Word: finneran
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When the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted two weeks ago to lift the eight-year term limit on the speaker's term, there were many justified cries of outrage. Speaker Thomas M. Finneran, who would have been forced to surrender his immensely powerful position in 2004 under the old rules, ostensibly excused himself from the vote and claims he did not pressure lawmakers on the issue. But he was undoubtedly watching each member's vote with keen interest. Indeed, shortly after the vote, loyal lieutenants were given choice committee assignments and leadership roles, while opponents were exiled to backwater posts...
...ultimately, Finneran is not the only one to blame for this undemocratic situation. Many of the representatives who voted to keep Finneran in power are not necessarily close ideological or political allies of the speaker. Instead, they find it politically convenient to allow Finneran to take the heat for them on contentious issues. They allow him to keep his iron grip on power because he is unafraid to help them avoid competition...
...Clean Elections law passed by Massachusetts voters as a ballot initiative in 1998 is a perfect example. Lawmakers despise the law, which prevents them from raising huge contributions in the months before an election if they wish to qualify for public financing. Finneran and Senate President Thomas F. Birmingham '72 tried to gut the law in last year's budget, only to be thwarted by a gubernatorial veto...
That's where Finneran comes in. From a safe district, and with a tight hold on power, he is not afraid to emasculate the Clean Elections law. Just last week Finneran and his team proposed changing the law to make it apply only to statewide races--not to legislative ones. If Finneran succeeds in amending the law this time, lawmakers will be ecstatic; it is the people who will suffer...
...rank-and-file representatives are more than happy to let him take the heat for tinkering with the law. Because Finneran is such an autocratic leader, he is blamed when the House tries to change election law. And the members who put him in that position and gave him that power get off scot-free--they suffer far less political damage than they would if there was no easy target to blame...