The Alabama House of Representatives has passed a bill that would eliminate special elections when there are vacancies in the U.S. Senate.

The Republican-backed bill passed 67-31 on a party line vote after about two hours of debate. It moves to the Senate.

House General Fund budget chairman Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, said he wants to spare taxpayers the cost of another special election.

Last year's election for the seat Jeff Sessions vacated is expected to cost about $11 million, Clouse said.

A number of House Democrats spoke in opposition to Clouse's bill today, saying cost savings don't justify doing away with special elections and allowing appointed senators to hold the positions longer.

Clouse's bill would amend a law that rarely comes into play but did so last year when Sessions left his seat to become U.S. attorney general.

Democrat Doug Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore on Dec. 12 to claim the seat in a bitterly contested race. That came after party primaries and a Republican runoff. Clouse said his bill has nothing to do with the outcome of that race, only the cost, and pointed out he first introduced it in August.

Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, said Senate special elections are rare and the cost is not enough of a concern to eliminate special elections.

"Is the cost more important than the citizens having a voice?" Moore asked Clouse.

Clouse said his bill would not take away citizens' voices. It would allow appointed senators to serve longer.

Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, said that would put too much power in the hands of the governor as the appointing authority, allowing appointed senators to essentially become incumbents.

Current law says that when there is a U.S. Senate vacancy the governor appoints a replacement and calls a special election "forthwith."

Clouse's bill says the election will be held at the next general election unless the candidate qualifying period for that election has already started. In that case, it would move to the next general election, two years later.

For example, candidate qualifying for this year's elections started Jan. 8. So if a vacancy occurred now, the election to complete the term would be held in 2020. If the vacancy had occurred before Jan. 7, the election to complete the term would be held this year.