9/9/2009 9:22 PM ET
(RTTNews) -
Massachusetts Senator John Kerry testified Wednesday before his state legislature to give his support for a special appointment to the late Ted Kennedy's senate seat until a new Senator could be elected.
Speaking before Massachusetts lawmakers, the Democrat echoed sentiments written by Kennedy in a letter addressed to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and other state lawmakers shortly before his death.
In the letter, Kennedy asked that state lawmakers amend a 2004 law to allow the governor to appoint a temporary replacement should a vacancy occur in one of the state's Senate seats, provided that the temporary replacement commit to not running in a special election
A 2004 Massachusetts law dictates that, in the instance of a vacancy, a special election to fill the seat will be held 145 to 160 days after the vacancy occurs. During that amount of time, the state would have only one Senator.
Kerry said during his testimony that now was "no time" for Massachusetts not to be fully represented in Washington, especially with upcoming votes on crucial issues such as health care.
Further showing his support for Kennedy's request, Kerry said that "common sense profoundly argues we should allow for a temporary appointment because it is in the best interests of Massachusetts as a state and because it allows for the interests of individuals in Massachusetts to best be served."
"I believe that when the roll is called, as Ted Kennedy said, 'it is vital for this Commonwealth to have two voices speaking for the needs of its citizens and two votes in the Senate,'" Kerry said. "That is exactly what we owe to the people of Massachusetts - to put aside partisan interests and do what is best for the state we love and the people we serve."
Many Republicans have spoken out against the call for a temporary appointment to Kennedy's vacant seat, calling the proposal hypocritical because Kennedy and the Democrats pushed for the 2004 law in the first place.
Massachusetts Republican Representative Paul Frost asked Kerry if he would be advocating as strongly for a temporary appointment if Kerry Healy, the Republican who lost the Massachusetts gubernatorial election in 2006, had won that race.
"If Teddy Kennedy wrote the letter he wrote, I don't care who was governor, I'd be here advocating," Kerry responded.
by RTT Staff Writer
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