"Prosecutors dispute DiMasi financials" by Andrea Estes, Globe Staff | January 12, 2010
Federal prosecutors are trying to cast doubt on a contention by former House speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi, who is facing corruption charges, that the suspension of his state pension has left him unable to pay his legal bills.
In a filing made last week, prosecutors pointed to the more than $162,000 in legal fees that DiMasi’s political campaign committee paid his attorney, Thomas Kiley, last year as evidence that he has had the means to afford representation.
DiMasi disclosed the payments by his committee in a year-end report filed with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance. The campaign committee was dissolved after it ran out of money.
DiMasi filed a motion last year to dismiss the federal corruption case against him, arguing in an affidavit that without his $5,000-a-month pension, suspended by the state Retirement Board in October, he cannot “stage a defense to the charges I believe to be unfounded.’’ He asserted that he was being “denied the wherewithal to defend himself.’’
What a scums***!
The Office of Campaign Finance filing, prosecutors wrote on Jan. 7, “apparently calls into question the completeness’’ of DiMasi’s statements. They urged US District Court Chief Judge Mark Wolf to deny DiMasi’s motion to throw out the case.
Kiley insisted yesterday that DiMasi has not paid him for any legal work....
Kiley said he has “not given a thought yet’’ to asking Wolf to choose him to represent DiMasi as a court-appointed lawyer, at taxpayer expense....
Hasn't he STOLEN ENOUGH from US?!!
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The Perils of One-Party Politics: Speaker's Shoes
DiMasi's Leftovers
That leads you into the new guy:
"DeLeo urged to air House proceedings; In letter, 8 colleagues implore speaker to restore safeguards" by Andrea Estes, Globe Staff | January 22, 2010
A growing group of dissidents in the Massachusetts House yesterday called on Speaker Robert A. DeLeo to open the chamber’s books, allow healthy debate on all bills, and subject the Legislature to the laws that cover other elected bodies - including laws on public records, open meetings, and competitive bidding.
Related: The Perils of One-Party Politics: The Ruling Party
The Perils of One-Party Politics: Massachusetts' Democracy
That's "democracy?"
“We want the House to become a functional democracy,’’ the group said in a letter, which was e-mailed to all 160 members.
Eight members signed the letter - four more than had authored previous letters criticizing DeLeo, a fellow Democrat.
The earlier letters were more narrow, challenging DeLeo to release details of $378,000 in legal bills the House paid in connection with the state and federal investigations of former House speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi. DeLeo has refused, citing lawyer-client privilege. He hired an outside lawyer, Daniel Crane, to review the bills, but has refused to say even how much Crane is being paid.
One of the lawmakers who signed yesterday’s letter, state Representative Will Brownsberger of Belmont, resigned his position as vice chairman of the House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change earlier this week.
“At a time of continued financial pressure I think it’s more important than ever that we have an open management process in the House,’’ he said in an interview. “Hopefully over the months to come, members will feel more free to join in a conversation about the changes that are needed.’’
No kidding.
Said Representative Thomas Stanley, one of the original four dissidents: “The House is broken. Checks and balances need to be restored. Members are frustrated with the speaker’s indifference to our calls for an open democracy.’’
Translation: NOTHING has CHANGED!
In an e-mailed statement, Seth Gitell, DeLeo spokesman, said the speaker “has worked to make the House a more open and transparent place’’ and has “kept an open-door policy with members, meeting with them in groups and individually’’ on many issues....
Then why is his flock complaining?
Related: The Ear of the House Speaker
Anyone tell this guy we are broke?
"DeLeo opposes increases in taxes; House leader says finding jobs is crucial" by Andrea Estes, Globe Staff | January 29, 2010
House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo has come under fire recently from a small group of lawmakers, who have accused him of keeping the activities of the House secret and refusing to allow most bills to come before the membership for full debate.
Yup, UP or DOWN and it better be what HE WANTS -- or else!
He has also been unwilling to disclose details of $378,000 in fees the House has paid a private lawyer in connection with the DiMasi investigation.
Yesterday, those lawmakers said DeLeo’s speech reinforced their view that he wields too much power.
“He gave a speech to the members laying out our goals without consulting us,’’ said Representative Matthew Patrick, Democrat of Falmouth. “This is indicative of what he thinks of the membership. We’re just there, I guess, to fulfill his policies and his goals.’’
Welcome to the House of Massachusetts!!!
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Also see: Corrupt Treasurer Cahill Costing Mass. Taxpayers
Yup, THEY are CORRUPT and YOU are paying for THEIR THIEVING DEFENSE, taxpayers! Only in Massachusetts!!!
