Kirk Appointed To Senate; Obama Praises 'Excellent' Choice
President Obama has praised the appointment of Paul Kirk as the interim United States senator from Massachusetts, calling him "a distinguished leader, whose long collaboration with Senator Kennedy makes him an excellent, interim choice."
The move by the Massachusetts legislature to quickly change the Senate succession law gives the White House one more vote on health care legislation, should such a vote occur this fall as hoped. "I am pleased that Massachusetts will have its full representation in the United States Senate in the coming months, as important issues such as health care, financial reform and energy will be debated," Obama said in a statement.
Gov. Deval Patrick (D), in announcing his choice, said "the issues before the Congress and the nation are simply too important to Massachusetts for us to be one voice short." He thanked the legislature for its "swift" move to give him temporary appointment powers, acknowledging it was a tough vote.
Kirk, the chairman of the JFK Library Foundation, will hold the Senate seat for just over four months. Patrick announced that he would not seek the unexpired term in the January special election, but "will carry on the work and focus of Senator Kennedy, mindful of his mission and his values and his love of Massachusetts."
Kirk called the appointment a "profound honor." He, too, thanked the legislature for fulfilling Kennedy's one final wish, to pass the temporary appointment legislation. Kennedy's widow and several of his children were on hand. Kirk said he expects to be sworn in tomorrow.