Boston.com has a list of 86 House members apparently committed to voting for Robert DeLeo as the next speaker. It's unclear where they got it, but one assumes the DeLeo camp released it. Names that jumped out at me on quickly perusing … [Read more...]
Unnacceptable Behaivor for Democrats
I don't have any real favorites coming into the race for Speaker. I view them both as somewhat of a step back from the progressive stewardship of Sal DiMasi - the person who got us near-universal health care, marriage equality and … [Read more...]
Where are the Women in the House? No Time to Hide.
The women of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Speaker Wannabee Issue (only): They are now 40 in number heading into the new session. That's 25% of the House. Forty is enough to keep anyone from being Speaker of the … [Read more...]
DeLeo wobbly on pharma gift ban
On banning gifts from pharma companies to doctors, Ways and Means Chair Bob DeLeo may hurt himself with all that head scratching and hand-wringing:“I’ve heard from a lot of folks on that,” he said. “That would be by … [Read more...]
Threats in the House; DeLeo on record wanting Speakership
Matt Viser picks up on the story Casey alluded to yesterday (hooray for the two-paper town!), about Rep. Jennifer Callahan being threatened by an unnamed supporter of Bob DeLeo's now-public candidacy for Speaker. It must have been … [Read more...]
Leadership roller-derby in the House
Well, this certainly does not sound pretty. Sal DiMasi's had a tough couple of months. It's definitely been a bad week, with stories coming out of unseemly (if not outright illegal) lobbying, and killing legislation in order to … [Read more...]
House Passes Supplemental Budget
[More news from the House of Representatives, posted by David Guarino, communications director for Speaker DiMasi]The Massachusetts House of Representatives today passed a $278.7 million supplemental budget that closes the books on Fiscal … [Read more...]
Burning questions
The House just approved $170 million more in spending than the Governor, using Tom DeLay-like tactics in forcing members to vote on spending amendments in bulk, without enough time to review. State House News Service quotes one rep as … [Read more...]