Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick threw his support Monday behind a proposal to appoint an interim successor to the late Senator Edward Kennedy and also set a date of Jan. 19 for a special election to fill the term that ends in 2012.
The Democratic senator made a plea before he died that Massachusetts state law be changed so that a replacement could be named to fill his seat before the special election is held. Massachusetts lawmakers said earlier on Monday they will hold a public hearing next month to discuss changing the law.
"I will continue to work with the legislature on legislation authorizing an interim appointment to the U.S. Senate," Patrick said at a news conference in Boston.
Kennedy's death deprived Democrats of the 60th vote in the 100-seat Senate needed to overcome Republican procedural blocks to legislation such as the healthcare overhaul urged by President Barack Obama.