Sep 22, 2009 6:23 pm US/Eastern
State Senate Approves Kennedy Successor Bill
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
The Massachusetts Senate has approved a bill allowing the governor to name an interim replacement to fill the late Ted Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat.
The bill goes back to both chambers for a final procedural vote on Wednesday before heading to Gov. Deval Patrick, who has said he would sign the bill.
Read: How Did My Senator Vote?
Patrick's aides said they expect him to act quickly to name an appointee who would serve until voters pick a permanent replacement during a Jan. 19 special election.
The governor released a statement late Tuesday afternoon saying he appreciates the support voiced in the Senate, and that he "looks forward to final action on the bill."
The 40-member Senate approved the measure on an 24-to-16 vote.
Senator John Kerry said in a statement that the state senate did the right thing for Massachusetts.
"This is what Ted Kennedy wanted, what Governor Patrick and I wanted, and I firmly believe it's what people in Massachusetts want because big votes on everything from health care to climate change are being taken now, not in five months," Senator Kerry said.
Lawmakers have come under pressure from Washington to pass the bill so Democrats can regain a filibuster-proof, 60-vote majority in the U.S. Senate to help pass President Obama's health care overhaul.
Republicans say the law will not go into effect for 90 days, unless an emergency preamble is passed by a two thirds majority.
However, Democrats say the Governor can determine through an executive order that it is an emergncy, and he has the power to have it take affect as soon it is passed.
HOW THEY VOTED
As she walked into the chamber, Senate President Therese Murray said she supported the bill. She did not support a similar measure in 2004, when Republican Mitt Romney was governor and Senator John Kerry was running for president.
But some of her leadership team did not vote with her.
Senate Ways and Means Chair Steven Panagiatokas of Lowell says he stands by his 2004 vote, and says Massachusetts can wait for its second senator to be elected.
Democratic senator Brian Joyce said he also voted against the bill, which is consistent with his vote in 2004.
But, state Sen. Warren Tolman says he is changing his vote from 2004 because, "I made a mistake."
State Sen. Robert O'Leary, who was an early proponent of this bill, testified Tuesday, "In retrospect I made the wrong vote in 2004. I feel I made a mistake. I don't plan on compounding it in 2009 with an additional mistake."
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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