Will Brownsberger -- State Representative, Democrat, 24th Middlesex District

Will,
I also appreciate your being candid about the tough decision.  But this vote by the Massachusetts House is just the height of hypocrisy. After voting to deny Gov Romney the ability to appoint a Senator back in 2004, and then changing the law back to serve themselves is embarrasing…these people must have no shame.
What I [...]

Thanks Will, and also for your thoughtful analysis and open communication.

A tough choice, but I think you made the right decision.  For me, the fact that the interim senator will not run in the special election is important.  Am I right in understanding that that stipulation is only a requested pledge and not part of state law? If so, is it possible to make [...]

As a citizen of Massachusetts I urge you to support giving our Governor the authority to appoint an interim US Senator to fill Senator Kennedy’s seat. If my daughter needs health care services I don’t want to have to tell her that she doesn’t have it because the Massachusetts legislature voted against giving it’s citizens’ equal representation with every [...]

Please approve the proposal allowing the governor to appoint a temporary U.S. Senator pending the special election in January. That vote could mean the difference between a health care plan and no health care plan.

Dear Rep William Brownsberger,
This is to express my support for the draft legislation under consideration to empower Governor Patrick with the authority to appoint an interim senator for Senator Kennedy’s seat. It is very important for our state to be fully represented until election is held, specially at this time of furious [...]

The proposed about face on a law that was just rejected a few years ago, no matter how self serving the Romney agenda may have been then or how worthy the cause on health care may be now, reminds me of our forefathers’ aim to create a government of laws, not of men.  If laws like this can be [...]

I am writing to urge you to support legislation to appoint an interim Senator to fill Senator Kennedy’s seat. This appointment in no way interferes with the election process that is already underway.

My response to the critics who say that such a move is political is:

“Of course it’s political. The people of Massachusetts have consistently [...]

I think the change made two years ago was appropriate but the Legislature inexplicably left a gap, loophole or glitch in the legislation leaving us with 50% less representation for a five month period in the Senate than we are allowed. This should be corrected now not just for any pending legislation but to allow [...]

Will,
Thanks for your thoughtful piece on Kennedy’s succession proposal to the Legislature.
You stated that “there is no higher priority than restoring trust in government — lost trust reduces our ability …”
While   “trust …” is A priority, it cannot be  the HIGHEST priority. We need representation in the Senate NOW, and the critical nature of [...]

Will,
Please support the proposal by Senator Kennedy to have an interim US Senator appointed to serve while an election is held to fill the position.
Thank you,
Jim

It sounds like the change to the 2004 Massachusetts law regarding the filling of vacant Senate seats is more of a tweak than a complete 180 degree turn around. The proposal does not call for scrapping the special election process in favor of an appointed successor to serve what remains on the term. Rather, it [...]

“Lost trust reduces our ability to meet our great challenges, which certainly do include health care cost control and ending dependence on fossil fuels. Neither of those issues will be solved by one piece of legislation — they both will require sustained leadership over the next few decades and we should be very reluctant to [...]

Isn’t it time to take a deep breath and reject the tone used by some contributors?  To me, when there is more heat than light nothing gets accomplished.  The sad and immense loss of Senator Kennedy should make us think deliberately, and act with integrity and charity.  How else to serve the common good?  J. Knowles

Thanks to all who have weighed in on this issue at this website or by e-mail. You have greatly contributed to my understanding. I’ve submitted a post with some further thoughts to the Belmont Citizen Herald.

I agree with those who are fearful of a vacancy while Universal Health Care is on the table. We need an Interim person who will be able to voice the continuation of the universal policy proposal. Let’s minimize the risk.   Ellen Mass

Will,
Senator Ted Kennedy has been wise to anticipate the consequences of his failing health.  It would be respectful and good for Massachusetts to honor his wishes and ensure a successor to serve out his term.

In a letter to Governor Patrick and Legislative leaders, Senator Kennedy urged the legislature to revisit the process under which the state would appoint a replacement should a Senator leave office prior to the completion of their term.  The Senator, seeking to avoid a situation where Massachusetts would be left short a Senator for the [...]

Will,
I am strongly opposed to changing this law.  It was just changed a few years ago to what it is at Sen. Kennedy’s request.  The change he has now requested was proposed by the Republicans in 2004 and was rejected by the Democrats in the legislature.   This is just more of the hypocritical partisan [...]

I agree about the flip-flop problem, and am also no fan of either the governor or the legislative leadership (or their inability to cooperate), but I still think the great majority of Commonwealth residents want Massachusetts to have a voice in the Senate in the crucial health care debates and votes, and want one whose [...]