The two sides of DiMasi
SAL DIMASI, champion of progressive causes. Sal DiMasi, champion of insider deals.
The two sides of House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi are getting equal play this week. Unfortunately for the speaker, the political operator has the potential to cancel out the political crusader.
Liberals shouldn't ignore allegations of ethical lapses, in deference to DiMasi's leadership on issues that matter to them.
Advocates for same-sex marriage rights won a huge victory when the House voted to repeal a 95-year-old law that stopped gay and lesbian couples from most other states from marrying here. It was DiMasi who insisted on bringing the measure to the floor, even though some lawmakers wanted to avoid voting on a gay marriage question just before election season.
Because of his leadership on the repeal of the 1913 law, DiMasi was the hero of the moment for the gay community and liberals generally at the same moment another troubling connection between DiMasi and software company
The speaker's law associate, Steven J. Topazio, was working for the software company as the state was negotiating lucrative contracts with Cognos. And DiMasi's onetime personal accountant, Richard D. Vitale, was hired by a Cognos sales representative during those negotiations. The Globe previously reported that Richard McDonough, a longtime DiMasi friend, also worked as a lobbyist for Cognos.
The Patrick administration, not DiMasi, awarded the contracts. But the web of DiMasi friends connected to the company continues to raise questions about the speaker's role. Under the golden dome, the Cognos saga is undermining DiMasi's hold on the House. Two legislators, Representatives Robert A. DeLeo of Winthrop and John H. Rogers of Norwood, are openly jockeying to succeed him as speaker.
Can DiMasi withstand the internal pressure? He stands a greater chance if liberal constituencies outside the House remain faithful to him. To keep them loyal, he needs to give them what they want, and that he is doing.
A recent post on www.bluemassgroup.com, a compendium of mostly liberal bloggers, thanked DiMasi for his support in repealing the 1913 law that stopped same-sex couples from outside Massachusetts from marrying here. The same post also made a case for the House to take up a global warming solutions act, which caps emissions.
It didn't take long for David Guarino, DiMasi's communications director, to post this response: "Thanks from the speaker's office for the praise, it is appreciated. We do have a lot of work to get to before we end formal sessions, and your priorities are certainly noted - as they were before. On global warming solutions, stay tuned. There is a chance we may yet have something for you there before the session ends."
Sure enough, redrafted global warming legislation was scheduled for debate yesterday in the House.
DiMasi is also working to get additional funding from healthcare providers and insurers to cover healthcare reform costs, another cause dear to Massachusetts liberals.
There's nothing hypocritical or dishonest here. DiMasi is staying true to his liberal roots. But he also knows that every time he plays the advocate for high-profile liberal causes, he forces liberals to consider the cost of losing him as speaker.
Does the gay community want to lose a speaker who will do whatever it takes to guarantee their rights? Do healthcare reform advocates want to lose a leader who pushes the business community to pay its fair share and keeps alive the Massachusetts healthcare reform effort?
What's more important? The policy DiMasi champions for liberal constituencies or the connections he champions for friends?
Should liberals close their eyes to problematic behavior, just as they are doing with another liberal, state Senator James Marzilli? The Arlington legislator has been charged with accosting several women, but refuses to resign even though he has not returned to work since his arrest and has said he will not return.
The double standard is a mistake. Self-interest in the promotion of a certain ideology shouldn't trump accountability for certain actions.
If the contrast between DiMasi's two sides grows sharper, it will get harder to let the speaker off the hook. At least it should.
Joan Vennochi's e-mail address is vennochi@globe.com 