By Bob Katzen 

MONITORING TRUMP – House Speaker Bob DeLeo took the unusual step of creating a 9-member Trump Administration Working Group that will provide guidance on how the Legislature should respond to the “unprecedented actions” of the Trump Administration and help find possible legislative responses and solutions. The group will focus on the local consequences of Trump’s actions with the focus on economic stability, health care, higher education and the state’s most vulnerable residents. All nine members of the group are Democratic legislators. The group is co-chaired by Reps. Patricia Haddad (D-Somerset) and Ronald Mariano (D-Quincy).
   “The members of this working group represent diverse constituencies and will bring distinct perspectives to the table,” said Speaker DeLeo. “At its core, this group is tasked with finding practical ways to safeguard our residents and our economy in a way that works for each corner of the Commonwealth. While I’m deeply worried by actions of the Trump Administration, I believe that Massachusetts can maintain its national leadership and become a model during these troubling times.”