Massachusetts Speaker Finneran may announce his departure today . . .

[TaleWgnDg]

"(Massachusetts House Speaker) Finneran set for new post amid probe

"No confirmation that US closed case, confidant says

"By Frank Phillips and Scott S. Greenberger, Boston Globe Staff September 27, 2004

"The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council is preparing to hire House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran even though a key confidant of his said yesterday that Finneran has received no official confirmation that federal prosecutors have closed a perjury investigation that began earlier this year.

"Finneran, who is expected to step down as soon as today to take the job as president of the industry group, has been operating under a cloud since FBI agents subpoenaed House records and computer hard drives in March and later interviewed lawmakers. Prosecutors were trying to determine whether Finneran lied under oath in a lawsuit challenging redrawn legislative districts when he denied involvement in redistricting."

(snip)

"Lawmakers and lobbyists say the biotechnology council may have significantly strengthened its hand on Beacon Hill by landing an influential player (such as Finneran) who is a well-known opponent of controls on drug prices and importing drugs from Canada.

(snip)

"Finneran differs from the (biotech) industry on stem-cell research. A devout Catholic, he agrees with social conservatives who say that stem-cell research, which usually involves the use of cells from human embryos, violates the sanctity of life. He has repeatedly blocked efforts by Senate President Robert E. Travaglini to pass a measure explicitly expressing the Bay State's support for such research."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/09/27/finneran_set_for_new_post_amid_probe?pg=full
(as last visited, Monday, September 27, 2004)

Finneran's replacement as the House Speaker appears to be Salvatore F. DiMasi ( http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/sfd1.htm ) . . . see DU thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=158x1167

[Rockholm]

1. Ding Dong The Witch is Dead! Bye Tommy!

What great news! This should really help ALL of us in Massachusetts. This will also deal a big blow to Romney in his attempt to take over the Legislature with puke candidates.

[sniffa]

2. which oLd witch?

cya douchebag!

[MallRat]

3. I am SO fine with this, I can't begin to tell you.

What do we know about DiMasi?

-MR

[TaleWgnDg]

4. is this of some help?

"DiMasi, a Democrat from Boston's North End, is a social liberal who supports abortion rights, gay marriage, and social services .

"(A)ntitax activist Barbara Anderson sat down to categorize lawmakers into fiscal liberals and conservatives, she fit DiMasi into a third category, 'pols.' I see him as a pol, the poster child for the pols, and I don't think he'd consider that as an insult, either,' Anderson said. 'He thinks in terms of the leadership and power.'

"Representative Robert A. DeLeo sketched a similar profile: 'Sal is sort of hard to pinpoint ideologically and philosophically -- not that he doesn't take positions, but he's not hard and fast.' "

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/09/27/whirlwind_for_dimasi/
(as last visited Monday, September 27, 2004, typically BosGlobe allows access for only 2-days to non-hardcopy subscribers)

. . . and . . .

"Salvatore DiMasi at a glance

"A brief look at Majority Leader Salvatore DiMasi, who is expected to succeed Thomas Finneran as speaker of the House.

"NAME — Salvatore F. DiMasi

"BIRTHDATE — Aug. 11, 1945

EDUCATION — Christopher Columbus Central High School, Boston

"CAREER — A former assistant district attorney for Suffolk County, DiMasi was first elected to the House in 1979. He has been majority leader for the past two years. He also serves as vice chairman of the Ethics Committee and on the Rules Committee.

"FAMILY — Wife Deborah, two children

"QUOTE — 'All of us must ensure that there is no discrimination and divisiveness and none should ever be written into our most cherished document, the Constitution.' "

http://www.wrgb.com/news/regional/regional.asp?selection=article_21282
(as last visited Monday, September 27, 2004)

. . . and . . .

"DiMasi, a lawyer, has a generally liberal voting record, getting high ratings from the Massachusetts Audubon Society and the National Organization for Women, and relatively low ratings from Citizens for Limited Taxation, according to the Massachusetts Political Almanac. He has voted against adding slot machines at the state's four racetracks.

"In this year's battle over same-sex marriage, DiMasi voted against Finneran's proposed constitutional amendment that would have defined marriage as solely the union of a man and a woman, and that stated the Legislature "may enact" civil unions for gay couples."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/09/26/dimasi_said_to_secure_speakership?mode=PF
(as last visited Monday, September 27, 2004)