AUGUSTA, Maine - A Maine Democratic lawmaker wants to strip the governor of his power to appoint a replacement in the event of a U.S. Senate vacancy.
Matt Moonen's bill has raised questions about whether Democrats are concerned about the possibility of Republican Sen. Susan Collins leaving her six-year term early to run for governor in 2018.
But Moonen told lawmakers on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee Monday that his decision to introduce the bill had nothing to do with Collins.
A Collins spokeswoman didn't immediately return a request for comment Monday.
Currently, the governor has the power to appoint a replacement until the next election. Moonen's bill would require that a special primary election is held no later than 100 days after a vacancy occurs, followed by a special general election.