Name: Massachusetts Dems reject amendment to limit Baker’s ability to fill Elizabeth Warren vacancy
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Massachusetts Dems reject amendment to limit Baker’s ability to fill Elizabeth Warren vacancy

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By | | Boston HeraldHouse Democrats rejected an amendment that would have forced Gov. Charlie Baker to stick with a Democrat if Sen. Elizabeth Warren lands a Cabinet post hours after the Republican governor vowed to veto it and others slammed the idea.A budget amendment by Amherst Democrat Rep. Mindy Domb — backed by a handful of members from the liberal side of the delegation — would have changed the way vacancies are filled. It would require successors from “the same political party as the person vacating the office” until a special election is held, 145-160 days after the vacancy occurs.Domb’s reasoning for the amendment, she said, is to “keep the voters’ faith” and protect the tight “balance of power in the US Senate.”“I don’t think it should have to be part of President-elect (Joe) Biden’s calculus in creating the most effective administration he can assemble. The MA Congressional delegation is filled with rock stars. They all happen to be Democrats. So I guess in that way it protects our delegation and the choices that the commonwealth’s voters have made,” Domb told the Herald.Former Warren challenger Republican Geoff Diehl accused Democrats of “playing king of the hill.”Boston University professor and political historian Thomas Whelan said, “This comes down to a raw power grab.”The amendment was the “latest shining example” of rewriting of election laws that have become somewhat of a pastime for Democrats in recent Massachusetts history.Democrats began to tinker with election laws in 2004 — over then-Gov. Mitt Romney’s veto — blocking appointment power to stop a potential vacancy from then-Sen. John Kerry who was running for president from falling into Republican hands. Kerry lost his presidential bid, but the rule change endured.It came into play again in 2009 upon the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy when Democrats moved to allow then-Gov. Deval Patrick to appoint a temporary senator until a special election could be held 145 to 160 days after the vacancy arose. He tapped former Democratic National Committee Chairman Paul Kirk.State Republican Party Chairman Jim Lyons was quick to point out the “hypocrisy” in the law changes.Whelan said the flip “spectacularly backfired” on Democrats when Republican Scott Brown beat then-Attorney General Martha Coakley to finish out Kennedy’s turn.Democratic strategist Scott Ferson called the change “needless” this time around.We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.Sign up for email newslettersFollow UsMost PopularClose

By | | Boston HeraldHouse Democrats rejected an amendment that would have forced Gov. Charlie Baker to stick with a Democrat if Sen. Elizabeth Warren lands a Cabinet post hours after the Republican governor vowed to veto it and others slammed the idea.A budget amendment by Amherst Democrat Rep. Mindy Domb — backed by a handful of members from the liberal side of the delegation — would have changed the way vacancies are filled. It would require successors from “the same political party as the person vacating the office” until a special election is held, 145-160 days after the vacancy...

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Erin Tiernan

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Massachusetts Dems reject amendment to limit Baker’s ability to fill Elizabeth Warren vacancy

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