Our View: Corruption thrives with state secrets

The candidate who ran for Governor on a platform of reform has sorely disappointed his supporters by negotiating Expanded Gambling behind closed doors.

So much for leadership!

Our View: Corruption thrives with state secrets
April 12, 2012 12:00 AM

In a state where public corruption cases seem as common as seashells on a beach, it came as somewhat of a surprise that Massachusetts received the 10th highest score, among 50 states, in the "State Integrity Investigation." Conducted by the Center for Public Policy, Global Integrity and Public Radio International, the investigation was designed to measure the risk for public corruption.

Massachusetts received a grade of "C" and a numerical score of 74, garnering the highest scores for its approach to redistricting, its transparency of political and campaign finance records, and lobbying disclosure rules. While there is reason to feel good on these fronts, the news on other fronts is dismal.

The state received an "F" for public access to government information, an "F" for public access to the state budget process, and a "D+" for legislative accountability.

In the last 15 years, three consecutive state Speakers of the House have been convicted on federal corruption charges, several state contractor employees were convicted for fraud, false billing and shoddy work related to the financially bloated Big Dig project, and a Boston state senator was convicted on bribery charges after she was photographed stuffing the ill-gotten money into her bra.

The latest barrage of public corruption cases involved six former state officials who were indicted over the last two weeks.

On March 24, former state Probation Commissioner John J. O'Brien and two of his former deputies, Elizabeth V. Tavares and William H. Burke III, were indicted on charges that they gave job applicants, who were sponsored by powerful lawmakers, including Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, and House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, hiring preference over more qualified candidates. O'Brien, Tavares and Burke are accused of maintaining "sponsor lists" to ensure that sponsored candidates were hired. Their motive, say prosecutors, was to curry favor with the Legislature, which controls the agency's budget.

On April 3, former state Treasurer Timothy Cahill and his former chief of staff Scott S. Campbell were indicted for allegedly orchestrating a state lottery television advertising campaign, funded with $1.6 million in taxpayer money, which prosecutors say was intended to boost Cahill's failing 2010 gubernatorial campaign. Cahill's former lottery chief of staff Alfred J. Grazioso was also indicted on two counts of obstruction of justice.

That these cases involve legislators, a statewide office holder and public agency leaders comes as little surprise when looking at the weaknesses pointed out by the integrity investigation.

Most of the wrangling over the state budget, as well as major legislative actions, happens behind closed doors, and the public has no legal access to records from these meetings. The 2011 casino gambling bill, arguably the most transformational bill in the last decade, was negotiated by the Governor, Senate President and House Speaker before it was sent to the Legislature, where it was approved with relatively little debate.

History shows us that corruption flourishes when the press and the public are not given the opportunity to see how and why public officials make decisions, how and why taxpayer money is spent and which special interests are influencing the actions of public officials.