Confident Mass. Will be Fully Represented

Kennedy's seat may be filled in the interim

clipped from wbztv.com Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo says he is confident he has the votes in the House to pass the bill to allow Governor Deval Patrick to appoint a temporary U.S. Senator to serve until the special election in January. Representatives who will vote for the the bill say Massachusetts should have two Senators not only to vote on health care, but also the transportation reauthorization bill. They say Massachusetts needs a voice at the table to get money, and a second Senator to deal with the 800 pending cases from Senator Kennedy's office. The bill is a redrafted version from the measure originally filed. This bill would not have any restrictions on whether the temporary appointee will be able to run for Senate, which had been a sticking point in earlier debate to avoid giving that person an advantage in the special election. This bill also requires that the appointee be in the same party as the Senator whose seat is vacant. House Democrats will meet to caucus at 11 Thursday morning