By Paul Tuthill
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Boston, MA – Well before a jury in US District Court in Boston returned guilty verdicts this week in the corruption trial of former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi the sting of scandal had already prompted reforms on Beacon Hill. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports..
A federal court jury concluded that Salvatore DiMasi had used his powerful public office for private gain. DiMasi, and a co-defendant, a lobbyist, Richard McDonough were found guilty of conspiring to rig contracts in exchange for kickbacks.
Pam Wilmot, the executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts says its very disappointing when a public official betrays the public trust.
In 2009 after DiMasi resigned as House Speaker, amid scandal, the legislature enacted an ethics reform bill and tightened lobbying rules. Now the legislature is set to pass what Wilmot says is a good bill to change hiring practices and management in the courts.
Common Cause is pushing for campaign finance reforms and changes in open meeting and bidding laws.
Republicans portray the DiMasi case as a consequence of one party dominance in state government. Democratic State Represenative Angelo Puppolo of Springfield says the case was about the actions of one person
State Representative Brian Ashe of Longmeadow hopes DiMasi's conviction does not damage peoples trust in their government.
DiMasi is the third consecutive former Massachusetts House Speaker to be convicted on federal charges. Barbara Anderson, the head of Citizens for Limited Taxation, and a long time observer of Beacon Hill calls that fact..embarrassing. Anderson believes the current speaker, Robert DeLeo, is moving away from what's been called the imperial speakership.
Former House Speaker Charles Flaherty was convicted of tax evasion. Former House Speaker Thomas Finneran was convicted of perjury stemming from his testimony in a lawsuit over legislative redistricting. Neither went to prison.
US Attorney Carmen Ortiz says she'll seek serious prison time for DiMasi, who after the verdict continued to profess innocence.
DiMasi has vowed to appeal. Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly editor David Frank believes the appeal will be based on the recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that narrowed the scope of the crime known as honest services fraud.
DiMasi, who is 65, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 8th.. He faces the revocation of his license to practice law, and could also forfeit his almost 60 thousand dollar a year state pension for his 30 years of service in the state legislature.