The Hill News

This post is in response to "Scott Brown: Not above partisanship" by David Di Martino.

Massachusetts Democrats have adopted a code of silence when it comes to the ongoing bribery trial of the former Democratic Speaker of the Massachusetts State House. As the ugly case continues to play out across the front pages of the papers, Governor Patrick and other top Democrats have remained conspicuously quiet on a situation that warrants outrage from everyone who expects honest government.

Sal DiMasi, the disgraced ex-speaker, is accused of abusing the power of his office by steering multi-million dollar govern! ment contracts to a software company in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in secret kickbacks. Many of his cronies and political allies have testified publicly, and Governor Patrick and his aides will likely be called as witnesses in the near future. He was described in opening arguments as "caving" to DiMasi's demands for a multi-million dollar contract because of "politics."

During a recent college commencement speech, Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) condemned the "go along to get along" culture at the Boston State House that gave rise to the case, and suggested that one-party dominance of the State House had led to arrogant abuses of power. At Lasell College in Newton, Mass., Brown told the graduates not to be discouraged by the news from federal court and that we need young people to get involved in public service in order to make a difference and change business-as-usual.

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