Politics At Its Worse

[Chicopee John]

Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick wins approval to name interim senator for Ted Kennedy's seat

By Dan Ring September 22, 2009, 10:37PM

 

 

BOSTON – State senators approved a bill that allows Gov. Deval L. Patrick to appoint a temporary replacement for the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

 

Senators voted on Tuesday 24-16 to approve the bill after nearly three hours of debate. The state House of Representatives approved the bill last week.

 

Patrick has supported the bill and could announce his interim appointment by the end of this week.

 

“The governor appreciates the support voiced in the Senate and the action taken by the House last week to ensure Massachusetts has full representation in the Congress,” Kyle J. Sullivan, press secretary for Patrick, said after the vote.

 

Patrick has not commented on any possible candidates. Some possible appointees include former Gov. Michael S. Dukakis; Harvard Law School Professor Charles J. Ogletree; and former Democratic National Committee chairman Paul G. Kirk.

 

The bill is expected to land on Patrick’s desk some time Wednesday.

 

The replacement for Kennedy would serve until a Jan. 19 special election for the vacant post. The primary is Dec. 8.

 

U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry, the state’s new senior senator, said state legislators did the right thing.

 

“This vote appropriately came down to a simple question: Do you believe the people of Massachusetts are best served these next months by having one senator or two?” Kerry said. “The Legislature answered that question correctly.”

 

Democrats in Washington have been pushing for the bill to prevent a possible filibuster by Republicans on President Barack H. Obama’s bill to overhaul health care. Another Democratic senator is needed for the 60 votes to block a filibuster.

 

Jennifer A. Nassour, chairwoman of the state Republican Party, called the vote a stunning example of hypocrisy on the part of Democrats.

 

“This is a pathetic attempt by the Obama administration to stack the deck in the U.S. Senate and pass an unpopular government-run health care plan that the American people simply oppose,” Nassour said.

 

Sen. Michael R. Knapik, R-Westfield, said Democrats approved the bill out of expediency and convenience.

 

“Make no mistake about it,” Knapik said during floor debate. “There’s politics behind much of this.”

 

In 2004, Democrats in the state Legislature changed the law to establish a special election and prevent then-Republican Gov. W. Mitt Romney from appointing a senator in case U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry was elected president.

 

Now, with Patrick, a Democrat, in the corner, Democrats are changing the law again to provide for a temporary replacement.

 

Sens. Stephen J. Buoniconti, D-West Springfield, and Gale D. Candaras, D-Wilbraham, said an interim appointment is crucial for giving the state a stronger voice in Congress.

 

Kennedy died of brain cancer on Aug. 25.

 

“There’s a lot of important votes we will need two senators for,” Candaras said. “There’s going to be votes on not only health care reform ... but also on the environment and the economy.”

 

The state House of Representatives voted 95-58 in favor of the bill last week. In 2004, the House defeated a version of the same bill by a wide margin.

 

In the Senate, a total of 11 Democrats joined five Republicans in voting against the bill.

 

Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, D-Barre, the only Democrat from Western Massachusetts to vote in opposition, said he didn’t see the necessity of the bill.

 

“Altering the election of a U.S. senator is very, very sacred,” Brewer said after the vote. “A lifetime of experience led me to vote not to alter it.”

 

In Washington, an official said Kennedy’s staff can stay on the payroll until late October as they shut down the late senator’s office.

 

Kennedy’s staff was given up to 60 days from the date of his death to complete the closing, according to the secretary of the Senate’s office which is overseeing the effort.

 

If a temporary replacement for Kennedy is chosen, that person could decide to keep some or all of Kennedy’s former staff.

 

The House and the Senate did not pass the bill with the two-thirds vote needed for a law to take effect upon passage.

 

Under a provision in the state constitution, Patrick can get around the lack of a two-thirds vote. He can file a statement with the secretary of state’s office, declaring the law an emergency and putting it into effect immediately.

 

[Mr. T]

These people are not going to let anything get in the way of disrupting their chosen one's wishes. Currently listening to the Citizen of theWorld's speech.

 

It makes you wonder if he will also changes american laws to kiss the UN's Ass.

 

This is a good lessonon why you need good people in office at all levels of government. Obama says "old laws and old habits" need to be changed. Only when it supports his agenda.

 

 

 

 

 

But still everyone knows He Lies!!!!

 

[calfoxwc]

It all goes back to the corruption of liberals. Words manipulate and they get what they want.

 

And words manipulate to keep others from getting from what the liberals don't want them to have.

 

And, they don't give a flip when their hypocrisy between the two make real, honest Americans

 

be affronted by it.

 

Because, it works, and in the longer analysis, IMHO, they don't respect themselves, and they don't

 

respect others and much of anything about this country because of it.

 

So, all that is left is for them to manipulate against everything else other than what they want.

 

It's all about them, and that is why they were so eager to show a huge disdain and lack of respect for

 

any voters or any media person that doesn't do the same.

 

And, they want what they want SO much, because of the above, that they will happily follow their higher ups with the same

 

outlook, and give them what THEY want.

 

In the case of most of them, it's power.

[Chicopee John]

It all goes back to the corruption of liberals.

 

I would make one global change......................."It all goes back to the corruption of politicians."

 

[calfoxwc]

Granted, and that is true, John.

 

I ended up only referring to the situation in Mass.

 

My bad. @@