Sen. Paul Kirk honors Ted Kennedy in casting health vote [Boston Herald]

Dec. 25--Interim U.S. Sen. Paul Kirk yesterday held out hope a controversial public health insurance option could still be included in the sweeping health-care reform, just hours after the Senate passed its own version.

With the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's wife, Vicki, and her two children looking on, Kirk gave fellow Democrats the 60th vote they needed yesterday to overcome a GOP filibuster and pass the measure.

Although the Senate bill ditched the government-run insurance alternative to compete with private insurers, it is expected to be combined with a version passed by the House, which does include a public insurance program, reviled by conservatives.

"I don't think anything is impossible," Kirk, 71, told the Herald of the potential for conference committee negotiators to roll a public option into the final bill. "There may be some way to . . . put in a mechanism."

But Dems will have a hard time corralling the votes. The Senate version passed strictly on party lines, 60-39, with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) dubbing it "Chicago-style sausage making."

McCain and critics argue the bill will hurt the health insurance industry with a greater government influence. Yet for Kirk, the vote was laced with emotion and historic importance.

"When I had the privilege of standing behind his (Sen. Kennedy's) desk to vote 'aye,' it was obviously a moment of great pride and humility," Kirk said. "And for Vicki and the family, there's obviously that element of sadness that he wasn't there to cast his own vote."

Still, he added, many Democrats feel the Senate bill doesn't go far enough.

"One thing I've said is that you can mark my words, if his bill is passed, there won't be a single senator that won't be somewhat unhappy," Kirk said.

In his final ailing days, Kennedy urged the appointment of an interim senator to replace him, which Gov. Deval Patrick eventually led the charge to accomplish. Patrick's role in the national reform process -- and helping deliver the crucial vote -- dealt his campaign a much-needed boost.

For Vicki Kennedy, the senators delivered an early Christmas present -- a copy of the Newsweek cover with the late senator's photo and the words "We're almost there," signed by everyone who voted for reform, Kirk said.

Kirk, who lives on Cape Cod but is planning to spend Christmas in the Beltway, expects to return to private life after voters choose a permanent successor next month. He said he hopes the future senator will keep the bulk of Kennedy's staff on the rolls.

"The folks who had other plans were good enough to stay on when I was appointed," he said. "Then there are quite a few who have enormous experience or talent, and I think during the transition it'll be a great benefit to the incoming senator to try to maintain and hold onto these folks."

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