As a federal grand jury continues to call politicians and employees to testify in the probation scandal, state lawmakers say they are becoming increasingly concerned that they may have to launch a new session next year with the threat of indictments hanging over Beacon Hill.
One of the first tasks of the new year is to elect a new leader.
Comments
it's tough to have a guilty conscience.
Without a robust two party system this is what you get. I have never seen a more sheepish voting population as in Massachusetts. Keep voting straight D people.
Amen brother! No, we're the state of high-minded voters because we vote D, regardless of the candidate. Being beholden to a single party and their agenda/platform shows a lack of wanting to judge the issues at their face value and putting those in office who can lead and solve issues. I voted for Obama twice, not because he had a D next to his name, but because the candidate the Republicans put forth was not to my liking. Had Chris Christie been the nominee he'd have gotten my vote. It's the quality of the candidate, not the party he/she represents.
Republicans have no one to blame but themselves that they have so few office holders. Republicans need to run centrists, not conservatives, if they expect to make any gains. They can beat their heads against the wall if they want, and yell about the moonbats, but this is not a conservative state.
Right wing Republicans rant and rave and insult the voters right here in these forums, and on talk radio. Do they think that's going to win anything for them? Highly unlikely. To win they would need the votes of the very people they belittle and insult.
40% of the population here have college degrees, the highest in the nation. Our voters are not stupid.
I voted for Bill Weld, but he was a rarity among Republicans. Many Republicans just plain scare me.
All good wishes to the grand jury. Our legislative membership is riddled with corruption, has been for years. Lets hope the grand jury has the wherewithal to cull the herd back to a point where we can at some point entertain cautious optimism for their institutional integrity. Wouldn't that be something! A welcome change from the squalid leading the squalid!
This case underscores why it is often difficult for the public to buy at face value claims by politicians of insufficient funds for programs or the need for tax increases. Who wants a tax increase to support "hacks" running an ostensibly worthwhile program? I hope prosecutors push Beacon Hill hard on this case and let the chips fall where they may.
Yet they all see nothing wrong with "sponsoring" candidates for state jobs and the practice remains in place. At least the last one the Globe exposed, Burgess, was forced to resign. These people have no moral compass and still don't get it. Wait till the law suits arrive against MA for once again not doing their job regarding the overseeing of the Pharmarcy's.
I'm glad this is being investigated at the Federal level so state officials can't influence those investigating. I can't wait to hear their findings. With two previous Speakers having been indicted, one doing time, if DeLeo is wrapped up in this, which it seems hard to believe he couldn't be with the power he weilds, maybe then voters will start to see how a one-party dominated state is not a healthy thing. There needs to be checks and balances and it appears there are none in this state.
No wonder there is so much cynicism among voters concerning the integrity of State leaders. Now we have the "Queen of Crash." I forget her name but she is the head of the department for something Safety. She has a history of traffic violations and crashes. She has twice tried to evade police trying to pull her over and just recently crashed her car into a tree. She has no qualifactions for the job. She is obviously a political appointee. Where is my bucket?
While she shouldn't have had the job, it's more of an irony than anything, and its importance has been exaggerated by the news media. It's so easy to get caught up in the media hype, isn't it?
She was responsible for highway safety, which has nothing to do with being a good driver or a bad driver. I'm sure someone can be a really sorry driver and still do that job.
Yes, she was a political appointee. That was information published in the first story. Everybody that runs a state department is a political appointee.
DeLeo is corrupt. Anybody with any sense knew that when he got the job. He was part of DeMasi's inner circle and should never have become Speaker. He needs to be gone.
There has to be a fall guy. Petrolati is perfect.