing state election law to fill Senate vacancies by special election, rather than leaving the decision to the governor.

But holding an election could take months.

* This is apparently a switch in position. From a Tuesday Chicago Public Radio report…

Blagojevich is still the governor of Illinois. And that means he has the power to appoint someone to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat. Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn says the legislature has to change that.

* Dick Durbin came up with the idea of a special election, and the Politico had an interesting take this week…

Democratic insiders saw Durbin’s rapid call for a special election as a way to circumvent Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn’s authority to do so, should he take over for Blagojevich. Quinn is not close to Durbin, and their relationship frayed after they were rivals in a contentious Democratic Senate primary in 1996.

* Durbin and Majority Leader Harry Reid appear to be on opposite sides…

The momentum for a special election to replace President-elect Barack Obama ran into a major hurdle late [yesterday] afternoon in the form of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) who penned a letter today to scandal-tarred Gov. Rod Blagojevich making clear he would prefer the incumbent step aside and let Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn make the appointment.

* Back to Politico…

If a special election were held in mid-2009, the governor’s arrest would still be fresh in voters’ minds. Democrats would likely face a crowded primary with the risk of the eventual nominee being tied to the corrupt Blagojevich administration. And Obama’s Senate seat would remain vacant for months, giving the president-elect one fewer Democratic ally in the Senate.

* Barack Obama, U.S. senators, state officials urge Rod Blagojevich to resign

* Tips and leaks: If the governor were to wait until after Jan. 14 to veto or even tweak the plan with an amendatory veto, it would be dead. Why? Because that version of the General Assembly would exist only in history books. There’s no way to bring members who retired or were defeated back to override the governor

* Early 1900s Illinois scandal led to direct election of U.S. senators

* Special election could cost state about $50 million

* Taxpayers Could Pay for a Special Election

* Special election ‘corruption tax’ could cost $31 million

* Orr urges swift action on special elections, warns of price tag: If a special Senate election is held independently of the scheduled elections, it would cost about $8 million for suburban Cook County alone. The statewide price tag would be considerably larger - a staggering amount in these difficult economic times.

* Republicans eyeing Senate seat for comeback

* Tribune Editorial: About that Senate seat: The best option is to hold a special election. Return this decision to the people.

* Some ways to fill Obama’s seat

* Lawmakers Look to Fill Senate Seat (Video)

* TFI Report from the Capitol

* Quinn ‘has mellowed,’ ready to be gov: ex-critics

* Lt. governor likely replacement for Blagojevich

* Action on governor, Senate seat may come slower than many hope

* Quinn used to battling Blagojevich

* Lt. Gov. says he might appoint senator

* Durbin sends letter to Gov. asking him to resign