It's not as if Beacon Hill has a stellar record with the recent convictions of former House Speaker Sal DiMasi, Dianne Wilkerson [stuffing cash in her bra to rush to Foxwoods to feed the cash sucking machines] and others.
Michael Levenson addressed the Governor's own ......... shall we call them 'misstatements'?
Patrick breaks own rules on casinos
Faces questions over donations, meetings
By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff
Governor Deval Patrick, who has said repeatedly and as recently as last week that he does not take donations from or meet with gambling industry representatives, has done both as he and legislative leaders begin their third attempt to legalize resort-style casinos in Massachusetts.
Patrick has collected $6,200 in campaign donations from more than 20 registered gambling lobbyists since 2009, including representatives for Isle of Capri Casinos, Mohegan Tribal Gaming, and Penn National Gaming, according to campaign finance records.
The donations include two checks of $200 each, the maximum allowable amount for a lobbyist, from Paul Tuttle, the chief executive of Suffolk Downs, the East Boston horse track that is hoping to open a major casino if gambling is legalized. Patrick deposited one of those checks last August and the other in May.
[Interesting that the Boston Globe removed all of the comments - many of which were articulate and informative.]
Immediately after the November 2010, Governor Patrick met with a group of Native Americans to discuss state LIT and casino gambling - behind closed doors.
From Wampaleaks:
Deval Patrick tells Boston Globe 'no gaming interest contributions' - really?
A friend sent the information below and it seems no longer available:
Diane B. Patrick
Partner
Ropes & Gray
One International Place
Boston, MA 02110-2624
Diane B. Patrick
Partner
Gaming
Gaming trade associations, leading companies and principal investors turn to Ropes & Gray for advice on matters ranging from litigation and regulatory issues, to financing and transactional engagements, to internal investigations and out-of-court workouts and insolvencies. We work with participants in all portions of the industry, including commercial casino companies, tribal operations and technology suppliers. We understand how the industry’s unique regulatory environment influences most legal issues. Recent engagements have included:
Defending several lawsuits brought by allegedly compulsive gamblers, and helping many clients develop meaningful, responsible gaming programs.
Defending against U.S. Treasury enforcement proceedings for failures to file currency transaction reports, and pressing the industry’s concerns before Treasury on "suspicious activity reporting."
Leading the industry effort to shape anti-terrorism restrictions proposed by the Coast Guard for casino riverboats in the wake of the September 11 tragedies.
Advising both underwriters and investors in more than a dozen major debt financings for tribal gaming properties.
Advocating before the U.S. Interior Department concerning tribal gaming compacts and the designation of initial reservations.
Defending a casino developer against a multimillion dollar claim by a local government for failing to win a state license for a proposed casino project.
Defending a gaming company before the Federal Election Commission against charges of improper campaign donations.
Representing major creditors in a Chapter 11 reorganization of a multi-state gaming entity.
Advising numerous clients concerning the application of state anti-lottery laws to proposed promotional programs, including Internet activities.
Seeking certiorari from the United States Supreme Court in a First Amendment challenge to limitations on campaign donations by casino licensees.
Ropes & Gray is the only national law firm that is a member of the American Gaming Association, which also is a client of the firm on a number of matters.
Contact:
For further information on this area of practice, please contact:
Litigation and Regulatory Matters – David O. Stewart
Financing and Transactional – Lawrence D. Bragg
Workouts and Insolvencies – Don S. DeAmicis
Governor Patrick retained Spectrum Gaming to produce a report for the Commonwealth, not about whether the proposal made sense in terms of Costs and Impacts, but to produce a glowing report that overstated revenues and exaggerated jobs at a cost of $189,000 hard earned taxpayer dollars.
Impartial? Not!
And this makes headlines:
Legislators’ vital work veiled from public’s eye
By Noah Bierman
The $30.6 billion budget approved by the Legislature last week was negotiated almost entirely in secret, with six lawmakers meeting for 24 days of talks that were off limits to taxpayers. Debates, agendas, and even the times and locations of the meetings were held in strict confidence. No minutes were kept.
Clearly, Beacon Hill still has not received the MESSAGE of voters being fed up with closed door meetings when this appears:
Patrick, leaders strike deal on unions
By Noah Bierman
The agreement, reached behind closed doors and slated for approval Monday....
Instead of getting better, Beacon Hill leadership is getting worse.
Maybe it's the elevation - it is a HILL after all.
Or the rarefied air. Or the arrogance.
Whatever it is, this needs to change.
The air of political corruption reeks.
If you don't want voters to think you're corrupt, you need to extend the Public Meeting Law to include the conduct of the legislature.
There is simply no excuse.
And there's no excuse for elected officials to continue to elect leadership that is deaf.
This continuing secrecy is indefensible.
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