Scott Brown fires back at ‘mean-spirited’ Patrick Kennedy
“It’s unfortunate that he would use mean-spirited comments like that at a time when we’re just trying to solve the problems of the commonwealth,” Brown said just after entering the Russell Senate Building for the first time as a U.S. senator. “I was elected, and the votes are certified, and I’m here to do my job.”
Brown’s slap at Kennedy came during a frenzied first day that featured a whirlwind tour of the Capitol and the equivalent of freshman orientation.
Kennedy (D-R.I.) told The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room on Thursday, “Brown’s whole candidacy was shown to be a joke today when he was sworn in early in order to cast his first vote as an objection to Obama’s appointment to the (National Labor Relations Board).”
The son of the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy alleged that his father’s successor is “in the tank for the Republicans,” but Brown has denied any hidden agenda in moving up by a week his Feb. 11 swearing-in.
A procedural vote Monday on President Obama’s pick for the board is expected to be among the first votes cast by Brown, who arrived at the Capitol yesterday at 9:40 a.m. with wife Gail by his side.
“I’m here to start working,” Brown said. “We have to get our office up and running. . . . I’m here, ready to go. I have a whole morning of briefings.”
On the agenda were a series of 30-minute cram sessions by the Senate’s human resources attorney and the U.S. Capitol Police, followed by lunch in the Senate dining room and a tour of the Capitol led by the Senate historian.
Jovial staffers buzzed about his transition office, where the calls began flooding from well-wishers around the nation at 7 a.m., the first from Oregon, then California.
They contemplated asking the staff of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to help man the phones, inquired about Brown’s parking space and where his “hideaway” office in the Capitol would be located.
“You’re a popular man, Senator. The phones haven’t stopped,” one staffer told Brown as he arrived.
The arrival of Brown’s BlackBerry was followed by bagels, care of multitasking chief of staff Steve Schrage.
Brown was already weighing in on a job-creation bill anticipated next week from Democrats, who are angling for swift bipartisan approval.
“I’d like to see it - it hasn’t been given to the Republicans at all to look at,” Brown said. “And if it includes tax increases, I’m probably not going to vote for it.
Brown added, “I’m hopeful it includes some across-the-board tax cuts, targeted tax breaks, some workforce development grants, some other types of things that would kick-start manufacturing.”
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“And if it includes tax increases, I’m probably not going to vote for it.
At the first sign of White House participating in unlawful activities (backroom deals, bribes for votes, taking over federal activities like the census), Repubs can shut down the Senate until the illegal activity stops.
Shutdown is in addition to
(1) filing lawsuits,
(3) getting injunctions, and,
(4) getting TRO’s against all those involved in illegal activities.
Brown weighed in saying: “I’d like to see it - it hasn’t been given to the Republicans at all to look at. “ And if it includes tax increases, I’m probably not going to vote for it, Brown said."
That's tellin' 'em Scott. Brown zeroing in on Dems secrecy and underhandedness will carry more weight than the limp Repub responses so far.