Back to Main General News

Kennedy successor takes office

Story Added : 05th February 2010

The late Democratic icon Ted Kennedy's successor has taken office, formally giving US President Barack Obama's Republican foes the 41 Senate votes they need to be able to block his agenda.

"I want to get to work," Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts told reporters moments after being sworn in.

"These are urgent times for our nation."

Vice-President Joe Biden, making a rare ceremonial visit to the US Senate, led Senator Brown through his oath of office shortly after 5:00pm (local time), after which Senator Brown's new colleagues gave him a standing ovation.

Minutes later, Senator Brown attacked Mr Obama's policies, telling reporters at his first press conference as a senator that an $US800-billion economic stimulus package passed last year "didn't create one new job".

And on Mr Obama's top domestic priority - remaking US health care - Senator Brown backed the Republican call to drop embattled Democratic legislation and "go back to the drawing board and start again".

Senator Brown's shock victory in Massachusetts, seizing the seat Senator Kennedy had held for decades, sent Mr Obama's Democrats reeling.

It ended their 60-vote supermajority and fuelled worries the November mid-term elections could be a rout.

It will enable gleeful Republicans to stall legislation such as Mr Obama's health care overhaul.

Once a little-known state legislator, Senator Brown has become a political superstar for Republicans dejected after suffering a thumping in the 2006 mid-terms and seeing Mr Obama capture the White House in 2008.

"We look forward to welcoming him," Republican Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell said.

"Republicans look forward to having him join our conference. This was a high-profile election. Now it's time to get to work."

Senator Brown, a moderate on social issues, said earlier he would be "an independent voter and thinker," and declared his top priority would be "jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs".

- AFP

Story Added by ABC.
Date Added : 05th February 2010

Also of Interest