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House Speaker's Term Abolished

Back to the Beacon Hill Beat

January 25, 2001
By Curt Lovelace

Despite claims by House Speaker Thomas Finneran (D-Mattapan) that he wanted the issue not to be brought up, House Democrats pushed through an amendment to House rules on Wednesday which effectively installed him as “Speaker for Life.” Legislators abolished, by a vote of  112-39, a rule which limited the House speaker’s term to four sessions. Lawmakers also took the following votes during the rules debate.

- 15-138 to reject an amendment calling for special sessions to consider gubernatorial vetoes;

- 153-0 to establish a special commission to investigate Joint Rules and report back by March 31;

- 152-0 to create a special commission to study technology in the House and report back by October;

- 151-1 to require the House clerk to study and report back in 90 days on a remote electronic voting system;

- 24-128 to reject an amendment to postpone the rules debate until after the speaker makes committee assignments;

- by voice vote approved an amendment allowing House clerks to vote for members if their voting button malfunctions.