Daily Update 9/24: Governor Patrick Announces Paul Kirk as Interim Appointment to U.S. Senate

Today: Thursday, September 24, 2009

• This morning, Governor Patrick announced Paul Kirk as the interim appointment to the United States Senate at the State House.

• This afternoon, Governor Patrick joined other governors in a call with Vice President Biden relative to federal recovery funds.

• Later this afternoon, Governor Patrick and Paul Kirk attend the Big E in West Springfield.

In the Press:

Governor Patrick named Paul Kirk interim U.S. Senator during a State House press conference this morning. Vicki Kennedy and Edward Kennedy, Jr. attended the announcement.

• U.S. Senate Interim Appointment – Today, Governor Deval Patrick appointed Paul Kirk Jr. as interim United State Senator to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of Senator Edward Kennedy.  Kirk will serve as interim senator until the results of the special election on January 19th. Kirk, 71, is chairman of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. He was a close and loyal advisor to Senator Kennedy from 1969 to 1977. In addition, he was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1985 to 1989: “I am pleased to appoint Paul Kirk, as interim U.S. Senator from Massachusetts,” said Governor Patrick. “For the next few months, he will carry on the work and focus of Senator Kennedy, mindful of his mission, his values and his love of Massachusetts. I know I join so many other citizens in thanking him for his willingness to serve.” Learn more here. Read more in the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, or in the Associated Press.

• Governor Patrick Meets with Hyatt Employees – Last night, Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray met with 30 laid-off Hyatt workers and union leadership in downtown Boston. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor listened to their stories, and renewed the administration’s push for Hyatt to reinstate the employees. In a letter to the company’s CEO, the Governor urged the company to reconsider its decision and said he would direct state employees to stop doing official business with Hyatt unless the workers are re-hired. “If they must take this path, there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it,” the Governor said. “They’ve done it in an exceedingly wrong way. And it seems to me the only way to make it right is to offer these folks their jobs back.” Read the Governor’s full letter here, and learn more here.

• Read more in the Boston Globe,  the Boston Herald, Reuters, or Associated Press.

• Listen on WBUR. Watch on NECN.

Governor Patrick and Lt. Governor Murray meet with laid-off Hyatt workers.

• Commitment to Research and Job Creation – Yesterday, Governor Deval Patrick and the Massachusetts Life Science Center announced that the Center’s Board of Directors has approved $90 million in capital funding toward the construction of the $405 million Albert Sherman Center Project at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS). A key targeted investment in the Life Science Act, the facility will further bolster the pioneering life sciences research and medical education taking place at UMass Medical School in Worcester.  The construction and operation of the Albert Sherman Center is projected to create thousands of jobs and generate substantial economic activity throughout Massachusetts: “The Life Sciences Act was designed to create jobs and support life-saving research, and this project will do both,” said Governor Patrick.  “This is just the sort of investment we need to be making in order to put people to work, and support long-term growth in our innovation economy.” Learn more here.

• Charter Schools – Responding to concerns expressed by the Gloucester community, Governor Patrick this week urged the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to reconsider its decision on the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School: “Rather than defending that process and leaving the community feeling unheard and disrespected, it would seem the better course for everyone just to start over.  As I wrote to you before, I will respect whatever outcome the Board decides on the basis of that renewed process of consideration.  More to the point, I think the good people of Gloucester will as well,” the Governor said in a letter to the board. An editorial in today’s Boston Globe today urges all to refocus on the Governor’s Education Action Agenda and support Secretary Reville’s efforts to help fully implement that agenda.

• Read the editorial.
• Watch Secretary Reville on Greater Boston with Emily Rooney.

• Young Adult Community Meetings – Last night, the Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki kicked off the Patrick-Murray Administration series of statewide community meetings for young adults in Springfield. In keeping with Governor Patrick’s recognition of the vital role young people play in the state’s economy, the meetings will give participants a chance to network and discuss a common vision for Massachusetts and share suggestions with the administration. Read more in the Springfield Republican.

This Week:

• On Wednesday, Governor Deval Patrick announced that he will direct all state employees to stop doing official business with Hyatt unless the company rehires the housekeeping staff it fired from Boston-area hotels on August 31.  In a letter to CEO Mark Hoplamazian sent on Tuesday, the Governor again expressed his concern for the impacted workers, called the company’s treatment of its long-term employees “substandard” and said that he plans to meet with a group of affected workers this week to better understand the circumstances surrounding their discharge. Read the Governor’s full letter here, and learn more here.

• Yesterday, Lt. Governor Murray announced that the Commonwealth’s comprehensive multi-year rail transportation agreement with CSX Transportation (CSXT), the national freight carrier serving Massachusetts, has been finalized. “Consistent with our commitment to improve transportation service throughout the Commonwealth, we have done more to deliver on the South Coast rail project than any other administration," said Governor Patrick. “This is a critical milestone, and I thank Lieutenant Governor Murray for his leadership, and Senator Kerry, Congressman McGovern, and CSXT leaders for all coming to the table and staying there until we could get a deal that works.” Learn more here. Read more in the Boston Globe.