By Jonathan Allen

Liberal interest groups and Democratic lawmakers said Wednesday that Sen. Ted Kennedy’s death should be a catalyst for action on the issues that he cared about.

“Senator Kennedy’s Death is a Call to Action on Immigration Reform” blared the headline of a Wednesday afternoon release from the Campaign to Reform Immigration for America.

John Podesta — the former Clinton White House chief of staff and Obama transition head who now leads the Center for American Progress — said during a conference call that Kennedy’s death should give a kick-start to health care overhaul efforts, according to CQ’s Avery Palmer.

“Members in the Senate will, I think, take his passing as a moment to rally and push forward and push through health reform,” Podesta said.

And Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., the only current senator whose length of service surpasses Kennedy’s, said that any health care legislation that becomes law should bear the name of his friend.

Byrd’s suggestion — naming the short title of one of the bills after Kennedy — seems most likely.