DeLeo, Spilka tap teams
Michlewitz, Rodrigues to head Ways and Means panels
After about six weeks of rumors and questions batting around the State House about how the House and Senate committee assignments would end up, the “inside baseball” draft of legislative leaders has finally been announced.
The House and Senate Ways and Means committees, which oversee the state budget, will be chaired by Rep. Aaron Michlewitz of Boston and Sen. Michael Rodrigues of Westport.
Democratic consultant Scott Ferson likened House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo’s strategy to drafting a team rather than to “check off boxes.”
“He clearly didn’t opt for optics,” Ferson told the Her- ald. “I know there was a call for him to pick a woman for Ways and Means … it seems to me he adopted people who he feels will be well positioned to be successful.”
Ferson added that it “would have been great” to have a woman in the position, naming Reps. Alice Peisch and Claire Cronin as qualified candidates, but said it becomes a function of “how you’re putting your team together.”
“I’m looking forward to working with (Michlewitz),” DeLeo told reporters. “One of my things that I try to emphasize in putting together this is the word ‘team’ and I mean that sincerely. I look at this as a team. It’s not just about one position, it’s about all positions.”
DeLeo cited a few major pieces of legislation that Michlewitz has dealt with over the past couple of terms, including Uber and Lyft, women’s reproductive issues and Airbnb, which make him an “excellent candidate.” Michlewitz said that keeping the Massachusetts economy strong will be a top priority.
House leadership, committee chair and vice chair appointments for the 201920 legislative session were all assigned, except for one chair of the Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Committee.
When asked if he was holding the position open for Rep. Paul McMurtry, who was accused of misconduct last month, DeLeo said, “I just want to see what the outcome is and what the conclusion of HR is relative to, before I make a decision.”
Senate President Karen Spilka announced Senate and Joint committee assignments as well, naming Rodrigues — who supported the Fair Share Amendment, also known as the millionaire’s tax — chair of Ways and Means.
“This is the next challenge for me, and I look forward to working with the Senate president and all my Senate colleagues in putting together a budget that reflects the priorities of the Senate,” Rodrigues said. “I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting down to work.”