I completely support the Koczera bill as an excellent way both to ensure continued representation and expedite a fair election for any congressional vacancy. Thank you.
2. Fred Scerra (09/10/2009)
I have only one question. If we had a Republican Gov would you and the rest of the Democratic party still be pushing for this bill.
I doubt it.
3. Bill Gallant (09/10/2009)
I am a little weary about any governor having this power. I would rather a vote by the people only. When Sen. Kerry was running for president he was absent from over 90% senate votes. No one brought up the issue of Ma. being under represented during this time. Be careful on this vote it can be construed as partisan politics in action.
4. Susan Bak (09/12/2009)
Hi Jamie:
I agree. I’d like to see the Governor appoint someone in the interim until the general election – provided of course that this individual not be allowed to run for the Senate seat. I think Massachusetts deserves two votes in the Senate.
5. Jamie Eldridge (09/15/2009)
Thank you for your comments. No one is talking about taking away the people’s right to elect their next U.S. Senator, but I do believe that an interim appointment is a fair compromise. There is no doubt politics involved in this, but more importantly, we need to make sure there are two Massachusetts votes in the Senate, not to mention all of the constituent services that come with a U.S. Senate position.
6. Shawn Murphy (09/16/2009)
You mention that we need the representation of two senators, but if one is appointed, who is it representing? It isn’t representing the people of Massachusetts. It is representing the political desires of the governor and the governor’s party. This should not be allowed. This would be unethical politics and I agree with Fred Scerra completely.
7. Chris Piascik (09/18/2009)
I strongly disagree. If it was not for the possibility of a health care reform vote in the next few months this would not be an issue. Without this one seat health care is finished. This is not for the people but every bit for the party and President Obama’s agenda. The majority of the people do not want this. Listen to them.
8. Andrea Bonnar (09/21/2009)
As an alternative, what about permitting the governor to appoint the person who received the second largest quantity of votes in the most recent election of a senator? This way, the people’s vote counts and they are represented. (It may be necessary to count primary voting numbers and not just the election numbers since a greater number of voters may have preferred a candidate whose name did not appear on the final ballot.)
9. Peter Fraher (09/21/2009)
I respectfully diagree with you Jamie, and with the Democratic leadership. If Ted Kennedy had truly wanted the people of Massachusetts represented, he would have resigned when his physician informed him of his prognosis one year ago. This would have allowed a new election playing by the last set of anti-Romney rules that were rammed through the legisltaure in 2004. Today we would have a new true representative of the electorate in the senate and no feathers would have been ruffled, and we would be praising Kennedy’s final gesture of selflessness for the people of Massachusetts.
10. Jamie Eldridge (09/22/2009)
Thank you for your comments. I appreciate the thoughtfulness put into your ideas and suggestions, and I recognize the my position may not agree with yours.
I believe that the Legislature needed to act quickly to ensure proper representation for Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate. I have heard the comment that people in Massachusetts don’t want to see health care reform passed, or global warming addressed, and I would respectfully disagree with that contention. I believe that a majority of Massachusetts residents want action taken on these items, as well as other such as expanding unemployment benefits, updating food safety law, and improving public education.
11. Fred Scerra (09/22/2009)
Even though we may never agree politically I do appreciate the time you have taken to answer questions and comments that I and others have had on this subject.
I also have to give you kodos on your website and the ability to blog with you on different subjects. This is something that I haven’t seen by our other politicians in office.
Who knows you may win me over some day
Again Thanks for caring what we think
12. Richard Leonhardt (09/23/2009)
Total hypocracy. Has nothing to do with representing MA.
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Your comments on this blog are welcome and encouraged. Please note that all comments are moderated. All points of view are welcome on Jamie’s Beacon Hill Blog. We strive for a civil discourse, however -- which means that while criticism is welcome, comments that are off topic, abusive, defamatory, contain personal attacks or obscenity, or are considered inappropriate, will not be approved. You are fully responsible for any content that you post.
1. Barbara Estabrook (09/10/2009)
I completely support the Koczera bill as an excellent way both to ensure continued representation and expedite a fair election for any congressional vacancy. Thank you.
2. Fred Scerra (09/10/2009)
I have only one question. If we had a Republican Gov would you and the rest of the Democratic party still be pushing for this bill.
I doubt it.
3. Bill Gallant (09/10/2009)
I am a little weary about any governor having this power. I would rather a vote by the people only. When Sen. Kerry was running for president he was absent from over 90% senate votes. No one brought up the issue of Ma. being under represented during this time. Be careful on this vote it can be construed as partisan politics in action.
4. Susan Bak (09/12/2009)
Hi Jamie:
I agree. I’d like to see the Governor appoint someone in the interim until the general election – provided of course that this individual not be allowed to run for the Senate seat. I think Massachusetts deserves two votes in the Senate.
5. Jamie Eldridge (09/15/2009)
Thank you for your comments. No one is talking about taking away the people’s right to elect their next U.S. Senator, but I do believe that an interim appointment is a fair compromise. There is no doubt politics involved in this, but more importantly, we need to make sure there are two Massachusetts votes in the Senate, not to mention all of the constituent services that come with a U.S. Senate position.
6. Shawn Murphy (09/16/2009)
You mention that we need the representation of two senators, but if one is appointed, who is it representing? It isn’t representing the people of Massachusetts. It is representing the political desires of the governor and the governor’s party. This should not be allowed. This would be unethical politics and I agree with Fred Scerra completely.
7. Chris Piascik (09/18/2009)
I strongly disagree. If it was not for the possibility of a health care reform vote in the next few months this would not be an issue. Without this one seat health care is finished. This is not for the people but every bit for the party and President Obama’s agenda. The majority of the people do not want this. Listen to them.
8. Andrea Bonnar (09/21/2009)
As an alternative, what about permitting the governor to appoint the person who received the second largest quantity of votes in the most recent election of a senator? This way, the people’s vote counts and they are represented. (It may be necessary to count primary voting numbers and not just the election numbers since a greater number of voters may have preferred a candidate whose name did not appear on the final ballot.)
9. Peter Fraher (09/21/2009)
I respectfully diagree with you Jamie, and with the Democratic leadership. If Ted Kennedy had truly wanted the people of Massachusetts represented, he would have resigned when his physician informed him of his prognosis one year ago. This would have allowed a new election playing by the last set of anti-Romney rules that were rammed through the legisltaure in 2004. Today we would have a new true representative of the electorate in the senate and no feathers would have been ruffled, and we would be praising Kennedy’s final gesture of selflessness for the people of Massachusetts.
10. Jamie Eldridge (09/22/2009)
Thank you for your comments. I appreciate the thoughtfulness put into your ideas and suggestions, and I recognize the my position may not agree with yours.
I believe that the Legislature needed to act quickly to ensure proper representation for Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate. I have heard the comment that people in Massachusetts don’t want to see health care reform passed, or global warming addressed, and I would respectfully disagree with that contention. I believe that a majority of Massachusetts residents want action taken on these items, as well as other such as expanding unemployment benefits, updating food safety law, and improving public education.
11. Fred Scerra (09/22/2009)
Even though we may never agree politically I do appreciate the time you have taken to answer questions and comments that I and others have had on this subject.
I also have to give you kodos on your website and the ability to blog with you on different subjects. This is something that I haven’t seen by our other politicians in office.
Who knows you may win me over some day
Again Thanks for caring what we think
12. Richard Leonhardt (09/23/2009)
Total hypocracy. Has nothing to do with representing MA.