Massachusetts Republicans say they fear that if their candidate for U.S. Senate scores an upset victory in the special election next week, Democrats in the state and in Washington will drag out the certification process just long enough that he won't be able to block health care reform.
State Sen. Scott Brown, who is challenging Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley for the seat once held by Ted Kennedy, is sounding the loudest alarm over that possibility.
Recent polling suggests Brown is closing in on front-runner Coakley. And if he does what once seemed impossible -- beat a Democrat for the bluest of blue Senate seats -- he is vowing to be the critical 41st vote against health care reform.
That means Brown could prevent Democrats from breaking a Republican filibuster against the overhaul and, in his words, "send it back to the drawing board."
Brown told Fox News on Tuesday that he's concerned Democrats will stall the certification process if he wins, so that the U.S. Senate can approve the health care reform bill before he gets there.
"When I heard ... the machine, not only locally but nationally, is trying to manipulate the process and make sure that if I'm elected, a duly elected senator, I can't be seated in an effort to vote on this important piece of national legislation, it made me almost sick to my stomach," Brown said.
The Boston Herald reported over the weekend that, according to a source, Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin's office plans to wait until Feb. 20 to certify the race.
"Everything I've heard right now I don't like very much," said Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei, noting the secretary is signaling he will "drag his feet" if Brown wins. - FOX News Story
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