Despite evidence to the contrary, we know that the State House is bigger than two men, more than just a turf battle between Governor Deval Patrick and Speaker of the House Sal DiMasi. For example: it also includes Speaker Pro Tempore Thomas Petrolati.

A day after the House passed Patrick's tax plan (some corporate taxes went up, smokers got another thing to complain about while shivering outside), a key DiMasi legislative ally takes a big public relations hit. The Herald's cover story alleges that Petrolati took money (legally, if not intelligently) from 13 convicts, some of whom have done time on organized crime related charges.

Some other crimes perpetrated by Petrolati donors, via the Herald: "skimming cash from a homeless shelter," "illegally putting slot machines in Springfield barrooms," loan fraud, tax evasion, extortion.

Petrolati's campaign claims to have been unaware of these past indiscretions and promises to give back the convicts' money. Prediction of tomorrow's Herald cover: SAL'S NUMBER TWO GIVES MONEY TO FELONS.