Massachusetts legislature nears passage of special election bill
The [Massachusetts] Legislature has paved the way for a special election to replace U.S. Sen. John Kerry if he wins the presidency in November, stripping Republican Gov. Mitt Romney of his power to appoint an interim senator.
Republican House members opposed to a Democratic plan that would change how vacant U.S. Senate and congressional seats are filled spent hours yesterday trying to stall the plan but failed at each turn.
By a vote of 116 to 34, the Democratic majority managed to push through the bill after more than six hours of procedural maneuvering and debate by the GOP and majority party. The controversial bill, already approved by the Senate, still needs final approval in both branches before moving to Romney for his signature. The Republican governor opposes the plan, but it's unclear whether he will veto the measure or recommend an alternative proposal.
The proposal does appear to have veto-proof support in both the House and Senate, where it passed by more than a two-thirds margin, largely along party lines. -- Legislature wins: Special election would replace Kerry (Lowell Sun)