FDL Hill reporter Mike Stark talked with Massachusetts Senator Paul Kirk, who has been holding the Senate seat vacated by the late Ted Kennedy in an interim fashion. Kirk told Stark that he expects to leave Washington Monday or Tuesday of next week, with Republican Scott Brown taking over the seat at that time.

This would make Kirk eligible for any votes throughout the rest of the week – including possibly the vote to confirm Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke for another term – but if you wanted an end date to the Democrats’ 60-seat “filibuster-proof” majority, you now have it.

Audio is coming shortly.