The DiMasi Indictment And Deval Patrick

The corruption indictment of Sal DiMasi, according to the Boston Globe, “contains what critics are calling an unflattering behind-the-scenes look at Governor Deval Patrick’s administration, depicting its officials as bowing to political pressure to award a $13 million computer software contract that was allegedly rigged.”

But hey, that was the hope and change Deval Patrick promise wasn’t it? The sad fact is that this is par for the course in Massachusetts. Every election cycle the Democrats gain more seats, and in 2006 they decided to completely remove checks and balances from state government. The people of Massachusetts are to blame. Michael Graham nails it here:

Bay Staters are among the nation’s most affluent and well-educated. About 75 percent of our high school grads go to college. Almost 40 percent of adults have degrees. Our median income is 25 percent higher than the national average.

Yet these “brilliant and amazing” citizens repeatedly vote themselves one of America’s most corrupt and incompetent governments.

Three indicted speakers – and counting. Empty legislative offices with fulltime paid staffs. Pension perks for incumbents so lousy that they’re finally forced out.

What sort of voters put up with this?

Meanwhile, our pols don’t hide from corruption, they celebrate it. When they re-elected Sal DiMasi speaker, everyone knew he was under investigation. But only seven Democrats withheld their votes. The rest were with Rep. Jim Fagan, who bragged, “We are direct descendants of patriots and heroes!” – a comment that must have had Sam Adams drinking in his grave.

It up to the voters to change the state’s government. Deval Patrick came is an outsider, and became part of the corrupt machine.  Empty campaign rhetoric about hope and change doesn’t make you a leader, it doesn’t mean you’ll do all the glorious things you said you would do. Deval’s dismal approval ratings prove that a good campaign speech doesn’t make a good governor. True accountability can’t come until checks and balances are restored. One party rule is crippling the state, and the worst part is that it happened with the consent of the governed.

David (R) vs. Goliath (D): Republicans Take Down DiMasi

Everyone loves to see the underdog win.

House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi is set to become the latest to leave the top post under a cloud of controversy, setting the stage for a bitter power struggle with his announcement last night that he is ending his 30-year political career, effective tomorrow.

DiMasi, reeling from ethics probes connected to his former campaign treasurer, ended months of speculation during which his subordinates have openly campaigned to replace him.

DiMasi, who also will give up his North End representative’s seat, follows Charles Flaherty and Thomas Finneran as the third consecutive House speaker to leave amid scandal. DiMasi has been under investigation for receiving a loan from a friend who was seeking support for a ticket-scalping bill.

With the departure of House Speaker Sal DiMasi–wow, three in a row, what an accomplishment–one can not underestimate the power the minority party had in making it possible. The Republican Party, a small spec of red in an ocean of blue, with its tiny slingshot, was able to put the wheels in motion (via ethics complaints and fact finding) to bring DiMasi down. If you’d to give credit where credit is due, thank the Massachusetts Republican Party.

Despite the truth behind DiMasi’s departure, he’s playing it off like he’s leaving is due to natural causes; as if in his mind, it’s just time to move on.

“I am excited on the one hand to move on to other challenges and new opportunities. I am sad to leave the House of Representatives,” DiMasi wrote. He has faced mounting pressure and revelations of potential impropriety. Despite widespread rumors he may be directly implicated, he has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

While this state is virtually under one party rule, the resignation of DiMasi and his predecessors is testament to the fact that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and we should be weary of any political party holding 90% of the legislative seats on Beacon Hill.

Let’s hope that DiMasi’s resignation signals a change in this state.

DiMasi To Resign

This just in….

Sal DiMasi, the embattled speaker of the House of Representatives, is preparing to resign during the next couple of days, The Sun has learned.

A Statehouse source called the departure “imminent” after a receiving a flurry of phone calls last night and early this morning from several of the speaker’s closest colleagues. While no one would confirm or deny the Speaker’s resignation, the source said he was alerted to “developments” under way.

A second source told The Sun that several legislators were girding for an ascension fight between Rep. Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, and Rep. John Rogers, D-Norwood.

MassGOP Chairman Peter Torkildsen responded to the news, saying, “the resignation of Speaker DiMasi won’t mean the end of ethics questions on Beacon Hill. Without stronger ethics rules, accountability and transparency, the many problems in the State House will only continue.”

All In The Family

Mayor Thomas Menino said “it wouldn’t be a story if his name wasn’t Menino.” For once, I would have to agree.

The detective son of Mayor Thomas M. Menino moonlights as a “safety engineer” for a politically wired construction powerhouse that has landed millions in city contracts and regularly turns to the mayor’s team for necessary permits, the Herald has learned.

Detective Thomas M. Menino Jr., a 13-year Hub cop, landed the plum, 20-hour-a-week post with Suffolk Construction in January 2008, even as he pulls down a taxpayer-funded $86,000 annual base salary in the department’s intelligence unit. In 2007, he made $137,000 as a police officer with overtime and detail pay, records show.

Suffolk is one of the city’s biggest builders and general contractors, building and refurbishing schools and government buildings, most notably the Boston Police Department’s headquarters.

“There’s no conflict,” the mayor said last night. “It wouldn’t be a story if his name wasn’t Menino.”

Suffolk spokeswoman Kim Steimle would not release Menino’s salary, saying only that he’s paid “comparable to others in a similar position.” His duties include overseeing safety policies on job sites, she said.

The 39-year-old detective sought and received permission to work for Suffolk, as required by the department, Boston police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said.

He was not working his regular 4-to-midnight police shift last night because he was on vacation, officials said. He did not return calls and was not home when a reporter visited his house.

Suffolk executives have generously supported the mayor, donating $7,175 to his campaign since 2000, including a maximum $500 donation from president John Fish during Menino’s 2005 mayoral race. Suffolk executives also reportedly helped bankroll Menino’s $500,000 inaugural bash in 2006.

Mayor Menino is right, it wouldn’t be a story if his name wasn’t Menino.

But it is, therefore, it is a story. Of course, you could ask Sal DiMasi if the name really matters.

Mass GOP Files Ethics Complaint Against Speaker DiMasi

The Massachusetts GOP filed a complaint with the State Ethics commission today¬†in response to yesterday’s Boston Globe story which detailed how Speaker Sal DiMasi “may have helped fast-track legislation on behalf of a friend who extended him a $250,000 line of credit at a low rate.”

Rob Willington, Executive Director of the Mass GOP, released the following statement:

“Once again Speaker DiMasi has shown that when it comes to the Democrat party, ethics are optional. I won’t hold my breath waiting for the Democrats to do anything about it, because they have shown a complete unwillingness to do the right thing, even when blatant violations are staring them in the face. The voters will remember their arrogance this November, and Republicans will be there to remind them.”

A copy of the letter to the ethics commission is posted in the extended entry.

(more…)