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Mass. Lawmakers To Weigh Bills Revamping Elections

Massachusetts lawmakers are holding a State House hearing to consider bills that would overhaul the state's elections laws.

One bill would let a lieutenant governor formally fill the office of governor and nominate a new lieutenant governor if the sitting governor vacates the office midway through the four-year term.

Currently if a governor leaves office, a lieutenant governor becomes acting governor, but can't name a lieutenant governor.

That's happened twice in recent years, once when former Gov. William Weld left office during his second term, giving then Lt. Gov. Paul Cellucci control of the office.

Cellucci won a full term as governor, but also left midway, turning the office over to Lt. Gov. Jane Swift.

Another bill on tap for the Wednesday hearing would create term limits for state lawmakers.

This program aired on March 23, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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