Western Mass. Gets Higher Profile in DeLeo's House

Staff reports
iBerkshires
04:22PM / Friday, February 13, 2009

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iBerkshires file Robert A. DeLeo makes a point during a visit to the Crane Museum in Dalton last summer. Western Mass. representatives who supported the Ways and Means chairman for speaker made out well; others, not so much.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The change in speakers at the State House has also brought some changes for the region's delegation, including a bump in leadership positions for districts west of Worcester.

Rep. Daniel E. Bosley has found himself demoted while two early supporters of House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo have landed plum roles as vice chairmen.

Rep. Denis E. Guyer informed his sprawling and largely rural district of his new position as vice chairman of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture in an e-mail Thursday, saying "I am honored to serve on this committee, which is so important to my district and I am particularly humbled that Speaker DeLeo has entrusted me with this leadership position."

Pittsfield Democrat Christopher N. Speranzo was appointed vice chairman of the Judiciary Committee. "Given my background as an assistant attorney general this appointment is a natural fit for me," said Speranzo in a statement. "Serving as the vice chair of Judiciary gives me the opportunity to tackle some of the most serious issues impacting the entire criminal justice system of the commonwealth."

Bosley, of North Adams, had tried to stay out of the speaker's race, backing DeLeo over John H. Rogers of Norwood only after embattled Speaker Salvatore DiMasi stepped down. He was rewarded by being bumped from his position as House chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies to a vice chairman spot on the Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditure and State Assets.

DiMasi had been of like mind with the veteran North Adams Democrat when it came to casinos, helping kill attempts by lawmakers and Gov. Deval Patrick to expand gambling through casinos or dog track slots. DeLeo, of Winthrop, has Suffolk Downs in his district.

Under Bosley's leadership, the Committee on Economic Development had rejected the governor's bill for three casino licenses but he had also been instrumental in the passage of other initiatives, such as the Green Communities Act, broadband for rural communities and the $55 million science building planned for Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

The Berkshires won't lose a voice on that committee because Guyer has also been appointed to it and to the House Committee on Ways and Means. Speranzo, who served on Ways and Means under DeLeo, will continue on that committee giving the Berkshires two seats on Beacon Hill's most powerful panel.

Also gaining a seat on the Economic Development and Emerging Technology Committee is Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli. The Berkshires lost a chairmanship but gained two seats as well on that influential panel.

The Lenox Democrat retained his seats on the Higher Education and Cultural Development committees.

Other Western Mass. delegates had lined up behind DeLeo last summer as the battle lines were being drawn over DiMasi's alleged ethics violations.

DeLeo made a rare trip to the Berkshires last July at the invitation of Guyer and Speranzo. The powerful House Ways and Means chairman had been courting support in what had long been predicted as a showdown between he and Rogers, the majority leader.

According The Republican, DeLeo's ascension has nearly doubled the number of Western Mass. representatives in leadership positions, from six to 10, which carry salary bonuses. (Chairman and vice chairman get an extra $7,500 to $15,000 on top of their $58,000 salaries.) All those appointed had backed DeLeo early on.

Guyer had previously served on the Environmental Committee as well as the House Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling and Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.

Speranzo had previously served on the Joint Committees on Community Development and Small Business and on Health Care Financing.

In another boon for the region, Sen. Benjamin B. Downing was named to the Senate Ways and Means Committee and Senate chairman of the Joint Committee on Revenue.

(As of Friday afternoon, new committee assignments had not been updated on the representatives' Web sites.)

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