Effort to replace Kennedy hits snag

[2QT2BSTR8]

Source: The Hill

There might not be a temporary replacement for Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) in the coming days after all.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) was expected to have the power to appoint a 60th Democratic senator this week, but the bill to give him that power hit a snag Wednesday, according to The Associated Press, and the situation could be headed for court.

Though the state Senate on Tuesday joined the state House in signing off on the appointment powers, the timing of the appointment is at issue.

Without an emergency declaration, Patrick could not make the appointment for 90 days, or about a month before a full-time successor is elected. The bill would need a two-thirds majority in both chambers to bypass that waiting period, and it isn’t getting the votes.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/60037-effort-to-temporarily-replace-kennedy-hits-snag

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I do not have much interest in what The Hill puts out these days, however I did find this interesting.

[Raven]

1. I think that all Patrick needs to do is issue a letter saying this is

an emergency. That's what I heard on WBZ radio coming home tonight.

[Bumblebee]

2. it's a very ignorant story.

Here's the original AP piece:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32983355/ns/politics-edward_kennedy_19322009/

The House voted 95-59, and the Senate 24-16, just moments after a separate House vote in which lawmakers declined to make the law go into effect immediately.

That means Gov. Deval Patrick must send a letter to the secretary of state declaring an emergency if he wants an interim replacement right away.

...

Patrick could announce his pick as early as Thursday, assuming no further constitutional challenges. He was returning to Boston Wednesday evening from his vacation home in the Berkshire Mountains, where he has been recovering from hip replacement surgery for the past three weeks. Aides said he planned to meet with fired Hyatt hotel workers he is trying to get reinstated. They would not say if he had any announcements planned.

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. Making drama where there is none

Patrick will write out three lines, sign it, and appoint.

The outraged press barely remembers when the Texas GOPers sent out homeland security to make a quorum.

[Crzyrussell]

4. The law

taking away the power from the governor to make the appointment should have never been changed in the first place. This isn't an emergency.....

[Gormy Cuss]

5. True, but it was changed and now's changed back to a more sensible law.

It's a separate issue whether an emergency declaration is warranted.

[Crzyrussell]

9. It was

changed only for politics and not for better governance. This is one of those situations where past actions come back to bite you.

[karynnj]

10. It is if MA wants to Senators to handle constituent work and to vote the way the bluest state

in the country wants to vote.

[elocs]

6. Just one small detail: the governor would be appointing the 58th Democratic Senator.

There are 2 independent Senators who caucus with the Democrats, but who are not Democrats. One of whom is famously, or infamously, Joe Lieberman.

[mzmolly]

7. Not to mention Robert Byrd.

:(

[elocs]

8. Yeah, the number of Democratic Senators who are actually able to get to the Senate and vote.

That's an important number too, or number also.

[robo50]

11. Read this link and weep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BOSTON -- Gov. Deval Patrick will announce an interim senator and announce his pick for the position Thursday morning, NewsCenter 5 has learned. The administration is hoping the appointee could be sworn in as early as Friday.


http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/21087005/detail.html?treets=bos&tml=bos_break&ts=T&tmi=bos_break_1_09450109232009


The Massachusetts Legislature has given final approval to a bill allowing the governor to appoint an interim replacement for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.