State representative says she was threatened by lawmaker

A representative brought House proceedings to a halt last night when she told colleagues during debate on the state's $28 billion budget that another lawmaker had threatened to "really hurt" her.

Representative Jennifer Callahan, Democrat of Sutton, said a male representative approached her Thursday and started a casual conversation about a healthcare amendment she discussed earlier in the week.

She said the tone quickly changed when he said, "I've been in this building a long time," and added, "I could really hurt you if I wanted to."

She did not identify that lawmaker.

The allegation was leveled near the end of a long week of budget debate, during which representatives started aligning behind possible successors to House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi, who is facing questions about possible ethics violations.

Callahan did not have a chance to elaborate yesterday before DiMasi smashed down his gavel and declared a recess.

Callahan then walked to the rostrum and spoke with DiMasi, assistant majority leader Lida Harkins of Needham, and Representative Eugene O'Flaherty, Democrat of Boston, before sitting in another part of the chamber with Harkins and O'Flaherty.

The three left, and Callahan later returned to tell her colleagues she was withdrawing a nurse staffing amendment she favored.

"When I was first elected to serve as a member of the Massachusetts Legislature, I believed I would spend my time fighting to help the people in my district," Callahan said in a statement issued late last night. "I imagined that there would be serious discussions about healthcare, education and the state's economy.

"Today, I still believe that this is what I was elected to do," she said. "And as an institution, that is what we have done.

"I brought this situation to the floor and to the members tonight because it is concerning to me and must be dealt with. I am now addressing it directly with Speaker DiMasi, and I am confident it is being taken seriously by him. I will have no further comment at this time."

In a brief telephone interview, O'Flaherty said Callahan was not referring to him, but he would not say why he met with her.

"I think you should talk to Representative Callahan, who is an excellent representative," O'Flaherty said.

A Callahan spokeswoman, Jennifer Warren, called the AP to say the representative was friendly with O'Flaherty and was referring to another member.

Warren refused additional comment.

Callahan, a registered nurse, leveled her accusation after taking advantage of leniency granted to her by DiMasi. She had asked the speaker to discuss the nurse staffing bill after he had already cut off debate.

After making comments about the amendment and the approaching National Nurses Week, she veered off script.

"I also want to talk just briefly about something I am not proud of," she said.

She then began explaining that comments she had made earlier in the week about a palliative-care amendment prompted the criticism from her unnamed colleague.

"He leveled his eyes at me and he said, 'I've been in this building for a long time, Jen,' and, 'I wanted you to know that I could make things real difficult for you. I mean, Jen, I could really hurt you if I wanted to,' " Callahan told her colleagues.