Nuthin' but the best for Massatwochits.
Posted on 09/23/2009 1:39:12 PM PDT by Clinton's a liar
The Massachusetts House and Senate have given final approval to a bill that would allow Democratic Governor Deval Patrick to appoint an interim US senator to take the seat left vacant by the death of the legendary liberal Edward M. Kennedy.
The bill now heads to the desk of the governor, who plans to sign it and could name an appointee as early as Thursday or Friday.
The bill was enacted by the House, 95-59, and by the Senate, 24-16, after only brief speeches by lawmakers. Lawmakers did not pass, however, an emergency preamble to the law, meaning that the governor would have to send a letter to the secretary of state requesting early implementation of a law.
Supporters have said the state needs two senators in Washington when crucial issues are being debated, including President Obama's health care reform plan. Critics, who included the small contingent of Republicans in the Legislature, argued that the move was hypocritical, pointing out that the Legislature rejected the same proposal when the governor was a Republican.
The interim senator appointed by Patrick would serve until voters elect a new senator in a Jan. 19 special election. That senator would serve the remaining three years of Kennedy’s term.
With the sometimes heated debate over in the House and Senate, the question now is: Who will Patrick appoint?
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Hypocrites.
That’s alot of seat to fill.
The Glob doesn’t even mention the two problems that make this vote so sickening.
1. The legislature based this bill and its predecessor purely on whether the governor happened to be a Republican or a Democrat.
2. It violates the rule of law to pass such a bill ex post facto.
Apparently, none of that is worth mentioning at the head of this article about finding a replacement for the “legendary liberal.”
IS THERE SOMETHING IN THIS LAW PROHIBITING the appointed person from running in the DEC. primary?
If so, it is likely unconstitutional (similar to the striking down of term limit laws that added additional qualifications to the ones specified in the constitution).
Since this JUST hit the Boston Globe front page at 4:19 pm as breaking news, this one’s later... at least the Globe is convinced that the Governor will appoint a successor this week.
That’d be a load of sh!t needed to fill that seat.
Hey...look at it this way, at least your dictators are not throwing you out of bell towers. Non-violent totalitarianism is just so sweet.
We always play by the rules.
excellent Jacinto!
I read your link
At the very least we need to be VOCAL about this Hypocracy.
Kennedy should have announced his pending resignation, then they can do the “appoint a temp” song and dance, then he resigns, and the temp takes his place until a special election. That way there would be no gap at all, and Massachusetts would have had the oh-so-critical 2 Senators.
How difficult can it be to find another fat bellicose murding alcoholic slob?
shilling is out!
Scott Brown (R) - State Sen., Ex-State Rep., Ex-Wrentham Selectman, Attorney & National Guard Veteran
Bob Burr (R) - Canton Selectman
Bill Coleman III (R) - Nutrition Educator, Ex-Congressional Aide & Frequent Candidate
Christopher Egan (R) - Real Estate Developer
looks the man right now
True! Never heard why he didn't. Anyway, all that need be done now is to hold up on the HC bill until after the Mass special election. (what's the hurry?)
Lawmakers did not pass, however, an emergency preamble to the law, meaning that the governor would have to send a letter to the secretary of state requesting early implementation of a law.
They couldn't get the emergency preamble passed because it requires 2/3 vote. So now the governor makes his emergency request, the Sec of State says "okie-dokie", the 'Pubs file suit, the MA Sup Ct rules in favor of the Dems ( and maybe orders all the 'Pubs thrown in jail or shot or something)-- so the Dems get their Senator, but it will take a little time. Closer and closer to the Jan 19 election date.
Last timke i checked, it was unConstitutional to change the rules governing an election, while the election cycle was in progress...Pardon me, but didn’t the election process for replacing Ted Kennedy start the moment he died?
(which is why he wanted to get the rule changed before he did die, to make sure it would be incontestable?)
Nuthin' but the best for Massatwochits.
This is EX POST FACVTO and it is unconstitutional.
BIG QUESTION: What conservative group or Legislators are going to immediately file an injunction and take this to court?
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