PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A bill that seeks to strip the Governor's power to appoint a replacement in the event of a mid-year U.S. Senate vacancy passed in the state House today on a 64-to-6 vote.

The bill will now head to the state Senate.

Freshman Rep. Christopher Fierro, D-Woonsocket, said he filed the legislation in response to allegations that former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich tried to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Obama.

"It's not about Governor Carcieri or any governor," Fierro said today. "Who we need to empower is the people."

The bill would require a special election unless the vacancy occurs after July 1 of an election year. In that case, the vacancy would be filled during the regular general electoral cycle.

-- Reported by Journal Staff Writer Karen Lee Ziner, with archival reports from Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau