#2020-43 December 31, 2020

Representative Mariano Elected as New House Speaker

On Wednesday, the House convened and elected Representative Ronald Mariano (D-Quincy) as their new Speaker.  Mariano, who served as Majority Leader under former Speaker Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop), takes over with only six days remaining in the unusual 2020-2021 legislative session.  Among the issues the new Speaker is faced with are the continued spread of COVID-19 throughout the state, three conference committees still working to find compromise on major bills, and numerous other pieces of legislation that have been awaiting final action this year.

In his inaugural speech, Speaker Mariano told lawmakers that the state’s ongoing COVID-19 response is “job number one.”  However, he also noted a range of other priorities, including housing production, investing in community colleges, helping community hospitals survive, improving rural internet access, strengthening infrastructure, expanding offshore wind, and lowering pharmaceutical costs.  Mariano also said that he will place an emphasis on consensus-building and finding compromise among the 160-member House, the Senate and Governor Charlie Baker.

Focusing on an issue that has languished during the last several sessions, Speaker Mariano said that Massachusetts stands at a “breaking point” for housing infrastructure, potentially signaling that portions of Governor Baker’s housing and zoning legislation could be finalized in the final days of the session.  Both the House and Senate economic development bills contain provisions lowering the vote needed at the local level for many zoning changes from a two-thirds majority to a simple majority.

The new Speaker is a 30-year veteran of the House, serving as Majority Leader, Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, and the Committee on Insurance.  During the final vote, 123 of the 157 current House members voted to elevate Mariano to the Speaker’s office, including Independent Representative Susannah Whipps (I-Athol).  All 31 members of the House’s Republican caucus cast their votes for Minority Leader Brad Jones of North Andover, who said in a statement that he looks forward to “continuing and building upon the professional and cordial relationship” he shares with Mariano.  Only three Democrats did not vote for Mariano: Representative Jonathan Hecht (D-Watertown) voted present, while Representative Denise Provost (D-Somerville) and Representative Tami Gouveia (D-Acton) did not cast votes.  Gouveia is the only one of the three returning next session with Representatives Hecht and Provost declining to run for reelection in November.

The Association congratulates Speaker Mariano on his new position in the House and looks forward to continuing our strong relationship with him in his new role.

Speaker DeLeo Steps Down After 12-Year Run

On Tuesday, Speaker Robert DeLeo officially resigned from the Legislature, after 30 years on Beacon Hill.  The move ends a record-breaking 12-year run as Speaker of the House during which he oversaw the legalization of casino gambling and passage of landmark health care, gun control, and criminal justice reform laws.  DeLeo had a reputation as a moderate, consensus builder who rarely put legislation on the floor that didn’t have the backing of nearly his entire caucus. 

While there has been no formal announcement, DeLeo confirmed over a week ago that he was talking with Northeastern University about a possible position at his alma mater in Boston and those negotiations continue. 

The Association would like to thank the former Speaker on his many years of public service and for all of his work on behalf of the residents and businesses throughout the Commonwealth. 

On behalf of the entire MBA staff, we hope you have a happy, healthy New Year!