Posted on 02/22/2007 6:19:25 AM PST by Hemingway's Ghost
Gov. Deval Patrick yesterday admitted he “really screwed up” by spending tax dollars on a leased Cadillac and high-end office furniture, but he strongly defended the hiring of a $72,000-a-year chief of staff for his wife.“Every governor has had staff to help support the work of the office, including the work of the first lady,” Patrick said during an impromptu press conference. “It’s official business.”
However, a Patrick aide could recall only two events Diane Patrick has attended this year, one to promote early education initiatives in the State House and a second to appear at a reading event for children in Springfield.
“Diane Patrick seems like a very nice woman, but she was not elected governor,” said Brian Dodge, executive director of the state’s Republican Party. “Why are taxpayers burdened with a $72,000 expense to make sure she shows up on time to events?”
As questions continued about Patrick’s spending, the administration last night released an itemized list of $27,400 in furniture he bought for his State House office suite. Patrick initially paid for the furniture with taxpayer dollars, then opted to reimburse the state.
The list includes $4,470 for two couches from the luxury retailer Cabot House, $12,300 in draperies from Boston Window Design and $1,650 for a new desk from Oak Hollow Antiques.
Patrick has also agreed to pay $543 per month toward the $1,166 lease of his Cadillac DTS, a sum that covers the difference between the cost of his luxury vehicle and a more modest Ford Crown Victoria that was used by Gov. Romney.
During comments to reporters, Patrick acknowledged he made mistakes on some of his spending decisions, even as he defended the need for quality office furniture.
“Oh yeah, I really screwed up,” Patrick said. “But I receive heads of companies and heads of labor. I receive community groups, members of the Legislature, members of the diplomatic corps. I think the governor’s office should look nice, so I’m prepared to be a BYO governor: bring your own furniture.”
Despite his apology, Patrick told reporters that he was sorry about the spending controversy because it has drawn attention from other business. “I am so sorry that we have all spent the kind of time we have on what we have spent time on, and I’m sorry to have been responsible for that,” he said.
Even as he decried the media’s focus, Patrick said he wants to work with reporters. “It’s very important to me that you in the media help me get the message out about what it is we are concentrating on,” he said. “The municipal partnership package, for example, the budget that’s coming out, the way we’re taking steps to reduce property taxes . . . Unless I get this off your screens, then I don’t think we’re going to get that through.”
Some are more equal than others.
Corrupt MA Pol Hack PING
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our Two big mistakes were the Car and the Furniture and the $72G for the wife ... DRAT! Our three big mistakes ...
Shades of Jim McGreevy, Nancy Peloosi, and of course, the slickmeisters.
For those who don't know what this is, it's basically a change to state law that allows individual cities and towns to set their own meal tax rates and other tax rates. It's a "partnership" because the Commonwealth collects 25% of that money.
In other words, Deval's attempting to sneak a tax increase into law . . .
not a hint of political party in the story. What a shock.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Heh heh heh!
Let's not forget Deval has already used the chopper more than Jane "Sky Pilot" Swift!
Patrick could not have had a more inept start in office if he came out to meet the press every day with his fly down and toilet paper hanging from his shoe.
No party mentioned = DemocRAT
I didn't see it mentioned anywhere in the article so he must be a Republican?!
It's the Herald, though, which is the inverse Boston Globe.
Sounds like a Racket that the MOB would run.
The law firm that Mrs. King Deval works for is the only lawfirm in the country that belongs to the American Gaming Association. I wonder what kind of conflict of interest will be overlooked when gambling comes to MA?
I'm convinced...John Edwards is right.There *are* "two Americas".
Sadly, he did lay out his agenda on the web site, which no one bothered to read:
http://www.devalpatrick.com/mmf_overview.cfm
Some of it is vague nonsense to please the liberals, while some of it is downright frightening. It looks to me like they've updated the site since the campaign, but the basic tenets of socialism are all still there.
It doesn't matter: everyone there knows he's a Democrat. Besides, after Mitt Romney departed, there are only a handful of Republicans left in office in Massachusetts (24 out of 200 legislators, for example). In terms of one-party control, it's like Cuba, only with Kennedys and newer cars.
My isn't he articulate?
Is this Osa...err... Obama's brother? Those demoncraps all look alike to me ya know.
Come on. He's just getting what he deserves. He won the office and he should get a little bling as a reward. /sarcasm
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