A battle is brewing between outgoing Illinois Governor George Ryan and Governor-Elect Rod Blagojevich over Ryan's continuing to grant state jobs to people even though he's leaving office next week. Today, the Illinois Senate approved Ryan's appointments.

"Gov. George Ryan's last-minute appointments to various state jobs were approved Tuesday by the Illinois Senate despite objections from the man who will take over as governor in less than a week. Gov.-elect Rod Blagojevich is exploring ways to reverse the appointments, and a lawsuit is one possibility, an aide said."

The Senate approved the three most major appointments by a vote of 47-2. Other, lower-profile appointments — many of them unpaid — were approved by similar margins.

"Ryan argues that so long as he is governor, it's his job to fill vacancies on important boards and commissions. He rejects the argument that it is wrong to saddle the new governor with people who will be making policy for years to come. In addition to making appointments that need Senate approval, Ryan has given long-term state jobs to a variety of aides and political allies."