Mass. Senate again delays Kennedy succession bill

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate is again delaying debate on a bill allowing the governor to appoint an interim replacement for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Edward Kennedy.

Senate Republicans initially blocked the effort Friday and again objected on Monday. They could delay the debate one more time Tuesday.

The five Republicans in the 40-seat Senate are hoping to sway fence-sitting Democrats into voting down the measure.

The House approved the bill last week.

Critics say allowing Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick to appoint a senator is hypocritical.

In 2004, Democrats changed the law to block then-Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, from naming a temporary replacement if Sen. John Kerry had won his presidential bid. A special election to fill the seat is Jan. 19.