Massachusetts Groups Urge State Government To Act On Kennedy’s Wish For Temporary Successor

Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
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A coalition of Massachusetts based interest groups and non-profits are putting together a petition urging elected officials to do Ted Kennedy’s bidding and change state law to allow Governor Deval Patrick to appoint a temporary replacement for Kennedy as quickly as possible in advance of the special election that will determine his successor.

MassVOTE is leading the effort called We Need Two, which has the backing of SEIU Massachusetts, UFCW, and several other groups.

The petition is addressed to Patrick as well as Speaker of the Massachusetts House Robert DeLeo and Massachusetts Senate President Therese Murray. It warns that “keeping [Kennedy’s] seat vacant for months will deny us the chance to finish his work in the Senate.”

With so many important issues facing our state and our nation – from healthcare reform and the public health insurance option to getting our economy back on track – now is the time to fulfill his last request and ensure we appoint a temporary senator to fill his seat and give Ted Kennedy’s beloved Bay State a full voice in the legislative chamber he has helped to define for generations.

The Massachusetts Legislature should allow for a temporary appointment to keep the people of Massachusetts represented until voters elect a new senator.

In a letter dated almost July 2, but delivered last week, Kennedy urged Patrick, Murray and DeLeo to “work together to amend the law through the normal legislative process to provide for a temporary gubernatorial appointment until the special election occurs.”

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