The secretary of the US Senate instructed aides to Edward M. Kennedy to shut down the Senate office

[graywarrior]

Order to close office strands constituents
By Matt Viser
Globe Staff / September 3, 2009

The secretary of the US Senate yesterday officially instructed aides to Edward M. Kennedy that they had to halt work on hundreds of requests from Massachusetts constituents and instead focus on shutting down the Senate office.

The order, which is mandated by law and was anticipated by Kennedy’s Senate aides, not only leaves state residents in the lurch when they are seeking help, but it adds a potential wrinkle to the push on Beacon Hill for an interim senator to sit until January, when a special election is scheduled to be held.

Although most of the debate about the interim measure has centered on helping Democrats in Washington secure a 60-vote majority for an expected vote on health care, the shutdown of Kennedy’s offices on Capitol Hill and around Massachusetts illustrates problems that hit closer to home. Massachusetts House and Senate lawmakers have scheduled hearings on the topic for next week, but it remains unclear whether the measure has the support from legislative leaders or rank-and-file members to pass, despite Governor Deval Patrick’s strong advocacy.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/09/03/order_to_close_office_strands_constituents/


:cry:

[sharesunited]

1. Aren't pending requests from constituents referred to Kerry's office?

[graywarrior]

3. Yes, 700-800 current files are being transferred to Kerry

[quiet.american]

2. Just reading the headline made me sad. Still haven't truly accepted he's gone. Truly gone. nt

[graywarrior]

4. I know, I am having trouble accepting it.

I dream about it every night and wake up feeling empty.

[quiet.american]

5. John Thaw, an English actor (Inspector Morse), was one of my favorites....

When he died, quite young at age 60, I just couldn't wrap my mind around it.

I've had the final episode of his series, where the Morse character also died, on tape for years! I still haven't been able to watch it.

I did watch most of Sen. Kennedy's memorial and funeral services. The most poignant photo to me was of his grandchildren clinging to the casket in the dark.

My grief cannot possibly be as intense as theirs, but I just don't want to... accept it.

Just as when John Thaw died... I just didn't want to... deal with it.

But God rest them both.

I feel the same way, waking up feeling empty -- a tremendous voice of empathy is gone -- the world seems a much meaner place.

[damntexdem]

6. And now senators will be poaching that staff.

Kennedy always had excellent staffers, but other senators didn't dare poach when Kennedy was around.

[graywarrior]

7. Yes, Senator Kennedy had loyal staff and it was obvious they loved him.