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Speaker DeLeo Shakes Up The House

BOSTON (AP) - Speaker Robert DeLeo is asserting his control over the Massachusetts House of Representatives by assigning new jobs to two potential successors.

DeLeo announced Friday he was demoting Rep. James Vallee of Franklin from majority leader to chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee.

He also removed Rep. Charles Murphy of Burlington as chairman of the budget-setting Ways and Means Committee. Instead, he will be majority whip.

Both Vallee and Murphy have courted their fellow Democrats in case DeLeo leaves, angering the speaker. DeLeo also was upset after internal deliberations during the chamber's gambling debate leaked to the media.

Rep. Ronald Mariano of Quincy is the new majority leader. And Rep. Brian Dempsey of Haverhill is now Ways and Means chairman.

All are Democrats, as is the vast majority of the House.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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