Washington ( CNN ) -- Republican Scott Brown was sworn in Thursday as the new U.S. senator from Massachusetts to fill the seat formerly held by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy , and immediately signaled opposition to President Obama 's spending plans . Brown 's new Senate colleagues applauded after the ceremony on the floor of the Senate chamber conducted by Vice President Joe Biden , in his capacity as president of the Senate . Democratic Sen. John Kerry , also of Massachusetts , and Brown 's wife , Gail Huff , accompanied Brown into the chamber . At a news conference after the ceremony , Brown thanked Massachusetts voters who gave him a surprise victory in the January 19 special election in a state that had not elected a Republican senator since 1972 . `` I ca n't promise I 'll be right in every vote I make . I 'm sure I 'll make mistakes from time to time , '' Brown said . `` But I will try to learn and grow and do the very best job I can on a day-to-day basis . '' Brown 's election victory stripped Senate Democrats of their 60-seat Senate supermajority , imperiling the ability of Obama and Democrats to push major legislative priorities such as health care reform through Congress . The Republican upset in Massachusetts also raised fears among many congressional Democrats of a potential GOP landslide in November 's midterm elections . A fiscal conservative who holds some moderate views , Brown was noncommittal on whether he would support a Republican filibuster in coming Senate consideration of some Obama nominees for government posts . He also said he needed to talk to generals in the field before deciding to support Obama 's call , supported by top military leaders , to repeal the `` do n't ask , do n't tell '' policy regarding a ban on gays in the military . Brown made clear he opposes the spending policies of the Obama administration , stating that the $ 862 billion stimulus bill passed last year `` did n't create one new job '' in Massachusetts or across the country . He also said Congress should start over on health care with bipartisan talks , instead of continuing work on separate comprehensive bills passed by the House and Senate . That prompted a response later from Jay Carney , spokesman for Biden , who said , `` Anyone can go to recovery.gov ( on the Internet ) and see that Massachusetts state and local government , businesses and community organizations have already reported directly funding over 9,000 jobs in the state last year -- and that 's based on a only a portion of the total $ 8.4 billion in ( stimulus ) funds that have already gone to Massachusetts . '' He also said Congress should start over on health care with bipartisan talks , instead of continuing work on separate comprehensive bills passed by the House and Senate . At the same time , Brown said he would consider each piece of legislation on merit , rather than whether it was proposed by one party or another . `` If I see a bill that 's good for my state first , I do n't care where it comes from , '' Brown said . `` If it 's good for Massachusetts , I 'll consider it . '' Thursday 's ceremony occurred a week earlier than originally planned . Massachusetts officials had said it would take a few weeks after the election to certify the result of Brown 's victory . In a letter to Massachusetts Gov . Deval Patrick and Secretary of State William Galvin on Wednesday , Brown 's attorney said the senator-elect had planned on being sworn in on February 11 , but had been told that several Senate votes would be held before then . `` For this reason , he wants certification to occur immediately , '' attorney Daniel Winslow wrote . The certification occurred Thursday , allowing Brown to officially fill his seat later in the day . `` There 's no hidden agenda , '' Brown said of his push to get certified this week instead of next . `` It 's because I want to get to work . '' Asked why his daughters did n't attend the swearing-in , Brown explained one of them , Ayla , had a college basketball game to play Thursday and the other , Arianna , had a college exam . `` The Bibles I used for today 's swearing-in belong to my daughters , and I stacked them one on top of the other and took my oath on them , '' Brown said . Brown will be taking over Kennedy 's coveted office space in the Senate Russell building . Sen. Paul Kirk , who was appointed to fill the seat after Kennedy 's death , currently occupies the office and will move out . Several Senate sources tell CNN that the Senate Rules Committee , which assigns office space , decided to give Brown the office space as a matter of convenience . Because of his seniority , Kennedy had one of the most coveted office suites in the Senate complex . It is located in the Russell building , down the hall from the Rotunda , and has balconies that overlook the Capitol . CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash contributed to this report .
NEW : Newly sworn-in senator stresses opposition to President Obama 's fiscal policies . NEW : Brown noncommittal on prospect of filibustering over some Obama nominees . Scott Brown is sworn into office Thursday , becoming crucial 41st GOP vote . TL;DR The Senate will begin debate Wednesday morning on the president's budget proposal and a series of other bills that would overhaul health care, financial regulation and education.