US Senator Edward Kennedy, who is almost certainly dying of brain tumour, wants again to change his state’s succession law so that in case of his passing, the state would get a senator from the Democratic Party.

Kennedy already successfully lobbied for the change of the succession law in 2004, when Democrat John Kerry was running for White House. Back then, Republican Mitt Romney was a Governor and Kennedy was terrified that the Governor, who had the right to appoint Kerry’s successor, if he gets elected, would appoint a Republican.

So the state Legislature stripped away the governor’s longstanding power to temporarily fill the Senate vacancy, columnist Jeff Jacoby writes in the Boston Globe.

Now he wants the Legislature to upend the succession law again. As Kennedy knows he’s dying, and now that Massachusetts has a Democrat for Governor, Kennedy is lobbying to restore the gubernatorial power to name an interim appointee. That would guarantee Democrats in Washington two reliable Senate votes from Massachusetts, even if Kennedy isn’t there to cast one of them.

(Hat tip to Cassy Fiano.)

Similar Posts:

• Massachusetts House approves Senator Kennedy succession bill
• Lawyer and state legislator to fight for Kennedy’s Senate seat
• Poll shows Republican can win Kennedy’s Senate seat
• Ted Kennedy dies
• Another Bush in D.C.? Why not

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...