supermajority , imperiling the ability of Obama and Democrats to push major legislative priorities such as health care reform through Congress . The Republican upset in Massachusetts also raised fears among many congressional Democrats of a potential GOP landslide in November 's midterm elections . A fiscal conservative who holds some moderate views , Brown was noncommittal on whether he would support a Republican filibuster in coming Senate consideration of some Obama nominees for government posts . He also said he needed to talk to generals in the field before deciding to support Obama 's call , supported by top military leaders , to repeal the `` do n't ask , do n't tell '' policy regarding a ban on gays in the military . Brown made clear he opposes the spending policies of the Obama administration , stating that the $ 862 billion stimulus bill passed last year `` did n't create one new job '' in Massachusetts or across the country . He also said Congress should start over on health care with bipartisan talks , instead of continuing work on separate comprehensive bills passed by the House and Senate . That prompted a response later from Jay
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Republican Scott Brown was sworn in Thursday as the new U.S. senator from Massachusetts to fill the seat formerly held by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy , and immediately signaled opposition to President Obama 's spending plans . Brown 's new Senate colleagues applauded after the ceremony on the floor of the Senate chamber conducted by Vice President Joe Biden , in his capacity as president of the Senate . Democratic Sen. John Kerry , also of Massachusetts , and Brown 's wife , Gail Huff , accompanied Brown into the chamber . At a news conference after the ceremony , Brown thanked Massachusetts voters who gave him a surprise victory in the January 19 special election in a state that had not elected a Republican senator since 1972 . `` I ca n't promise I 'll be right in every vote I make . I 'm sure I 'll make mistakes from time to time , '' Brown said . `` But I will try to learn and grow and do the very best job I can on a day-to-day basis . '' Brown 's election victory stripped Senate Democrats of their 60-seat Senate