DiMasi, Deleo, Coakley and all the usual suspects
The other day, the Feds took 12 computers from Deleo’s office…. The proof is in the pudding, keep an ear out for more on what they discover.
The hits keep on coming…. Take at look at what they spent money on .. old news perhaps, but should not be forgotten.
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/investigative/18658578/detail.html
posted by Jim Pillsbury @ 3:06 PM
23 Comments
23 Comments:
$12000 on Xmas cards? What about the request from the Governor to cut spending and budgets where ever possible so they could minimize the cuts coming from the State House. Guess that Coakley thinks she is above that. Now where would she ever get that idea? Deleo seems to have some pretty big holiday party expenses, wonder if he would have hosted those holiday party's if the money came out of his own personal pocket.
Unbelievable. They should all be ashamed of themselves for this type of irresponsible fiscal spending in these economic times. I have a question. Why aren't they required to show us, the voters, all their expenses that come out of their campaign funds? Shouldn't we have the opportunity to see where our money goes? And if they are not willing to show us, then I say that means they are doing something they shouldn't do, so stop sending them money! Deleo seems to be on the same page as far as ethics that DiMasi was on so don't expect anything to change with him leading the pack. As far as Coakley is concerned, I never gave her much thought, but she is a MA politician, so not surprised that she appears to be as corrupt as the rest of them.
Does this really surprise anyone? If it does you sure have not been paying attention to politics in MA. The question is not if they are corrupt, that is status quo here in MA. The question is who is the most corrupt. My take on Patrick is that he is not one of the, as Jim puts it, "usual suspects". He seems to be ethical at least. I hope that he can turn the tide and make MA a more ethical state, but something tells me it will work the other way and all these old school politicians will instead corrupt him. This has been going on for ever here, but in light of the current budget issues, it is even more appalling to read about these blatent questionable expenses. Maybe one good thing will come out of this economic downturn, maybe they will run out of money for these types of expenses. We can only hope.
FJ,
I'm not lumping Deval into the "usual suspects". Strangely enough, I support his effort to clean things up. I posted this old news, just to make sure, anyone who's to busy to have heard this would know it.
Beacon Hill Roll Call, a must read for us all, put in the local biased rag some interesting numbers of the amount of per diem our Senators have gotten in 2008. I asked the web master at the MWDN why this weekly report was not available to the web site., her reply was that it was in print only. These funds are over and above their salaries. Senator Spilka got 4,160.00 for her trips to the State House, 160 days. While 11 Senators did not request any per diem funds in 2008. During the week of February 2 through the 6th, the House met for 18 minutes and the Senate for two hours and one minute.
Do any of our readers get travel expenses to go to work?
Travel expenses to go to work? Your have got to be kidding. I am thankful I am getting a pay check and we have already been told not to expect any raises, cost of living or otherwise, this year. Meanwhile, our legislators get a raise and get per diem to commute to work? What's that all about? Their pay comes out of my pocket. How about asking some of them to give that back to us. I commend those Senators who did not ask for any commuting expense. I bet some of the expense in Spilka and Richardson commute is for paying tolls. Interesting that they claim they have to pay them just like the rest of us and they forget to mention that they get reimbursed for that expense. Not fair, not fair at all.
when will this cycle of unethical behavior end? not until we replace all these losers who continue to make money on the backs of their constituents. getting paid for commuting to the office? the surprising thing is that there were actually some legislators who did not bill the state for that. they are the ones we should be supporting, and boot the rest of them out!
Do you think any of us will ever know what they find on those 12 computers they took from Deleo's office? I doubt it. It will get covered up like everything else does. I wonder what Obama thinks of the state that is home to his friend Deval Patrick and his mentor Ted Kennedy.
$12000 in Xmas cards and none showed up at my house? $10000 in holiday parties and I was never invited? I must be on the wrong list or something. Aren't I the reason these idiots are in their jobs? Why don't I get at least a card and a chicken wing?
The fact that anyone is surprised by this information is the news story. Wake up people this is Massachusetts where we are taxed on our taxes. Highest gas tax in the country. Tell me something how are other states paying their bills without this? Some states have no sales tax,some no state tax, others no excise tax, and from the sounds of it, all will have a lower gas tax. So people, why do we have all of these taxes, and we are still financially hurting? Why does it cost more to live in Massachusetts than most other places in this country? My guess is that Massachusetts politicians are putting lots of money in their pockets that other states don't. Mr. Pillsbury, how do we stop that from happening?
What makes you think Jim can stop it? You had the chance to stop it in November when you voted. Did you vote for Jim? If you didn't then you got what you deserved. None of this news should be a surprise, but you voted these crooks in anyway. Unfortunately, your bad choice effects even those of us who made a different choice. If you wanted Jim to fix it, then you should have voted him in to office.
Neighbors,
While not even pretending to know any of all the answers that could, would or should, be taken in any steps forward, I think this: Today in the Globe, it's reported that a judge has sealed the Viatile case... http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/10/evidence_sealed_in_case_vs_vitale/
whish I've been told is a good thing, for our side. Does sound Cray after you read it.. and the comments, but my sources say it's good. The naming of names and who is being granted immunity and why, will have to come out in court.
AP reported today some interesting fund raising numbers for 2008 from some heavy hitters on the Hill. LT Gov Murray 1,000,000.00, Deval, 709,000.00, Treasuer Cahill, 511,000.00, Coakley, 489,000.00, Sec of State 223,000.00, Auditor DeNucci 148,000.00, Senate Pres Murray 306,000.00, Speaker Deleo 270,000.00. So.. over 4 million in fund raising for just those few people. That money comes from somewhere and if it's not you and I who donate, it's lobbyists, big business, and labor unions. This is why, you and I have no control over anything. Some of us may work in an industry that contributes to these factions and won't be able to do anything about that, but we can and should, start looking at every dollar we spend, on who, why, what for and where.
Today, I switched my banking from Bank America to Framingham Co Op bank. Two reasons, one: the CEO of Bank of America is one of the many banking leaders who have started and continue to be, our downward spiral and continue to ask for our tax dollars, while providing no relief to our neighbors who are in trouble. Two: We all need to think locally for a time. Local banks did not ask for bailout money, their CEO's don't make 400,000 a year and by investing in our own local banks, we are helping our neighbors. I feel relieved that my money will not be used to pay for a arrogant fat cat banker who may someday be charged in a criminal proceeding.
Miniscule step perhaps, but a simple step, all of us can do to show somebody, that we are not going to put up with this any longer.
Revealing .... public information.. Deval and his ethics committee.
check out the testimony of the OCPF spokesperson under Public Meetings
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3subtopic&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Key+Priorities&L2=Civic+Engagement+%26+Strong+Communities&L3=Governor's+Task+Force+on+Public+Integrity&sid=Agov3
John,
We won't be able to stop much... but the huge increase in gas tax is just the beginning, I'm afraid. He may be forced to keep the Mass Pike tolls and perhaps increase them next year... keep in mind, next year, will most certainly be worse than this in terms of finances.
The plans leaves out all boarders state residents who not buy gas here and as things are going, there are thousands of people not driving daily.. as we were just a few months ago. He may be banking on higher revenue estimates.
Perhaps if it did get approved, a march on the State House would be in order and then maybe, he would start to make cuts in State House salaries.
when will the lies and unethical behavior stop? Every day it is something new. The president's bailout plan sounded good to me, but the market tanked, and they know more than I do. Is Obama heading in the wrong direction on this bailout, and if not, then why are the people in the know about this type of thing worried as evidenced by the market fall yesterday? Anyone have any insight on this?
Jim, I am gettin stonewalled on that foreclosure process. No one ever calls me back, and when I do get someone on the phone, they have no idea what I am talking about. Do you know if Bank of America is involved in the program, and if they are, what impact does it have if they sold my mortgage to another company?
CV,
No one knows for sure if anything the government will do will be successful. It depended's on so many factors, including our own confidence in the system. I'm watching the hearings today from the House on the TARP monies that have been given to the 6 biggest banks and finical instructions. If you can believe them, which I don't, they have helped hundreds of thousands of homeowners, other banks, companies and even States. The committee chaired by our own Barney Frank, wants answers to excessive compensation and has a directive by one committee person of all those before them,"where has the money gone?, that we gave you late in 08. they have to provide this in writing to the committee. Many of these same members originally approved the monies to these bankers and look foolish now asking where it went.
If Obama's plan or revised plans are not adopted, there's every reason to believe, our financial system will collapse. As I see it, some banks may have to fail. Not local banks, but those big boys who have squandered billions.
We have our own troubles here in Mass and if Deval gets his bucket of money, where will it be spent, is the larger question and how will the politicians get in line for the money.
Stay tuned
Anon,
Bank of America is on TV today, saying they are helping hundreds of thousands of home owners.
Bank of America has received 20 BILLION in bail out funds, from what I understand, they have to offer the HOPE monies to homeowners who apply and meet the criteria. ANY FHA bank is supposed to offer homeowners in trouble the HOPE dollars also.
Don't let them slide on this, keep calling and demanding answers. Go the top of the bank, go there in person, do what you gotta do, to get answers. Tell them you are aware of the HOPE program. Print a copy of the blog info here and bring it to them, if they don't respond on the phone.
Only 25 homeowners across the country have been helped by the HOPE program, out of the 400,000 it was intended to do. The banks don't want to give this money up. We have to make them.
Let me know please
The banks say they are giving people money, but the people say they don't see it. Why does someone ask the banks to give them the names of all the people they have helped? Can't Barney Frank ask to see the names of the people who got saved from foreclosure in MA, which is his state? Come on, that should not be such a big deal. These banks are lying to us.
Frank... good idea. I will do that tomorrow.
Tomorrow, Deval releases on his web site the "where does the money go" (stimulus money) on our portion of the shovel ready jobs that will be created here. It has to help some...
How do we find the web site you mention that will have the MA information on where the stimulus money will go? I am not exactly what you would call "web savy" so I sort of rely on getting that information here. And I would be interested in Barney Frank's response to your request about how many homes in MA have been saved from foreclosure with that Hope plan. Seems that everyone I have talked to has given up as the banks just make it impossible to get anywhere on that program. I heard one woman say she was told by the bank that the money for that program had allready been spent. I find it hard to beleive that 400,000 people were saved, but we have not heard publically from even one of them!
Harry,
the web address is www.mass.gov/recovery
Lets hope that Jeffrey Simon, the overseer is on the up and up... it would be devastating to read he was part of the unethical and or criminal behavior in our State.
Also, starting Saturday, you will not be able to get your FICO score from Experian. The Experian score is the one most used by CC companies and auto loans companies. This is bad for all of us and has to do with anti trust litigation.
I'm hoping some no biased, inelegant news media source here in Mass, takes the question on exactly how many people have been helped by the HOPE program. My e mail to Barney may take some time to get answered, if at all.
More bad news on the ethics front, Mat Armrelo has been slapped with a small fine for his part in helping get more funds to his friends on the Turnpike Authority. It's weekly.. .these events. I only wish, that the blind followers of the one party rule, would read a paper or two.
Whats with the FICO scores from Experian? I have not heard anything at all about that. Are you saying I will not be able to get my own personal credit score, but other people can get it from them? That is really, really, really bad news! In these days of identity theft, how can I check if it is correct if I can't even see it?! Is this change a MA change or something that applys everywhere? Tell us more on this topic please.
FR,
here's the link to the story in today's globe. As i read it, it applies to everyone in the country. I hope this answers your questions.
http://www.dailypress.com/business/dp-biz_singletary_0212feb12,0,739463.story
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