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Text Of Gov. Patrick's Letter Declaring Emergency Law

Below is the text of a letter sent by Gov. Deval Patrick to state Secretary William Galvin on Friday, stating his reasons for declaring an emergency and putting into immediate effect a new law passed this week giving him the power to appoint an interim senator.

Soon after sending the letter, Patrick appointed former Democratic Party chairman Paul Kirk to the seat held by the late Edward Kennedy:


Dear Secretary Galvin:

Pursuant to Article XLVIII of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Referendum 11, Emergency Measures, I declare that the attached Act, Chapter 92 of the Acts of 2009, "An Act relative to filling a temporary vacancy in the United States Senate," which I have approved, is an emergency law and, in my opinion, the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or convenience requires that such law should take effect forthwith.

This Act provides for the temporary appointment of a United States Senator, pending the special election. The purpose of the Act is to ensure that the Commonwealth is fully represented in the United States Senate as it addresses issues of critical importance to the nation and the Commonwealth. That purpose would be frustrated absent this declaration, as the appointment would be delayed for most of the interim period until the special election.

Accordingly, so that the people of the Commonwealth may have full representation in the United States Senate without delay, I declare that it is in the public interest and convenience that this Act take effect immediately.

Respectfully submitted,

Deval Patrick (signed)

This program aired on September 24, 2009. The audio for this program is not available.

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