House OKs Kennedy Replacement, But Not Immediately

The Massachusetts House has given final approval to a bill allowing the governor to appoint an interim replacement for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.

The 95-59 House vote came moments after a separate vote in which lawmakers declined to make the law go into effect immediately — leaving it to Gov. Deval Patrick to have to declare an emergency if he wants a replacement right away.

The bill now moves to the Senate for final action.

A family confidant says Kennedy's two sons, Edward Kennedy Jr. and Rep. Patrick Kennedy, want former Democratic National Committe chairman Paul Kirk to get the appointment.