That is why you reelected him isn't it, Massachusetts voters?
I thought this state had serious problems, but you know...
Ironically, he's acting JUST LIKE THE GUY THAT HAD THE JOB BEFORE HIM -- except MITT WAS RUNNING for PRESIDENT!
"Big donors helping Governor Patrick travel; Top executives, firms contribute much of funding" by Noah Bierman | Globe Staff, May 23, 2012
A substantial portion of the funding for Governor Deval Patrick’s two second-term international trade missions has come from a handful of powerful executives and companies with significant financial interests before the state.
Through a nonprofit established by his administration last year called Moving Massachusetts Forward, the Patrick administration collected $130,000 from five donors, according to ethics disclosure forms filed by the governor. Unlike campaign donations, contributions to the group have no limits and are tax-free.
By using a nonprofit to help fund his international travel, Patrick
is defraying some of the expense that might have otherwise been borne by
taxpayers. But he is also strengthening the financial ties between his
administration and the state’s biggest corporate players.
Not such a surprise.
Not such a surprise.
“In our book, it’s more important to remove potential conflicts from the public sphere and limit what interests may contribute to public figures,’’ said Pam Wilmot, executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts, a government watchdog. “Whether it’s in the form of a nonprofit that supports trade missions, whether it’s an inaugural fund, or whether it’s a campaign contribution, these all further the interests of a public official.’’
Patrick has embarked on two trade missions this term: one last March to Israel and England and a second one in December to Brazil and Chile.
Related: Governor on the Go
Israel Eats Massachusetts Lunch
Also see: Drumming up business in Brazil
The largest donation, $50,000, came from a charitable foundation controlled by John Fish, chief executive of Suffolk Construction, which worked on the modernization of a terminal at Logan International Airport and is building an MBTA transit facility in Revere, among other government projects. Fish attended one leg of Patrick’s trade mission to Israel and flew the governor’s former chief of staff, lobbyist and political consultant Doug Rubin, to the mission on his private jet.
Related: Putting the Boston Globe in the Vault
Jack Connors, chairman of the board of Partners HealthCare, donated $25,000 through his family foundation. The state is currently debating fundamental changes to the medical payment system, including controls on spending that could put pressure on the hospital group’s high cost structure.
Related: The Billion-Dollar President
I wonder how much a governor cost.
The State Street Foundation, the charitable arm of the Boston-based financial services giant, gave $25,000. State Street, which for many years had a contract with the state’s pension fund, could pursue that business again when the state reopens bidding in coming months.
Yeah, even though "State Street misled pension funds, towns, and other large clients about risky investments in a bond fund it managed"
Related:
Fed Funnels Made Millions Off Mutual Fund Bailout
State Street Stealers
But they are a galloping governor's best friend.
Also see: Ohio ousts State Street as pension fund custodian
State Street loses bid to end suit
Yeah, don't feel bad, Massachusetts; you weren't the only ones they f***ed, and it wasn't only State Street doing the f***ing.
The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, one of Beacon Hill’s top business lobbies, chipped in $25,000, while Staples, the Boston-based office supply chain, rounded out the list of contributors with $5,000.
Isn't Staples Romney's company?
Related: Staples cuts 500 jobs, 200 in United States
Staples CEO's pay falls $6.3 million
Oh, dear, how will he ever survive?
Administration officials say the nonprofit was conceived by Patrick’s economic development team and enabled by legislation approved in 2010, which encouraged more cooperation with the private sector. But they could not point to specific language in the bill that directs the state to establish such a nonprofit.
Its articles of incorporation, filed in 2011, list Patrick’s economic development secretary, Gregory Bialecki, as its president, treasurer, clerk, and sole director.
Patrick administration officials said the governor did not personally solicit money, leaving the task to Bialecki. Officials also argued that there is no connection between the donors’ business interests and the contributions.
And I just saw a pig fly by the window.
They pointed out that many executives who went on the trade missions did not contribute and that some of the contributors did not travel with the governor. Prior to at least one of the trips, the administration announced that private money would be used to help defray costs, even if they did not detail the arrangements at the time.
“This is the right kind of public-private partnership,’’ said Brendan Ryan, Patrick’s spokesman. “Having business groups coordinate with state officials to help sell Massachusetts and open new markets for Massachusetts companies is a good thing. It’s also what our competitor states are doing and something that was lacking under previous administrations.’’
The use of a nonprofit to help pay for the trips was signed off on by administration lawyers in consultation with the State Ethics Commission.
“We take these issues seriously, which is why this plan was vetted and is consistent with all the state ethics rules and laws,’’ Ryan said. “No group that helped cover expenses got any extra benefit, and the arrangement saves the taxpayers money.’’
***********************
“In the old days, people referred to them as junkets,’’ said Connors, who did not travel with the governor on either trip....
Travel has been a hallmark of Patrick’s second administration, as he promotes his memoir and campaigns on behalf of President Obama....
So which job has he been offered in a second administration?
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