Lynch was one of 64 Democrats in the House tonight to vote for the so-called Stupak amendment to bar even private insurers from paying for abortions if they take any money at all from the government.

Representatives Tsongas, Markey, Delahunt, Capuano, Tierney, Olver, Frank and McGovern all voted no. Rep. Neal voted along with Lynch.

Complete roll call.

UPDATE: Lynch then joined his Mass. colleagues to vote for the president's health-care package.

Channel 7 reports US Rep. Stephen Lynch finds running statewide in 90 days too big a challenge. Doesn't mention getting booed by union members over health care on Labor Day.

So raises the question of what happens if we do lose a congressional seat. Or maybe not: The Legislature is not as liberal as our statewide reputation and it decides where to draw the lines. Frank vs. Lynch?

Kennedyseat.com reports and wonders if that's a bad omen for Stephen Lynch, supposedly the union guy in the race.

Red Mass. Group explains why he'd be a liberal almost anywhere else in the U.S.

Health Care For All, HFCA, organized a Labor Day rally and march in support of health care reform, which started with speeches at the gazebo on the Boston Common and ended after a march and more live music at Copley Square.

To set a festive tone at the gazebo, a funk band followed by a rag time band played as the crowd of thousands gathered. Speakers on the gazebo included Rep. Michael Capuano, AG Martha Coakley, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Mayor Thomas Menino, Rep. Ed Markey, Rep. John Tierney, Betty McGuire from SEIU, a representative from Doctors for America, and a woman who told her story about needing surgery and being uninsured.

Rep. Stephen Lynch throws hat in ring.

Liveblogged report from Milton, at least, until the blogger lost power. Amid calm questions:

7:01 pm
A person is shouting incoherently.

Stephen Lynch seems to think so. Of course, his ascension to the house of solons would require John Kerry to be appointed Secretary of State or something. But he's got $1-million+ burning a hole in his bank account and running in a special election would mean he gets to stay in the House when he loses, so why not?

On the Republican side, "party leaders and consultants" are actually chatting up Bill Weld. Bill Weld? When did they repeal the residency requirement for running for statewide office?

Change of heart for previously hawkish congressman?

Matthew Mittelstadt writes Steve Lynch about the bill that lets telephone companies off the hook for spying on Americans:

... Please, Mr. Lynch, I beg of you to do everything you can to ensure that when this bill reaches the House chambers that it does not pass. It must not pass. The companies that engaged in this blatant, illegal, unconstitutional and frankly un-American surveillance should have their fates decided in the appropriate branch of government - Judicial - and not be the beneficiary of the Executive's wishes to sweep their transgressions under the rug to be forgotten about with the Legislature's help. ...