Anti Federalist
01-04-2013, 03:48 PM
Barney Frank says he would like to be interim senator to conclude ‘fiscal cliff’ fights
01/04/2013 3:56 PM
http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2013/01/04/barney-frank-says-would-like-interim-senator-conclude-fiscal-cliff-fights/uag4xpU3rDq2y2wsgOLB4I/story.html
Former representative Barney Frank revealed today that he had asked Governor Deval Patrick to appoint him to the interim Senate seat that would need to be filled if Senator John F. Kerry resigns to serve as secretary of state.
The governor laughed at the breach of confidentiality about what he has considered a private process, before conceding, “He’d be a great senator.”
Nonetheless, Patrick quickly added: “I have a lot of factors I’m considering.”
Frank told the Globe that he changed his mind about continuing in public life after President Obama and congressional leaders announced their fiscal cliff compromise over the New Year’s holiday.
While that deal raised tax rates on individuals earning more than $400,000 per year, it delayed for two months any resolution to government program cuts or changes in entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare.
“The first months of the new Senate will be among the most important in American history. I may be a little immodest, but I called the governor and said I think I can be a help in reaching a fair solution to some of these issues,” Frank said.
“I think there are progressive ways to work on Social Security and Medicare. I think making the case against them (Tea Party Republicans) on the debt limit is important,” the Newton Democrat added. “A split emerged in the Republican Party over the fiscal cliff, with mainstream Republicans splitting with the radical right. I think it’s important for us to continue to exploit that. We need to reach out to conservative Republicans who nonetheless are willing to compromise, and find a way to reach a deal.”
Frank also said he wanted to fight for the Massachusetts medical community as health care changes are debated.
Asked for the governor’s reaction to his offer, apparently made in a phone call Thursday, the former congressman said: “He said, ‘Thank-you for telling me.’ As you expect, he was noncommittal.”
01/04/2013 3:56 PM
http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2013/01/04/barney-frank-says-would-like-interim-senator-conclude-fiscal-cliff-fights/uag4xpU3rDq2y2wsgOLB4I/story.html
Former representative Barney Frank revealed today that he had asked Governor Deval Patrick to appoint him to the interim Senate seat that would need to be filled if Senator John F. Kerry resigns to serve as secretary of state.
The governor laughed at the breach of confidentiality about what he has considered a private process, before conceding, “He’d be a great senator.”
Nonetheless, Patrick quickly added: “I have a lot of factors I’m considering.”
Frank told the Globe that he changed his mind about continuing in public life after President Obama and congressional leaders announced their fiscal cliff compromise over the New Year’s holiday.
While that deal raised tax rates on individuals earning more than $400,000 per year, it delayed for two months any resolution to government program cuts or changes in entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare.
“The first months of the new Senate will be among the most important in American history. I may be a little immodest, but I called the governor and said I think I can be a help in reaching a fair solution to some of these issues,” Frank said.
“I think there are progressive ways to work on Social Security and Medicare. I think making the case against them (Tea Party Republicans) on the debt limit is important,” the Newton Democrat added. “A split emerged in the Republican Party over the fiscal cliff, with mainstream Republicans splitting with the radical right. I think it’s important for us to continue to exploit that. We need to reach out to conservative Republicans who nonetheless are willing to compromise, and find a way to reach a deal.”
Frank also said he wanted to fight for the Massachusetts medical community as health care changes are debated.
Asked for the governor’s reaction to his offer, apparently made in a phone call Thursday, the former congressman said: “He said, ‘Thank-you for telling me.’ As you expect, he was noncommittal.”