Today’s Boston Globe article proves to be very persuasive – we need an interim senator.
“It’s very painful because the people coming into our office, they literally cry on us and say, ‘We’re desperate and we need help; we need Senator Kennedy’s help,’ ” said one longtime Kennedy staff member, one of three aides who spoke with the Globe on the condition of anonymity to honor a longstanding policy of not speaking publicly about casework details. “It’s heartbreaking when we’ve never said no to someone before.”
Constituent services can range from matters as routine as requesting an American flag or a tour of the US Capitol to those as weighty as help gaining citizenship for an immigrant or medical benefits for a veteran.
In one case, for example, a Salvadoran mother of a child being treated at Children’s Hospital in Boston is seeking help with a special immigration status so she can get a job to defray some of the medical costs. One of the child’s legs has been amputated. Kennedy’s staff is now unable to work on the case.
I don’t understand the rationale for this law. Didn’t Marty Meehan’s office stay intact until the moment Niki Tsongas took over? It seems to me that they should keep the office open for the newly elected Senator and especially for any interim appointment. Both appointee and electee are going to have their hands full getting up to speed as it is without the usual orientation an lameduck period. If I were the appointee I’d want to keep all staff and office space in place and if I were elected in the special I’d like to have some breathing room to transition rather than start from scratch immediately. I also think the new Senators (both elected and appointed) should keep Kennedy’s office space and committee assignments (except for the HELP chairmanship) for the duration of this Congress. Any reassignments of either should wait until the next regular reorganization between November 2010 and January 2011.
different for House and Senate. I was actually surprised that the Senate office would only be open for 60 days, but since most states don’t have a special election and rely on a gubernatorial appointment, it’s not as much of an issue as an open House seat, which must be filled via an election.
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p>Committees assignments are handled by the party caucuses, not Senate rules, so it is possible that if there is an interim senator, that individual could keep Senator Kennedy’s seats on the HELP Committee, etc.
As the second senator from Massachusetts, shouldn’t Kerry’s office immediately assume all of those requests and examine them as they would any other?
As the senior senator Kerry’s office should assume all the constituent services work.
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p>If he was smart, he’d ask the Kennedy aides to join his staff for the duration. meaning until we have elected and seated a junior senator.
Can a Senator just double his staff because he wants to? Surely they have budgets…
It would be a brilliant personal investment. Then, maybe even keep one or two of the really great ones… if his reputation is well earned, he needs the help w.r.t. constit services anyway.
I don’t know how it’s financed. I do know Sen Klobachar took on all the constituent services for the state of MN until Franken was seated.
where does the money “saved” by laying off the staff go? Into new carpets for the offices? I don’t see why they couldn’t just shift the line-item to Kerry’s office. How did Kloubchar manage all those months while the GOP was tying up Franken’s election?
It’s not like Kerry staffers are out busy campaigning this year.
Kerry’s staffers are always out campaigning. Every try to get anything done through his office?
Two years ago I emailed and sent letters to Senator Kerry and Kennedy’s requesting help on a social security issue for one of my parents.
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p>The response from Senator Kennedy’s office was quick, personal and followed up until the problem was settled. We have read or heard many stories regarding Senator Kennedy’s office being responsiveness and compassion over the past week.
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p>I am still waiting for a response from the junior Senator’s office. I understand this could have been something that slipped through the proverbial cracks, but it didn’t for Senator Kennedy’s staff. Nothing against Senator Kerry, but constituent services don’t get you on TV.
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p>I am hoping and asking for Senator Kerry’s office to take a leadership role in making sure everyone of those cases gets a resolution. Time for his office to step up.