By Matt MurphyState House News Service

Wednesday

Feb 13, 2019 at 8:53 AM Feb 13, 2019 at 8:53 AM


BOSTON - Six weeks after House lawmakers took their oaths of office, it appears that they may be getting assigned to committees on Thursday.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo on Tuesday afternoon called for a Democratic Party caucus at 1 p.m. on Thursday after an informal House session in the morning. The schedule was sent to members in the afternoon, and was subsequently shared with the News Service.

The timing of the caucus and the expectation among many members that leadership and committee assignments could be coming this week seems to signal that the speaker has made his decisions. On Monday, DeLeo said he planned to announce the assignments soon, and did not rule out this week as a possibility.

All leadership positions, which come with stipends ranging from $5,200 for a vice-chairmanship to $65,000 for the chair of Ways and Means, must be ratified in caucus. Lawmakers sharply increased their stipends two years ago.

With a number of legislators in top ranking positions retiring or losing re-election last year, DeLeo has a number of critical slots to fill, including the coveted post of Ways and Means chair that comes with a large pay bump and has been used frequently over the years as a springboard to the speakership.

Jeffrey Sanchez held that position for one budget cycle before losing his re-election campaign in November. Before him, Brian Dempsey held the post for six years before leaving for a lucrative lobbying job.

DeLeo and former Speaker Thomas Finneran chaired Ways and Means before rising to the top House post. Senate President Karen Spilka, as well as former Senate Presidents Thomas Birmingham and Therese Murray, also chaired Ways and Means.

Spilka has also not yet made her leadership appointments or committee assignments, and also has a vacancy atop Ways and Means. Spilka also said Monday that the appointments would be announced "soon."

A spokeswoman for Spilka did not respond to a message left Tuesday inquiring whether any decisions had been made on timing.