Effort to Appoint Kennedy Successor Gains Steam

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/08/26/effort_to_appoint_kennedy_successor_gains_steam.html

Effort to Appoint Kennedy Successor Gains Steam


Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) said today that he supported a recent proposal by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy "under which an interim senator would be appointed to serve in Kennedy's place until a special election takes place," the Boston Globe reports.

Kennedy had asked that the person appointed also agree not to run in the special election.

Meanwhile, the Boston Herald reports state House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D) "has given his behind-closed-doors blessing" to the effort to hand Patrick "the power to appoint a temporary successor."

David Bernstein: "I am getting informed speculation, however, that there may be a proposal to change the law -- aside from any change concerning a temporary appointment. The change would reduce the 145-160 days to something like 105-120 days."

Ted Kennedy's last wish:

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5649/t/4923/content.jsp?content_KEY=2762&tag=hk1_e1

this law was put in place/changed to get around a Republican Governor when Kerry was running for President.

Change the law after the results have played out.

This is the kind of political game playing we don't need.

Done and have sent the link to friends.

horseshoecrab

law in 2004 so there would be no appointee, and now want to change it back so they can have one.

It just reeks of flip-floppishness.

Flip-floppishness or real health care reform?

Done.

For those who feel that this is wrong, I'd like to ask how you felt about Minnesota having to wait months to have their second senator sworn in.

We are at a crossroads in history, and in a fight to enact historic legislation. We need to have our second, Democratic senator's vote until a special election can be held for a permanent replacement.

Heck, it may well be that a constitutional scholar could make a case that there is a serious flaw in passing legislation which requires that the residents of this Commonwealth have to wait a minimum of 145 days to have representation (i.e. to elect a new senator). I think the legislation as passed was flawed.

The appointment would be temporary. Kudos to Gov. Patrick for being willing to risk it all to honor Ted's last request, particularly as the vote for healthcare looms.


horseshoecrab