Legal Commentary

January Special Election Likely To Fill Kennedy Senate Seat

By Big Tent Democrat

Politico:

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy urged Massachusetts lawmakers last week to give Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick the power to name his successor. But with reactions to Kennedy’s proposal mixed – and with the legislature not due back until after Labor Day – it appears for now that Massachusetts will be without a second senator until a special election can be held early next year.

That sounds right. It presents an interesting situation. Without Kennedy, Democrats no longer have the vote to close debate on a health care bill that is not enacted through reconciliation. If President Obama wants a HCR bill this year, it will have to be done through reconciliation. In a way, he now has an out. He can reset the debate, heck even argue for Senator Kennedy's Medicare For All Bill. What's clear though is anything passing prior to a Massachusetts special election will be weaker than necessary. In short, Democrats should delay a health care reform bill vote until after the Massachusetts special election.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 26, 2009 (boomark / email).