New Local House Speaker

For John, BLUF:  General Court House Speaker Robert DeLeo looks to be stepping over the side, to be replaced by Representative Ron Mariano.  Which raises the question of if this is a forshadowing of events in DC.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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DeLeo looks to exit as the sheeple graze toward Mariano

Here is the sub-headline:

Autocracy reigns in the Massachusetts House — that freshman class of 2020 won’t know what hit ’em.

From The Boston Globe, by Columnist Rachelle G. Cohen, 17 December 2020.

Here is the lede plus two:

Good politicians, smart politicians, know when to exit.  And Bob DeLeo — however old-school he may be — is a smart politician.

He’s had a good run — 12 years as Massachusetts House speaker and, unlike three of his predecessors, he was never convicted of a felony by the feds.  (Although he was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the wide-ranging case involving the state’s probation department.)  Around here, that’s actually groundbreaking.  So it makes sense to leave while his reputation is intact and with a few rather progressive bills, like the Roe Act and police reform, he can claim credit for.

I reported more than six weeks ago that DeLeo, 70, was telling a few close associates that this pandemic-plagued year has been particularly grueling and that he’s tired and wants out.  Word like that has a way of getting around, and entities — like Northeastern University, to pick a name out of the blue — with a sharp eye for the picking politically powerful allies to bring into the fold, often respond.

I thought it was only Republicans who used the term Sheeple.  One lives and learns.

As a Republican in our Commonwealth of Massachusetts I almost feel as though my views don't count, given the overwhelming majority of Democrats in the General Court.  That said, I admit that I have received a respectful hearing by Reps David Nangle and Tom Golden, and Rep Elect Vanna Howard.  The same goes for former State Senator Eileen Donoghue and current State Senator Ed Kennedy.  And throw in that State Rep from up North, Colleen Garry.  And where is the 18th Middlesex district Rep Rady Mom, who never comes on the show?♠  So good wishes to each of them this holiday and into the future.

As for the perspective new Speaker, Rep Ron Mariano of Quincy, I wish him the best of luck and hope he runs a more open shop.  It was depressing to read in The Sun that this year the Legislature ran a half dozen bills in secret conference committees for 100 days before quickly voting approval.  Was that 100 days as in a little over 14 weeks, or was that workdays, and so 20 weeks, or General Court Weeks, making it like 25 weeks?  Whichever way it was, it was too long in secret and not long enough out in the open, for the People to observe.  Maybe it will be better next year.

Hat tip to the MASSter List.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  That would be City Life Show, a local Lowell and environs morning talk show on Channel 8 on LTC (or on the internet at LTC.org).