On the eve of the special Massachusetts Senate election, with the Democrats possibly poised to lose the seat, many are wondering how this possibly could have happened, and, more importantly, how it ties in to health care reform. Here’s a look back….
July 15, 2009: The Senate HELP Committee passes its version of a health care bill. The committee is chaired by Ted Kennedy, but during his treatment for cancer Sen. Chris Dodd has been serving as acting chair.
August 3, 2009: Congress adjourns for summer recess.
August 17, 2009: Dying of cancer, Sen. Ted Kennedy sends a letter to Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick, asking that state law be changed to allow Patrick to appoint Kennedy’s successor until a special election can be held. (That’s what the law had been until 2004, when Democrats changed it to prevent Republican Gov. Mitt Romney from appointing John Kerry’s successor should Kerry have been elected President.)
August 25, 2009: Kennedy dies at age 77.
August 31, 2009: The special election for Kennedy’s Senate seat is scheduled for Jan 19, 2010, with the primary elections slated for Dec 8, 2009.
September 3, 2009: Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announces her candidacy for Kennedy’s seat.
Early September, 2009: In the Senate, the Gang of Six talks being overseen by Max Baucus collapse.
September 7, 2009: After months of behind the scenes negotiations prove fruitless and the Gang of Six talks collapse, Sen. Max Baucus unveils the Finance Committee bill.
September 12, 2009: Republican State Senator Scott Brown announces his candidacy for Kennedy’s seat.
September 16, 2009: The first poll of the general election match-up between Brown and Coakley gives Coakley a 30-point lead.
September 22, 2009: Following earlier passage by the state House, the Massachusetts State Senate passes a bill giving the Governor power to appoint an interim senator until a special election can be held. Gov. Patrick signs the bill into law.
September 25, 2009: Paul Kirk is sworn in as interim U.S. Senator for Massachusetts.
November 7, 2009: The House of Representatives passes its health care reform bill by a vote of 220-215.
November 18, 2009: Harry Reid unveils his Senate bill, which merges the HELP and Baucus bills.
Dec 8, 2009: Martha Coakley wins the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Scott Brown wins the Republican nomination.
December 17, 2009: The House adjourns for Christmas recess.
December 24, 2009: The Senate passes a health care reform bill on a 60-40 party line vote, overcoming three filibuster attempts by Republicans. It then adjourns for the Christmas recess.
January 6, 2010: A poll finds Martha Coakley enjoying a solid 15-point lead over Scott Brown.
January 11, 2010: Coakley’s own internal poll shows her up 14 points.
January 12, 2010: The House returns to session after Christmas recess.
January 9-11, 2010: New polls show Coakley and Brown in a dead heat. A PPP poll has Coakley down 1 point. Rasmussen shows her hanging on to a 2 point lead.
January 14, 2010: After days of marathon negotiations over a compromise heath care bill between the Senate and House versions, the White House announces it has struck a deal with labor over the excise tax on Cadillac plans. A few days later, negotiators ship a package of compromise proposals to the CBO to be scored on their relative costs.
January 17, 2010: A new PPP poll shows Brown pulling ahead of Coakley by 5 points.
January 17, 2010: President Obama makes his first campaign appearance for Martha Coakley in Massachusetts.
January 18, 2010: The Senate returns from Christmas recess.
January 19, 2010: Election Day: The average of polls shows Brown leading 51-45.
