From:
A Worcester Resident
To: Senator Moore
Senator
Moore:
[Secretary
of the Commonwealth] Bill Galvin was wrong to delay Senator Scott Brown's swearing in.
From:
Senator Moore
To: Worcester
Resident
Dear
Worcester Resident:
Mr. Galvin, to the best of my knowledge, did not delay Senator Brown’s swearing in. The United States Senate Rules required that the election be certified and federal law that applies to all states and all political parties states that a state must wait until a certain date for absentee ballots from overseas, including our military, must be counted. It is my understanding that Secretary of State certified the vote as quickly as the federal law permitted. This was then presented in a special meeting of the Governor’s Council which officially certifies the results of all elections. Mr. Galvin offered to send a letter to the Secretary of the Senate the day after the election indicating that it appeared that Senator Brown was the victor and that no challenge was expected so that he could be seated. The Secretary of the Senate said that such a letter wasn’t sufficient and that only the official certification – which everyone including Senator Brown – knew, would be accepted by the United States Senate. This rule has been applied for many years for both parties. I am happy that my friend and former colleague Senator Brown has finally been seated in Washington, but I don’t believe there was anything improper that delayed the actual time.
Senator Richard T. Moore
From:
Worcester Resident
To: Senator Moore
Senator:
If these rules are right than the swearing in Senator Edward M. Kennedy did 47 years ago, is an illegal term, sworn in on corrupt circumstances and rules. Senator Edward M. Kennedy could be the first illegal
candidate Senator of the United States.
From:
Senator Moore
To: Worcester
Resident
Dear
Worcester Resident:
I'm sorry to have to tell you that this is not correct either. The US Senate rules requiring certification of election were the same in 1962 as they are today. What has changed is the federal law - adopted in recent years by bi-partisan vote - to require that absentee ballots from our military overseas be given essentially two weeks following the election to be counted before any election can be certified. Changing the US Senate Rules to seat Scott Brown would have been just as wrong as changing the law to provide for an interim US Senator. I voted against that change because I believe the people have the right to choose their senator, not the governor - ALL the people who vote, not just those who are close by the polling place, but also those who are defending our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, that is all now history. Senator Brown has taken the oath of office and is now our junior United States Senator, and we should all wish him well. Our prayer should be that he is the "independent voice for the people" that he promised to be.
Senator Richard T. Moore
This
site was created by Senator Richard T.
Moore to provide citizens with the opportunity
to post their suggestions for dealing with the drastic drop in state and local
revenues and for making government more
efficient and responsive.
