Massachusetts Legislature Could Pass Senate-Appointment Bill On Thursday

The Boston Globe reports that both houses of the Massachusetts legislature plan to vote Thursday on the bill to empower Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick to make a temporary appointment to Ted Kennedy's Senate seat. This would return the Senate Democrats to their full strength of 60 seats, which could be crucial in the debate on health care.

The law before 2004 provided for a gubernatorial appointee, who would serve until the next regular Congressional election. That year, however, the Dems in the legislature passed a bill for a special election, with no appointment, at a time when John Kerry was running for president and Republican Mitt Romney was governor.

The new proposal -- requested by Ted Kennedy shortly before his death -- would add to the special election process with a temporary appointee who must be of the same party as the previous Senator, and who would be expected to not run in the election.

The momentum for the proposal has been building, with state Attorney General Martha Coakley -- who is currently the only declared Democratic candidate for Senate -- endorsing the plan. The big question, however, remains whether there will be sufficient support in the legislature to pass it.