For those that don't follow Massachusetts politics Tom Finneran is the conservative Democrat that has run the Mass House of Reps for the last 8 years with an iron fist. He was a strong supporter of amending the Mass constitution to ban gay marriage. Several legislature races in progressive enclaves featured Democratic primary candidates running on a promise not to vote for him for speaker of the house.
The good news is that he just resigned.
Finneran's resignation becomes official tomorrow at 5 p.m.
One stunned Finneran staffer claimed to have learned of the possibility the Speaker was stepping down through a Herald article last week. Speaker since 1996, Finneran gained a reputation as an iron-fisted ruler known for rewarding loyalists. He is slated to be replaced by the more liberal-minded Rep. Salvatore DiMasi (D-East Boston).
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=46229
This is almost certainly good news for marriage rights in Massachusetts. But I can't say I know anything about Salvatore DiMasi. Any other Mass residence out there want to comment more on who he is and what this might mean?