Posted on 01/19/2010 12:53:46 PM PST by kingattax
BOSTON -- Secretary of State William Galvin said he will not delay the swearing-in process if Republican Scott Brown is elected to fill the Senate seat formerly held by Ted Kennedy, but would only announce an unofficial winner if the results are decisive.
But Brown warned that Senate Democrats would delay swearing him in if he wins to avoid a 41st vote against the health care bill.
On Tuesday, Sen. John Kerry indicated the Oath of Office would not be rushed.
"I don't think that is possible even under normal circumstances. When I was elected or Ted Kennedy was elected, we had to wait about 10 days, 12 days," Kerry said.
But in Kennedy's case, that was not true. A document from the national archives shows Kennedy's 1962 Senate win did not get certified until weeks after he was sworn into office.
"Whatever is appropriate should be followed. I am not an election expert, an election law expert," Kerry said.
Republicans also point to Rep. Niki Tsongas, who was sworn into Congress days after she was elected to represent Massachusetts' 5th Congressional District.
"The people's will should be done. Regardless of legal niceties, the fact is it is a popularly-elected government, and people who forget that do so at their peril," said Dan Winslow, an attorney for Brown's campaign.
Galvin said politics will not delay him from certifying the results for the governor to sign.
"I am going to do everything that I can to give the winner, whoever that winner is, the credentials they need as soon as possible," Galvin said.
Galvin said he will only announce an unofficial winner to Congress before the results get certified if the outcome is decisive. So if it's close, all absentee votes will be counted, which could take up to 10 days.
"My reputation precedes me. I'm not going to sacrifice my reputation for any race of any kind," Galvin said
When is Galvin up for re-election?
Brown seems like a sure thing.
Democrats are already looking bad.
Obama is already looking bad.
I'm not going to fall on my sword in an effort to help these guys play political ganes. Why should I look bad too?
So Harry Reid's assertion that the Senate MUST wait for certification turns out to be false. No surprise there, Senator Reid is a big fat liar.
RATs, obviously, aren’t getting We The People’s message yet!
I read that Kennedy was sworn in within 24 hours after they declared him winner so he could be the Senior Senator from MA.
I hope Brown only has to wait two years to take that title from Kerry, who has waited and coveted that title for a very long time now.
Galvin is up this year
i think he wants to get reelected then try for the Governors mansion so he will probably obey the letter of the law
If I remember right then the dems quickly confirmed there congressional candidate in NY23. Even before the winner was confirmed by the state. I believe that it was decided that since our candidate conceded the election then this could be done. I bet that Martha has been instructed to not concede, and drag it out for every last minute.
John Effen Liar kerry, once again lying against America.
When Teddy Kennedy was first elected, it was a sopecial election, just like this one, and he was sworn into office in less than 24 hours later.
"I'm getting ready to retire.. if only I had a bit more money saved.. maybe a boat for fishing... follow me, DNC?"
regardless of who wins, isn’t the appointed Kirk’s vote no longer valid by the fact someone was elected
Or, my Rat friends will delay Brown's swearing-in with legal maneuvers, so I don't have to.
Kerry’s an idiot. He had to wait from November to January.
And Kennedy was sworn in the next day.
This Bill is going to die in committee.
Galvin had a lot to say during the 2000 Florida recount. He was all for voter intent on half punched ballots. I don’t trust this guy at all.
The Democrats can easily draw this thing out by challenging the vote count through repetitive “chad counting” and other such sleazy tricks known to their political party. Hopefully they will not. People across the country are watching this play out with intense interest.
You only need to wait if it's a Republican being sworn it. If it's a Democrat --- will that's just different.
Conceding the election has nothing to do with it. They may have tried to use that as an excuse, but legally it carries no weight and should not affect a legal process.
Yeah, we remember 2004.
The kicker may be that the vote has to be certified before Kirk is out of commission.
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