Mass. GOP seeks to block Senate appointment
Published: September 24, 2009
BOSTON - The Massachusetts Republican Party has filed an injunction in a Boston court seeking to block former Democratic Party chairman Paul Kirk from becoming the interim replacement for the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy. (Read related story.)
Lawmakers this week passed legislation giving Gov. Deval Patrick the power to appoint an interim replacement, but laws approved in Massachusetts usually take 90 days to go into effect. Patrick signed an emergency letter that he said allows the law to become effective immediately.
Republicans allege in their court filing that Patrick did not have the constitutional authority to do that. But State Secretary William Galvin said Thursday the power to make the immediate appointment is “very clearly available” to Patrick.
Kirk, the former head of the Democratic National Committee, is set to be sworn Friday.
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Reader Reactions
Hi Smitty,
I have a problem with the new health care initiative. The Democrats changed the law because it left them 1 vote short of beating back a philibuster from the Republicans to stop this new health care bill. I realize that Mr. Kennedy would have voted for it. But fate ( his death) changed the playing field.
This is a power grab bent on pushing this irresponsible health care bill on us.
The Governor once had the power to choose a senate replacement, but Democrats removed that power from the Governor in 2004 because they didn’t want Mit Romney to fill a senate seat just in case John Kerry won the election. Now there changing the law again.
I’m telling ya.This health care bill does not make sense. Neither does congress… Dems or Reps
Let it go—let it die—no matter what happens the GOP is not going to win.
I’ll second the ‘good luck’ to Senate appointee Kirk.
Good luck Senator Kirk.
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