Gov. Pawlenty studies legalities of possible U.S. Senate appointment
Posted by Tim Budig, December 19, 2008 
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Although Gov. Tim Pawlenty is assuming the U.S. Senate race will resolve itself, the governor said today (Dec. 19) the administration is studying the laws concerning the appointment of a U.S. Senator.
“We’re just looking at the law, how we can do it if we had to do it. So we don’t get caught flat footed,” said Pawlenty.
“But again, I believe the likelihood of us ever using that is remote,” he concluded.
The last Minnesota U.S. Senator appointed by a governor was Dean Barkley, appointed to the U.S. Senate after the death of Sen. Paul Wellstone.
The ongoing contest between Sen. Norm Coleman and Al Franken promises to push the time limit — new U.S. Senators will be sworn into office the first week of January.