Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) "continued today to press for a change to state law to allow him to appoint an interim replacement for Senator Edward M. Kennedy as he announced that a special election for the seat will be held on Jan. 19, 2010," the Boston Globe reports.
Meanwhile, state lawmakers moved the hearing date to consider a law change from early October to Sept. 9. The bill could come to the floor of both the House and Senate within days after the hearing.