On Thursday November 12, Pope Francis telephoned candidate Joe Biden to congratulate him on his apparent presidential victory, albeit one still vigorously challenged in several states by President Donald Trump.
According to the Catholic News Agency, "President-elect Joe Biden spoke this morning with His Holiness Pope Francis. The president-elect thanked His Holiness for extending blessings and congratulations and noted his appreciation for His Holiness' leadership in promoting peace, reconciliation, and the common bonds of humanity around the world," said a release from the Biden-Harris transition team.
If either U.S. senator representing Massachusetts takes a job in a Joe Biden administration, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker would still get to appoint the temporary replacement.
It's a topic that came up during the Massachusetts House of Representatives' consideration of 777 budget amendments this past week. House leaders decided not to try to take that power away from the governor, as Mike Deehan of GBH News reports. Baker would have reportedly vetoed the proposal, although there would have been enough Democrats in the legislature to override that veto, if they voted as a bloc.
