Kerry: Senate Appointment Would Give State 'Voice'
Supporters Pack Public Hearing At Boston Statehouse
POSTED: 5:56 am EDT September 9, 2009
UPDATED: 5:36 pm EDT September 9, 2009
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BOSTON -- A hearing was held at the Statehouse Wednesday as lawmakers decide if Gov. Deval Patrick should be allowed to appoint a temporary replacement to Sen. Edward Kennedy's seat in Washington. 
NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that plenty of people on both sides of the aisle have shown interest in the seat left vacant when Kennedy, 77, succumbed to brain cancer last month.Before he died, Kennedy asked lawmakers to change the law so that the governor could appoint an interim replacement until the special election is held. It is set for Jan. 19.Sen. John Kerry said the law was changed four years ago to prevent then Gov. Mitt Romney from appointing his successor if he had won the presidency was passed with good intentions, but even Kennedy in his final days knew it was wrong not to have a gubernatorial appointee until the election is held."By writing the letter that he wrote and putting himself on the line, I think he acknowledged that that was a mistake," Kerry said.Many legislators fear voter backlash if an appointee somehow ends up running for the seat."They do not want to see a handoff. They do not want to see someone have a leg up on another person running for the seat," Rep. Michael Moran said.Even Kerry and Rep. William Delahunt admitted there may be no legal way to stop a gubernatorial appointee from running."We know that there would be an extraordinary public backlash, and I support his statement that every single member of the House delegation would speak out against that particular candidacy. It will not happen," Delahunt said."I believe it is important to give Massachusetts both a voice and a choice during the next few months. By setting the election date they are guaranteed their choice. Now, we have to make sure they have the voice over the next few months," Kerry said.Republicans claim most voters disagree."This is about the 60 votes that they need to pass the health care reform," Rep. Vinny Demacedo said. On the Net: Massachusetts Republican Party: www.massgop.com MassVOTE's Online Petition: www.weneedtwo.org
Hearing Held At StatehouseNewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that plenty of people on both sides of the aisle have shown interest in the seat left vacant when Kennedy, 77, succumbed to brain cancer last month.Before he died, Kennedy asked lawmakers to change the law so that the governor could appoint an interim replacement until the special election is held. It is set for Jan. 19.Sen. John Kerry said the law was changed four years ago to prevent then Gov. Mitt Romney from appointing his successor if he had won the presidency was passed with good intentions, but even Kennedy in his final days knew it was wrong not to have a gubernatorial appointee until the election is held."By writing the letter that he wrote and putting himself on the line, I think he acknowledged that that was a mistake," Kerry said.Many legislators fear voter backlash if an appointee somehow ends up running for the seat."They do not want to see a handoff. They do not want to see someone have a leg up on another person running for the seat," Rep. Michael Moran said.Even Kerry and Rep. William Delahunt admitted there may be no legal way to stop a gubernatorial appointee from running."We know that there would be an extraordinary public backlash, and I support his statement that every single member of the House delegation would speak out against that particular candidacy. It will not happen," Delahunt said."I believe it is important to give Massachusetts both a voice and a choice during the next few months. By setting the election date they are guaranteed their choice. Now, we have to make sure they have the voice over the next few months," Kerry said.Republicans claim most voters disagree."This is about the 60 votes that they need to pass the health care reform," Rep. Vinny Demacedo said. On the Net: Massachusetts Republican Party: www.massgop.com MassVOTE's Online Petition: www.weneedtwo.org
Previous Stories:
- September 8, 2009: Mihos Switching To Senate Race
- September 8, 2009: Without Kennedy, Senate Race A Free For All
- September 8, 2009: Report: McCain Urges Schilling To Run
- September 8, 2009: Kennedy Nixes Senate Run; Field Wide Open
- September 7, 2009: Joe Kennedy Won't Seek Uncle's Senate Seat
- September 7, 2009: Brown 'Testing Waters' For Senate Run
- September 6, 2009: Former Lt. Gov. Decides Against Senate Race
- September 5, 2009: Lawmakers In Contortions Over Succession Law
- September 4, 2009: Lynch Makes Move To Join Senate Race
- September 4, 2009: All Eyes On Joe As Politicos Await Decision
- September 3, 2009: Schilling Not Ruling Out Senate Run
- September 2, 2009: Schilling Tossing Cap In Senate Race?
- September 1, 2009: Coakley Pulls Nomination Papers For Senate Seat
- September 1, 2009: List Of Kennedy Successors Narrows
- September 1, 2009: Joe Kennedy A Senate Successor?
- August 31, 2009: Vicki Kennedy 'Not Interested' In Interim Senate Seat
- August 31, 2009: Debate Over Senate Seat Begins On Beacon Hill
- August 27, 2009: Empty Senate Seat Still At Center Of Debate
- August 27, 2009: Kennedy's Liberal Heirs Not Easy To Find
- August 26, 2009: Gov. Supports Naming Interim Kennedy Successor
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