SPRINGFIELD - For now, there will be no special election to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat.

Despite initially favoring a plan to strip embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich of his power to name a replacement to serve out the president-elect's term in the U.S. Senate, Democrats in the House on Monday dropped the idea and began focusing on impeaching Blagojevich.

That reversal outraged Republicans, who say voters should have the right to choose their next senator.

"It's the same Democratic Party that got us where we are today, and now they are afraid of losing their power," said state Rep. David Reis, R-Willow Hill.

Under Illinois law, Blagojevich has the sole power to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat.

Republicans say a special election would erase the stain that Blagojevich has left on the Senate appointment in the wake of the allegations against him that he tried to sell the appointment to the highest bidder.

"I think the people's trust in the state of Illinois has been shattered," said state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington.

If Blagojevich is impeached, the power to name a successor to Obama falls to Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, also a Democrat.

Democratic state Reps. John Bradley of Marion and Brandon Phelps of Harrisburg said a special election early next year would be too expensive for several Southern Illinois counties in their districts.

"There was considerable opposition to it," Bradley said.

"There was a serious division within our Democratic caucus about it, mainly over the amount of money it would cost," said state Rep. Dan Reitz, R-Steeleville.

State Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline, said people want action on Blagojevich before lawmakers deal with the Senate seat.

"People want us to move forward with the impeachment, getting rid of the governor and getting this whole thing straightened out," Boland said.

Estimates put the price tag of a special election at more than $40 million, a figure that Republicans say is inflated.

"We've got to stop playing games," said state Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro.

"The best disinfectant in a democracy is the people," said state Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville.

kurt.erickson@lee.net|789-0865