Topeka ? Corruption allegations against the Illinois governor have revived interest in Kansas in a proposal to change the way the state fills its U.S. Senate vacancies.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on charges he tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s now-vacant Senate seat. Blagojevich has denied wrongdoing, but federal prosecutors allege he planned to go on “a political corruption crime spree.”

Legislators in Illinois plan to convene a special session next week to strip Blagojevich of his power to fill Obama’s seat. Kansas law is similar to Illinois law, allowing a governor to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy until the next general election.

“When you trust the public to decide who fills offices, then the public has confidence that the decision was made in a manner they’re comfortable with,” said state Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, an Independence Republican. “It’s probably something that’s worth looking at.”

The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature approved a bill last year to require a special election when a Senate seat becomes vacant, but Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius vetoed it.

In her veto message in May, Sebelius said the current system has worked well for more than 80 years. She stuck with that position Thursday.

“We should change our process only if there is a compelling public policy reason, not for political maneuvering,” she said in a statement.

There was a political side to this year’s debate. Some Republicans’ interest in the issue was fueled by Sen. Sam Brownback’s unsuccessful campaign for president. Had he won or joined a successful Republican ticket, Sebelius could have appointed a Democrat to replace him.

Also, a special election gives a Republican candidate a natural advantage because of the state’s GOP leanings. A Democrat has not won a U.S. Senate election since 1932.

But Schmidt said what’s happening in Illinois suggests it’s better to leave such decisions to the people, rather than one official, even if there’s been no hint of corruption in Kansas.