Senate candidates gather at UMass forum

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - All but one of the Democratic and Republican candidates vying to succeed Sen. Edward Kennedy appeared at a League of Women voters forum Sunday.

Massachussetts Attorney General Martha Coakley did not attend Sunday evening's event, at UMass Amherst.

Hosted by The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, the forum was a chance for candidates to sound off about their views on health care reform.

U.S. Congressman Michael Capuano, told 22News the historic bill pushes America one step closer to the reality of health care reform.

However not all the candidates were sold on the health care package. Massachusetts State Senator Scott Brown told 22News, "What Washington is trying to do and what actually the Congressman, who sold us down the river, is gonna be making higher taxes, higher fees more red tape.”

After the field is narrowed through the Dec. 8th party primaries, The League of Women Voters will hold a second forum in January before the Jan. 19th special elections.