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Senate passes fill-in bill
Top Headlines State Sens. Scott Brown and James Timilty both voted Tuesday against a bill granting the governor interim appointment power, but the measure passed 24-16. The House passed it last week. Timilty, D-Walpole, said he was surprised the debate was shorter and less divisive than he was expecting. Republicans had blocked a vote for two sessions, but relented Tuesday. Patrick is reportedly considering Paul Kirk, a former aide to Kennedy; former Gov. Michael Dukakis, former Lt. Gov. Evelyn Murphy or Harvard law professor Charle Olgetree as interim appointments. The person appointed would only serve until a special election is held in January. Brown, R-Wrentham, is a candidate in the special election and he argued against the interim-appointment authority, although he has supported it in the past. He said the bill was being pushed by Democrats in Washington. "I think it's time for someone to tell the truth here," Brown said. "What's really going on is the national Democratic Party wants a rubber stamp in Washington. There are some important votes coming up in the U.S. Senate on issues like health care reform, cap and trade and immigration reform. "White House aides and congressional leaders have been burning up the phone lines to lobby for this bill," he said. Timilty said no one from Washington lobbied him. He said he voted against the bill because he believes a U.S. Senate seat is too important to be filled by appointment, even for a few months. "For a seat as important as a U.S. Senate seat, I think they should go to Washington with the backing of the people," he said. Timilty said he believes the state's remaining U.S. Sen. John Kerry can handle matters until the special election selects a second senator. The vote largely found Republicans and Democrats on the opposite sides of the argument from where they stood in 2004. Back then, Democrats voted to take away the appointment power from the governor in favor of a special election, while Republicans argued in favor of an interim appointment. Congressional leaders in Washington have said the interim appointment of a Democrat could prove critical in attempts to get a 60th vote in favor of health care reform.
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doug wrote on Oct 7, 2009 5:03 PM:
1-20-2013 wrote on Sep 28, 2009 10:51 AM:
AttleboroResident wrote on Sep 24, 2009 6:31 AM:
Fact - this law has been in effect since 2004, pushed through by former Senator Kennedy
Fact - Kennedys illness forced him to miss 97% of the votes in this current session.
Fact President Obama personally spoke with our governor during Kennedys funeral to discuss altering the law to his partys favor.
Fact without any action by our corrupt politician,s the voters would be able to elect a new Senator in less than 140 days.
Fact Although passed by both sides of Beacon Hill, the governor could not act on this bill without additional political tricks.
Fact Governor Patrick has declared the need to fill the seat, which has been unoccupied for greater than 97% of this session an emergency!
Fact Secretary Bill Galvin agrees that this is an emergency and approved the measure.
Fact Despite the facts above, Bill Bowles, who also voted in favor of the sales tax, voted in agreement that the people could not wait 140 days to elect a new Senator. "
stp wrote on Sep 23, 2009 9:30 PM:
I can't think of a better American to take this position than Mr. Massachusetts Miracle himself, Mike Dukakis. "
Southern View wrote on Sep 23, 2009 6:44 PM:
More government control over everything- less idividual freedoms
More government spending- more taxes-less individual freedom
See's Obama as the Messiah
Has no opinions on anything- accepts the Dem Party direction on all votes/issues
Is pro-socialism
Is anti middle class
Has no core values- believes in killing babies (pro choice), gay marriage, anti Christian anti Judeo-Christian beliefs
Believes the USA is the problem and has created anti American feelings throughout the world
That most problems can be solved with higher taxes.
Pro unions, pro welfare.
Against people taking individual responsibility for themselves or their family.
That a "family" can be two moms, two dads, or any other combination
That far left liberal loony ideology must be forced upon everyone, starting in nursery school and continuing throughout public schol education
With are the liberal thinking wackos in MA, this person should be very easy to find. "
AttleboroResident wrote on Sep 23, 2009 6:10 PM:
trapperdick wrote on Sep 23, 2009 4:33 PM:
expeditions8120 wrote on Sep 23, 2009 4:04 PM:
Duffman wrote on Sep 23, 2009 3:37 PM:
realist wrote on Sep 23, 2009 3:19 PM:
realist wrote on Sep 23, 2009 3:12 PM:
Here is one for the fill-on bill.
I hope there's enough time for people to see it before the story is yanked. Maybe the SC could continue the story?
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5LlBNZodOEgl8tVSRT8tlA_3d_3d
I'll try to check late tonight and tally answers. "
s-plumb wrote on Sep 23, 2009 1:31 PM:
mansfield dan wrote on Sep 23, 2009 12:55 PM:
Governor "One and Done" Patrick should be run out of the state. This is the typical "Ram it through" policy that will hopefully wake up the sleeping MA voters to stand up for themselves for a change. "
realist wrote on Sep 23, 2009 12:55 PM:
He is a phony empty suit elected because he promised nothing yet everybody read their own meaning into "change".
Like Carter, he will not have a second term. If the democrats are smart they will nominate someone else in 2012. The only problem I see as a Republican is that we don't have another Ronald Reagan to come along and clean up the international and domestic mess the Dear Leader is making. "
Common Sense Coordinator wrote on Sep 23, 2009 12:48 PM:
And, those who vote republican may have their will represented but to no avail, as 16 members will never win or swing a vote.
As democrats, you may feel "proud" to have your party in power. But, wouldn't you rather a government that works properly?
I don't care how you all vote next time around but please consider whether you want to be actually represented or if you are comfortable being lemmings. "
AndrewJackson wrote on Sep 23, 2009 12:46 PM:
gimmesum wrote on Sep 23, 2009 12:41 PM:
007 wrote on Sep 23, 2009 12:13 PM:
sparky wrote on Sep 23, 2009 11:59 AM:
s-plumb wrote on Sep 23, 2009 11:48 AM:
Why can't the dem party, as a whole, throw out these bad actors? Corruption is not a virtue. Heck we throw out everyone who looks the wrong way.
It's your state and country too, so man/woman up :) "
realist wrote on Sep 23, 2009 10:32 AM:
Mr. Brown is going to have to spend a lot of money. "
AttleboroResident wrote on Sep 23, 2009 10:15 AM:
VladsBack!! wrote on Sep 23, 2009 10:09 AM:
007 wrote on Sep 23, 2009 9:55 AM:
007 wrote on Sep 23, 2009 9:47 AM:
hardhearted wrote on Sep 23, 2009 9:37 AM:
1984
The Last Hurrah.
The next time anyone wants to do another "Big Read" I suggest they read these books. Given our reality in Massachusetts and the unconditional love most Dems have for the chosen one these books are scarier than anything that could come from the worst nightmares of Poe, Lovecraft or King "
1333 wrote on Sep 23, 2009 9:10 AM:
skeptic wrote on Sep 23, 2009 8:51 AM:
My choice would be a bobblehead doll since all that is required is the ability to nod emphatically when the chosen one speaks. "
realist wrote on Sep 23, 2009 8:38 AM:
This action shows that no one gives a cr@p about the voters in Massachusetts.
What's worse is that most of the clowns who voted for this bill will get re-elected. We all complain about corruption, nepotism and patronage - yet the people responsible for it keep getting re-elected. Why? Because they show up at every ribbon cutting and school ceremony and pass proclamations like they were discount tickets to Spooky World. My one regret about having a Republican rep and state senator is that I can't vote against the 0bama/Patrick lackeys that supported the bill. "
AttleboroResident wrote on Sep 23, 2009 8:21 AM:
artie lange wrote on Sep 23, 2009 8:21 AM:
Independent wrote on Sep 23, 2009 8:11 AM:
After all, what did he accomplish in the last year? The only people who missed his presence in Washington were the Illegal Immigrants as he was in favor of keeping them here and supporting them with Taxpayers $$$
This would have taken care of the problem the Dems of the Commonwealth are creating. They play flip-flop with the Laws of the Commonwealth to suit their own greedy needs. "
gimmesum wrote on Sep 23, 2009 8:01 AM:
Those "Beacon Hill Bandits" are all given their marching orders before they vote. "
gimmesum wrote on Sep 23, 2009 7:59 AM:
They are all given their marching orders before they vote. "
do you get it? wrote on Sep 23, 2009 7:36 AM:
kevin h. wrote on Sep 23, 2009 7:22 AM:
denau wrote on Sep 23, 2009 7:12 AM:
AttleboroResident wrote on Sep 23, 2009 6:18 AM: