What will happen to Kennedy's Senate seat?
| Boston
Edward Kennedy leaves behind not only a distinguished political legacy, but also a vacancy in the Senate that he served for nearly 47 years.
While funeral preparations for the Democratic senator proceed, Massachusetts legislators are deciding whether to honor Senator Kennedy鈥檚 request to change the way the state fills a vacant Senate seat.
Under current Massachusetts law, Kennedy鈥檚 seat will remain empty for more than five months, until the state can hold a special election to fill it.
This was not what Kennedy wanted. In a letter addressed to the Massachusetts governor, state Senate president, and House speaker, which was made public last week, Kennedy asked lawmakers to allow the governor to appoint a temporary replacement for an empty Senate seat, until an election could be held.
鈥淚f it comes to my desk, I鈥檒l sign it,鈥� said Gov. Deval Patrick (D) on Wednesday, voicing his support to amend the current law to allow for a temporary gubernatorial appointment.
He also said, 鈥淚 support special elections. I think it鈥檚 the right arrangement,鈥� but he noted that with healthcare and climate-change legislation likely to come before the Senate this fall, Massachusetts needs both of its votes.
Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo, both Democrats, released a joint statement last Thursday in response to Kennedy鈥檚 letter. Although expressing regard for the senator, they were noncommittal on his appeal.
鈥淲e have great respect for the senator and what he continues to do for our commonwealth and our nation. It is our hope that he will continue to be a voice for the people of Massachusetts as long as he is able,鈥� they said.
When speaking with members of the press Wednesday afternoon, Speaker DeLeo didn鈥檛 comment directly on whether he鈥檚 in favor of amending Massachusetts law. But he did say he would hold a hearing in the next month so that legislators and citizens alike can express their opinion on the issue.
President Murray did not comment on the issue further Wednesday.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e all sticking their fingers in the wind to see if the public really wants this, if the public would accept it,鈥� says Jeffrey Berry, a political scientist at Tufts University in Medford, Mass., explaining why many leading legislators have yet to announce their positions.
But at least six senators are taking more of a stand, Tuesday to the House and Senate chairs of the state's Joint Committee on Election Laws.
鈥淲ith so many vital issues being considered in Congress, we feel that any period of time where Massachusetts lacks full representation is too long,鈥� the senators wrote.
State Sen. Robert O鈥橪eary (D) is one of the six senators who support Kennedy鈥檚 request. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know why anyone would argue against [amending the law],鈥� he says. 鈥淲hy would we cut our representation in half when we could have someone there to cast a vote on our behalf?鈥�
Massachusetts鈥� current law was enacted just five years ago, when a Democratic state Senate didn't want the Republican governor, Mitt Romney, to have the power to replace Sen. John Kerry (D), had he been elected US president.
Now, legislators may change the law again.
鈥淚t becomes more likely to happen if [President] Obama signals he wants it to happen,鈥� says Professor Berry, although it鈥檚 often a mistake for presidents to enter state politics, he notes. 鈥淚f he sent a message via back channel, I think the Democratic leadership in the State House would be more amenable to this.鈥�
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