DiMasi to replace Finneran as speaker of Massachusetts house

Massachusetts state representative Salvatore DiMasi is completing his swift ascendancy to the top of the Massachusetts house of representatives Wednesday as the Boston Democrat prepares to replace Thomas Finneran as speaker after a whirlwind week of change at the statehouse. While he has long been one of Finneran's closest allies, DiMasi falls to the left of his fellow Democrat on several key social issues, including same-sex marriage and abortion. DiMasi has been majority leader for the past three years, wielding his considerable power mostly behind the scenes, working out compromises between warring lawmakers and at times acting as Finneran's enforcer, meting out punishment to those who don't follow the party line. After news of Finneran's departure became public late last week, DiMasi quickly lined up Democrats behind him, assuring many of the more liberal Democrats, who had chafed under Finneran's sometimes autocratic rule, that he would bring more openness and diversity of opinion to the house. Since entering the spotlight DiMasi has said little publicly about his plans as speaker, one of the most powerful positions in Massachusetts state government. Instead, he stood in the wings as Finneran made his grand exit Tuesday to a 10-minute standing ovation in the house chamber. DiMasi said questions will be answered when he gives his acceptance speech Wednesday afternoon after the vote.