BOSTON. The dearth of women in Massachusetts politics is readily apparent to visitors at the State House here, with men–primarily of Irish and Italian heritage–making up an overwhelming majority of senators and representatives. “We’re veto-proof,” laughs Ted “Sonny” McDonald (D-Ouimet), and his colleague Anthony “Big Tony” DeFrancesco (D-West Boston) joins in. “Them broads don’t know what hit ’em every time they try to sneak somethin’ ‘feminist’ past us.”
But as the current two-year session wound down this week, female legislators noticed a thawing of sorts. “For years we’ve been trying to amend the law to allow women to spend campaign contributions on childcare,” says Ruth Blatterman (D-Newton Highlands). “It’s hard to campaign door-to-door when you’ve got two rugrats at home, but the old boys network always beat us back.”
“Who are all them broads?”
Until May, when Senate and House majority leaders allowed an amendment to slip through on the third “reading” of a bill that would permit candidates to spend up to $2,500 annually from their campaign treasuries to cover childcare costs. “I figured it was time,” says McDonald. “The world is changing–not necessarily for the better–but when in Rome, do as my buddy Big Tony would do.”
The old saying that politics makes strange bedfellows was never more relevant than at yesterday afternoon’s ceremonial signing of Sen. Bill 2023-1039, where Blatterman and fellow members of the Legislative Women’s Caucus gathered in the Great Rotunda for congratulations over champagne, with their former adversaries McDonald and DeFrancesco invited to attend to officially let bygones be bygones.
“I love it when he gets all . . . legislative.”
“I was pleasantly surprised by their change of heart,” says Blatterman, “and I think we ought to give credit where credit is due to the majority leaders. They’ve come a long way in terms of sensitivity on women’s issues since I first came here back around the turn of the 21st century.”
As the two men enter the hall they are given a standing ovation by the women assembled there, but the enthusiasm dies down a bit as the audience notices that each man has a stunning blonde on his arm, who more than a few in the crowd know to be women other than their wives.
“Great to be here,” McDonough says warmly as he shakes Blatterman’s hand. “We knew it was time to do the right thing, for all those little girls out there who dream of one day being members of the Joint Committee on Vanity License Plates.”
“This is a great day, and some of you gals look terrific.”
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your . . . ‘friends,’” Blatterman says after she shakes DeFrancesco’s hand.
“Sure, sure,” McDonough says. “This here is my . . . uh . . . niece Crystal Fox, I’m spending my childcare money on her, and that there is Tony’s niece Tiffany . . . excuse me, what was your last name again?”
The blonde bats her extended eyelashes and says “Chandelier.”
“Right, right–Tony’s spending his $2,500 on her.”