Barney Frank Wants To Be Interim Senator After Kerry Leaves
BOSTON (CBS/AP) — Just-retired Rep. Barney Frank says he'd like to serve as a temporary successor to Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the secretary of state nominee.
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Frank told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Friday that he's asked Gov. Deval Patrick to appoint him.
"Frankly, someone's going to have to get in there, right in the middle of the game, and having served in the House, I think I'm better prepared than most people," Frank said.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports
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When pressed by reporters Friday afternoon, Patrick said Frank is "on the list," but the governor would not say who else he is considering.
Patrick will be required to fill Kerry's seat with an interim appointment, while setting a day for the special election between 145 days and 160 days after Kerry's resignation.
Patrick has said he expects the interim appointee won't run in the special election. Frank says he doesn't want the job for the long term.
He previously had said he didn't want the appointment, but he changed his mind Monday when Congress reached a deal to avert the fiscal cliff.
The 72-year-old Democrat, who served 16 terms and headed the House Financial Services Committee, now says the next few months will be important for the nation's finances.
"This has now become a very critical period of decision making and these are the issues I've been working on and I honestly would like to have an impact on these, I care deeply about them," he told WBZ.
"I don't want to see Social Security cost of living cut. I don't want to see Medicare put off. I do want to see America's overseas military expenditures that are unnecessary trimmed in return."
(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
