Jones: Shocked and Appalled by Hypocrisy

BOSTON—House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. issued the following statement regarding Senator Edward Kennedy’s call for a temporary gubernatorial appointment to fill his seat.

First and foremost, I wish Senator Ted Kennedy nothing but a full and speedy recovery as he continues his battle against brain cancer.

I am however, shocked and appalled by the blatant hypocrisy being displayed in regards to the potential replacement of Senator Ted Kennedy. Back in 2004, when the possibility existed that then Governor Mitt Romney could be making an appointment to fill Senator John Kerry’s (should he have been elected president) seat, the Democratic-controlled House and Senate hastily passed a law stripping the Governor of the appointment power. Now, fast forward five years, a Democrat holds the corner office and suddenly there’s an effort to change the law yet again.

The Democrats in Massachusetts have proven time and time again that they don’t hold democracy to the highest regard. When this was an issue five years ago, Republicans pushed for an interim appointment but it was overwhelmingly rejected. Out of political expediency and convenience, the Democrats are again considering showing a complete disregard of the democratic process and the laws of the Commonwealth by contemplating a change to the law to serve their partisan interests as opposed to simply what is the best and most appropriate policy.