By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHICAGO -- Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan said Sunday he doesn't think a bill taking away the governor's power to appoint President-elect Barack Obama's Senate replacement would have stopped Gov. Rod Blagojevich from making the appointment.

Speaking on WGN-AM in Chicago, Madigan said even if the Legislature had passed a bill calling for a special election for the seat, Blagojevich could have vetoed it and made the appointment before an override vote could be held.

But House Republican Leader Tom Cross, who spoke on WGN-AM after Madigan, called the Democrats' failure to push for a special election "a huge mistake."

"It's indicative of a kind of behavior and attitude of 'we don't get it, we've learned nothing and we're going to keep doing things the same old way,"' Cross said.

Blagojevich was arrested on federal corruption charges Dec. 9, and soon afterward Illinois legislative leaders said they were preparing to quickly schedule a special election. But no bill was put forward, and Blagojevich appointed former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to the seat on Dec. 30.

Senate Democrats have refused to seat Burris because of the federal charges against the governor, which include allegations he tried to sell the seat to the highest bidder. However, late last week, Senate leaders appeared to soften their stance on seating Burris.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the Senate would vote on whether to seat Burris after Senate lawyers review documents he has presented and look over his testimony before the Illinois House impeachment panel. During that testimony, Burris said he promised Blagojevich nothing in exchange for the seat.

Madigan said he believes Burris will eventually become the state's junior senator.

Madigan also said he's confident Blagojevich will be removed from office. The Illinois House impeached him Friday, and the governor now faces a trial in the state Senate. If convicted, he will be forced out.

Blagojevich was arrested amid a three-year federal investigation of alleged hiring fraud in his administration. In announcing the charges against him, prosecutors pointed to wiretapped conversations recorded at his home and office.

When asked why legislators didn't pursue impeachment against Blagojevich before he was arrested -- as early as last summer -- Madigan said he didn't think there was the needed support in the House back then.

Madigan said that the interception of the alleged Blagojevich conversations and federal authorities going public with the allegations was "the match that lit the fire that led to the impeachment vote in the House."