Senator-elect Brown to chart own course

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. Senator-elect Scott Brown of Massachusetts said he will not always vote Republican, instead vowing to "vote how I want to vote."

The Boston Globe said Friday that Brown, who defeated Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, insists he will use his political power in Washington to chart his own political course.

Brown said he explained his independent goals to fellow Republican members of the U.S. Senate last week.

"With all due respect, I really don't know a lot of you people, and you don't know me. But maybe that's good, because I'm going to vote how I want to vote," Brown told his fellow party officials.

Brown told the Globe the Republican Senate officials appeared to understand his outspoken position.

"They were cool," Brown offered. "They said … 'You could probably do whatever you want right about now, Scott, so that's OK.' So they were very respectful, and they understand. They understand all eyes are on me."