Mass. Lines Up Interim Senator

Senate Democrats may not have to resort to budget reconciliation to pass health care, after all: The Boston Globe is reporting that legislative leaders in Massachusetts have narrow majorities in both chambers to give Governor Deval Patrick the power to appoint an interim U.S. senator to hold Ted Kennedy’s seat. That move would give the Democrats a filibuster-proof 60 votes in the U.S. senate, as opposed to the 59 they currently have without Kennedy. Patrick has signaled privately that he’d like to sign the bill by Friday and make an appointment within days, possibly having an interim senator by next week.