Bill to allow interim Mass. senator gains

BOSTON, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- A bill designed to give Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick the power to appoint an interim U.S. senator appears to have enough backing to pass, analysts say.

The Boston Globe reported that House Speaker Robert DeLeo on Tuesday made a decision to drop his noncommittal stance on the issue and made private calls to legislators urging them to back the measure allowing Patrick to appoint a temporary successor to the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Beacon Hill political analysts said that about 85 House members now supported the measure, giving it a narrow majority in the chamber, and joining a similar perceived majority in the state Senate, where Senate President Therese Murray has been cooler to the idea, the newspaper reported.

"The fact that they think this is going to move like a knife through a stick of butter -- that this is going to be a 'shazamm' bill that goes through -- well, it's not,'' Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei told the Globe.

Patrick has reportedly indicated he wants to sign the bill by Friday and make a Senate appointment within days.

Primary elections to fill Kennedy's seat are set for Dec. 8, with a general election to be held Jan. 19.