| Yesterday, the State House News Service reported that one of the last formal sessions of the legislative calendar had the chance to end relatively early last night. The reason given was that Bob Deleo was holding a fundraiser for two Greater Boston members at the Union Oyster House at 6:30. The event had been previously scheduled.
Well the session did end relatively early with the legislature ramming through a $42M supplemental budget with very quick speed and little debate. All so that the members could get to this DeLeo fundraiser. SHNS reports:
The House late Thursday consolidated nearly three dozen amendments to a $42.2 million supplemental budget into one amendment and adopted it by voice vote and without debate or explanation. At 5:30 p.m., the exact time that fundraisers for two representatives were scheduled to begin at the Union Oyster House, Rep. Paul Donato, presiding during Thursday's session, announced to the members that there would be no further roll calls. Speaker Robert DeLeo has invited supporters of Reps. Michael Moran of Brighton and John Lawn of Watertown to the fundraiser scheduled to run from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. Moments later, after the amendment was adopted, the spending bill was approved 119-33 and the House adjourned at 5:36 p.m. In addition to funds allocated for numerous state agencies, the bill includes funds to cover cleanup costs associated with Tropical Storm Irene and the October 2011 snowstorm. - M. Norton/SHNS
Red Mass Group crashed DeLeo's party and took some pictures. Including this one. Given that Bob DeLeo is reportedly under Federal Investigation for corruption, it has been deemed the gift basket of corruption.
Some things never change. Even though the entire house is under an ethical cloud, DeLeo still finds it ok to ram through spending in order to get to a fundraiser. Red Mass Group did not observe any FBI agents casing the fundraiser.
On a final note, does anybody know if the kid collecting the money is a State Employee? We'd hate to have to force Lawn and Moran give back their money. |
