By Jesse Liebman --
February 4, 2010
Republican U.S. Senator-elect Scott Brown is prepared to be sworn in Thursday afternoon to take over the late Sen. Edward Kennedy's long-held seat.
Brown shocked the nation with his upset victory over Democratic state Attorney General Martha Coakley in the special election held last month and put the 2010 midterm elections in play for a possible GOP takeover of Congress.
Originally, it was Brown who had suggested that he would take the oath of office on Feb. 11, which was the date that officials in Massachusetts and Washington had been planning on. Brown had said that he had hoped to take the extra time to hire a staff
However, Brown changed his mind following criticism from conservative radio hosts and news columnists. A senior Senate Republican aide said GOP leaders have consistently urged Brown to seek to be sworn in as soon as possible after his election was formally certified by Massachusetts officials.
Gov. Deval Patrick's staff said the governor would sign Brown's election certificate in the council's presence - as required by law - during a ceremony in Boston on Thursday morning.
There are several votes on tap within the next week, including one approving nominees for top posts in the Department of Labor and the US General Services Administration. With the potential that some of Brown's first votes could be used to block Democratic initiatives, Brown may be able to further endear himself to Republicans, although it could also weaken his stance as an independent presence in Washington.
Brown, 50, has promised to be an independent voice. He recently said he's told Senate Republican leaders they won't always be able to count on his vote.
Senator Paul G. Kirk Jr., who was temporarily appointed to the seat following Sen. Kennedy's death in August, is scheduled to deliver his final address on the Senate floor earlier this afternoon.
Kirk's spokesman, Keith Maley, said yesterday that the
office has been preparing to close down its operations.
"Senator Kirk and his staff stand ready to help Senator-elect Brown and his staff in every way possible,'' Maley said in an e-mail.
