Mass. GOP seeks to block Kennedy interim successor

[September 25, 2009]  BOSTON (AP) -- The Massachusetts Republican Party is seeking to block the interim appointment of Paul Kirk to the Senate seat that was held by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.

The GOP has filed an injunction in Suffolk Superior Court that will be heard Friday morning.

Lawmakers this week passed legislation giving Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick the power to appoint an interim replacement, but laws approved in Massachusetts usually take 90 days to go into effect. Patrick signed an emergency letter that he says allows the law to become effective immediately.

Republicans allege in their court filing that Patrick did not have the constitutional authority to do that.

Kirk, the former head of the Democratic National Committee, is scheduled to be sworn Friday.

[Associated Press]

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