Facing Fiscal Meltdown, Travaglini Finally Agrees to Reconvene Legislature
            Senate President Travaglini and Speaker DiMasi acknowledged yesterday that their obvious failure to know anything about the financial condition of the Commonwealth warranted a need to bring the legislature back this fall, instead of the next legislative session as defined by the Constitution.
            At least 10 senators have sent Travaglini formal requests to call for lawmakers to return this fall. And on Monday, a Romney aide told legislative leaders the failure to finalize a bond bill granting the state the ability to borrow hundreds of millions has cost dozens of information technology jobs and incurred “potentially irreparable damage” to state construction projects, and new programs, including the new healthcare law.
             In addition to the bond bill, there is other unfinished legislation, such as a bill that would give stiffer penalties for sex criminals, an overhaul of teen driving laws, and the “Welcome Home” veterans bill among others.
            DiMasi and Travaglini also have refused to vote on a resolution by Rep. Emile Goguen to remove four Supreme Court Justices that was filed two years ago, which is in clear violation of the Constitution.  They were required to take an immediate vote on the resolution when it was filed.  The two political bosses thus thumb their noses at the Constitution every day they ignore it.
            When DiMasi initially took office, he promised increased dialogue on all issues, and that every pending matter would be brought to an up or down vote.  This week, many in the legislature, even from his own party, realized that the wanton neglect of critical bills was causing concern about the sincerity of the speaker, as well as his competence. 
            DiMasi’s inattention to the bond bill alone, the extra cost to the state from delays and layoffs is projected to run in the tens of millions.  The mishandling of the veteran’s “Welcome Home” bill has created a cacophony of critics who are amazed that the legislature would pass the bill for veterans, and then not fund it. 
            DiMasi had resisted reconvening the House. Earlier in the week, he said that it was “Basically very difficult just to come back for one thing. We have to assess whether or not we want to come back based on an emergency situation.”  
            Yesterday, however, a spokesperson for DiMasi said he would seek "clarification" today from House members and Travaglini about the need to reconvene.