Duckworth Opens Up On Possible Senate Appointment

CHICAGO (WBBM) - Illinois' director of Veterans Affairs has broken her silence on possibility of appointment to fill the remainder Barack Obama's U.S. Senate term.

Tammy Duckworth has hitherto been silent on the issue other than to deflect questions about it.

She didn't exactly move the ball on the issue but might have nudged it a bit when she said in response to questions: "I'd be honored to be considered."  But she added: "If I'm not appointed I'll be happy to remain as Director of (Illinois) Veterans Affairs."

Several names have been mentioned as possible Senate Seat holders including Duckworth, U.S. Represenatives Jesse Jackson Jr., Luis Guiterrez and Jan Shakowsky as well as Dan Hynes, and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

Governor Rod Blagojevich has the sole appointment power and has given no public statements indicating whom he'd like to see in the Obama Senate Seat.

Duckworth--an Army veteran--lost both legs after a missile shot down the Apache helicopter she was piloting in Iraq. She spoke about the Senate seat after a Veterans day rally at the Jesse Brown VA hospital on Damen Avenue on Chicago's West Side.

She called on state lawmakers to pass legislation proposed by Governor Blagojevich that would eliminate property tax bills for any military veteran with a federal disability rating over 50 percent.

She said every night a veteran spends homeless, sleeping on a grate or in a doorway is a night the nation disrespects the sacrifice of veterans.  She said she believes an Obama administration will try harder to meet the needs of Veterans.

Asked if a U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq would disrespect the sacrifice already made by U.S. Veterans, she said absolutely not , their sacrifice stands as something to be honored.