Pols may hammer out Senate leadership today
Lawmakers could determine the future of the Senate presidency — behind closed doors — as early as today amid concerns the scandal consuming state Sen. Stanley C. Rosenberg is distracting from Beacon Hill business.
Senate Democrats plan to hold a private caucus this morning to hash out the direction of the beleaguered body’s leadership. Possible options include keeping acting Senate President Harriette Chandler in place through the end of the legislative session, waiting until the investigation into Rosenberg concludes, or choosing a permanent successor.
A spokeswoman for Rosenberg did not return requests seeking comment on whether he plans to attend the caucus or address the body.
Caucuses — even those as high stakes as today’s — are held in secret, off-limits to the press and the public.
“I hope we resolve this matter much sooner rather than later and as a body we move on and address the issues that we should be addressing,” said state Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy).
Keenan said he believes the latest allegations that Rosenberg’s estranged husband Bryon Hefner had access to Rosenberg’s email — a breach of his touted “firewall” — should prohibit him from retaking the presidency. He added that Chandler should stay in place to the end of the session for “the sake of continuity and stability.”
State Sen. Michael Barrett (DLexington) said there is a lot of “group pressure” within the Senate to act, but that he’s heard “almost nothing” from constituents and worried the body may be acting “in haste.”
“The special investigators’ outcome should drive the outcome,” said Barrett. “In the sane world, that’s how it would end.”
Rumored candidates for the presidency include Sens. Karen Spilka, Sal DiDomenico and Eileen Donoghue, though others could also emerge.
“I think all of us in the Senate agree that our focus needs to be on legislation and policy,” said Chandler in a statement. “We’re entering a busy legislative time, and have a lot of work to do.”