This column originally appeared in the Sun Chronicle on Monday, February 16, 2015
AN INSIDE LOOK
By Bill Gouveia
Question: What do you call a creature with no spine or
backbone?
Answer: A Democratic member of the Massachusetts
House of Representatives.
That joke may be funny to many of
us, but what is not amusing at all is the hypocrisy and lack of courage
displayed by most Democratic members of the House recently regarding the vote
to eliminate term limits for the position of Speaker. As was correctly noted in a recent and
extremely strong editorial in this newspaper, this is nothing less than our
elected officials going back on their word.
In 2009 our esteemed state
legislature voted to place strict term limits on the Speaker position. They did so in large part due to the
unchecked and overwhelming corruption that has been allowed to occur in that
post in recent decades.
Since the mid-1990’s three different Speakers have
resigned under a cloud of controversy.
One ended up pleading guilty to tax evasion. One resigned amidst perjury and obstruction
of justice charges. A recent ex-Speaker
is currently serving time in prison for mail fraud, conspiracy, and various
other crimes.
That is and should be an
embarrassment to the citizens of Massachusetts, and even more so to the men and
women who serve in the House itself. It is
especially embarrassing to
the Democrats, who are in complete control of that chamber. When they came together six years ago and
recognized that term limits was the only real and effective way to keep the
power of these individuals in check, it was seen as a small step towards true
reform.
Now that has been exposed for what it really was: A publicity stunt to lessen the pressure and
allow them to go back to “business
as usual” while
placating the public and taking advantage of the short memories voters in this
state have displayed.
Current Speaker Robert DeLeo was one
of those who worked to institute the term limits. But now that he is approaching the point
where they would actually apply to him, he has changed his mind. His reversal is inexcusable, self-serving,
arrogant, and displays blatant disregard for anything but more of the same in what might be the most corrupt state
legislature in America.
And because of the power he is
allowed to wield, legislators from across the Bay State who depend on the
crumbs he tosses to them and their districts will give him anything he
wants. Even worse, they will defend
their gutless actions by pretending they are really doing it for the people
they represent.
An example is Rep. Paul Heroux
(D-Attleboro). Heroux was not in office
in 2009, and has never been a supporter of term limits. But recently he made the following comments
on the situation.
“This change in the rules is much ado
about nothing. No harm has been done. Unlike some past speakers, the current
speaker has not been indicted or convicted of anything. He has only been
speaker for six years, half the time our current mayor has been in office who
does not have term limits.”
Heroux then added, “If he starts to act against the
interests of our district and our state, I will reconsider my support for his
leadership role in the House.”
It’s comforting to know Rep. Heroux stands
ready to lock the barn door if the horse is stolen for the fourth time.
And in case you think this is just a Democratic Party
problem – think
again. Republicans have no term limit on
the position of Minority Leader. And
while Rep. Betty Poirier (R-North Attleboro) voted against the removal of term
limits, she said she understands the rational for it. She said if they stayed in place, Democrats
would spend too much time jockeying for position to become the next Speaker.
Unlike now apparently, when they just jockey to
stand in line and kiss his butt.
I am generally not a fan of term
limits. But given the absolute power of
the Speaker position and the lack of fortitude of Massachusetts legislators in
general, in this case they are a necessary evil.
You lost all credibility, Mr.
Speaker. But then again, you never
really had that much to begin with.
Bill Gouveia is a
local columnist and can be emailed at aninsidelook@aol.com and followed on Twitter at
@Billinsidelook.
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