Barney Frank wants to return to Capitol Hill – this time, to serve in the Senate.
The Huffington Post reports that the former chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and co-author of the Dodd-Frank Act has publicly expressed his interest in receiving an interim appointment to fill the Massachusetts Senate seat currently held by John Kerry. Kerry's seat will become vacant if he is confirmed as the next U.S. Secretary of State.
Frank, who retired from the House of Representatives with the conclusion of the 112th Congress, told an MSNBC interview that he made his interest in the Kerry seat known to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. Frank stated that he is not interested running for the seat if a special election is held later this year, but he would like to serve in a stopgap position until a permanent senator is elected by Massachusetts voters.
‘Yes, in fact, I'm not going to be coy – it's not anything I've ever been good at,’ Frank said. ‘I've told the governor that I would now like, frankly, to be a part of that. It's only a three-month period, I wouldn't want to do anything more, but to be honest, it's a little arrogant.’