Dems Lose Their 60th Vote

Scott Brown is now Senator Scott Brown:

It is official: Massachusetts has a Republican representing the state in the Senate.

Scott Brown was sworn in by Vice President Biden shortly after 5 p.m. ET, ending the Democrats' supermajority and becoming the Republican's "41st vote" on health care.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed the certification of election Thursday morning to make his the next U.S. senator.

Brown had originally planned to be sworn in next Thursday, but urged a rush on the certification, saying that "it's time to get to work."

"I'm humbled and honored to represent the people of Massachusetts," he told a throng of reporters.

Brown refuted claims that Republican leaders pressed him to rush to Washington for a vote against two of President Obama's nominees, including Craig Becker, the appointee to head the National Labor Relations Board.

"I've had no contact with the Leader's office," Brown told a throng of reporters.

"I'm an independent voter and thinker -- I always have been," he added.

Things just got a lot more complicated for Harry Reid.