TWO YEARS AGO, I wrote a piece in CommonWealth on how the Massachusetts House really works, an account of the “old boys’ network” and exactly how it stifles all bills and amendments that the House Speaker doesn’t personally like. While lobbying on behalf of a recycling bill, I broke an unspoken but absolutely firm rule among lobbyists: never criticize the […]
Robert DeLeo
Posted inOpinion
House progressives need to cry foul
MANY AMERICANS were distressed when President Trump, just weeks before the November election, nominated Amy Coney Barrett to the US Supreme Court. When the Senate confirmed Barrett barely a month later, it seemed a cynical power grab that showed disdain for democratic processes. Still, it was not out of character for a majority-Republican, right-leaning legislative […]
Posted inPolitics
Mariano supporters say he has the votes if DeLeo steps down
AMID RUMORS that House Speaker Robert DeLeo may be stepping down from his position, multiple House members said Majority Leader Ron Mariano would have enough votes to be elected the next speaker if DeLeo departs. “When and if Bob DeLeo decides that he is going to leave, I am very, very, very confident that Ron […]
Posted inUncategorized
House rejects Baker’s abortion amendment
THE HOUSE on Wednesday voted 107-49 to reject Gov. Charlie Baker’s amendment paring back a legislative proposal to expand access to abortion in Massachusetts. The measure now goes to the Senate, which is likely to vote similarly, and from there back to the governor, who can veto it, sign it into law, or let it […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
DeLeo backs budget debate on abortion access
HOUSE SPEAKER Robert DeLeo said late last week that he would frown on lawmakers using the budget as a vehicle for major policy reforms, but he backed off that stance yesterday in announcing a reproductive rights amendment sponsored by Rep. Claire Cronin of Easton would be taken up during budget deliberations this week. Cronin’s amendment […]
Posted inEconomy
New House panels to focus on economic recovery, childcare
HOUSE SPEAKER ROBERT DELEO on Thursday announced the creation of new House panels to examine legislative priorities related to the state’s recovery, with a focus on the economy and childcare, while declaring that there remains too much uncertainty over revenue to craft a budget for the next fiscal year on the Legislature’s usual timetable. DeLeo, […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
Tales from the legislative trenches
RESPONDING TO THE fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, the Legislature recently passed and the governor signed an eviction and foreclosure moratorium law. It enables people who are unemployed or lost income to postpone paying their rent or mortgage for housing, or rent for a small business. They cannot be evicted or foreclosed on for 120 days or […]
Posted inUncategorized
Massachusetts House holds first remote session
A MASK-WEARING House Speaker Robert DeLeo on Wednesday presided over what he called a “historic day” – the first time the Massachusetts House has voted on a bill remotely. “It’s not lost on us the significance of what we’re trying to attempt to do — the first remote session in the 400-year history of the […]
Posted inPolitics
House Democrats, Republicans reach rules compromise
AFTER A TESTY battle that lasted for several days, Republicans and Democrats in the Massachusetts House have agreed to a compromise on rules that will allow them to debate bills and vote remotely. The House on Monday adopted the temporary emergency rules and planned to meet Wednesday in a full formal session, with remote participation, […]
Posted inUncategorized
House rules still stalled
HOUSE MINORITY LEADER Brad Jones on Thursday blocked consideration of emergency rules for the Massachusetts House for the second day, amid a debate that is throwing off efforts by Gov. Charlie Baker to improve the state’s cash flow. Baker, a Republican, filed a bill March 27 that would let Treasurer Deborah Goldberg borrow money this […]