Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Cognos and the 2007 Kentucky Derby

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In a story about Secretary of State Galvin’s decision not to suspend lobbyist Richard McDonough, Boston Globe reporter Brian MacQuarie mentions a 2007 junket taken by three prominent Democratic representatives, apparently on Cognos’ dime:

The report includes reimbursement for the 2007 Kentucky Derby, including airfare, car rental, lodging, and three packages at $1,850 each for two-day admission to the racetrack. The expenses also include three meals, from May 3 to 5, for McDonough, Cognos sales agent Joseph Lally, and three Massachusetts House committee chairmen.

The total bill of $1,927 for those meals did not include unspecified contributions toward the tab that McDonough said were made by Representatives Ronald Mariano of Quincy, Brian Dempsey of Haverhill, and Michael Costello of Newburyport, all of whom are Democrats and were nominated to their leadership posts by DiMasi. Each of those representatives has not responded to repeated requests for interviews

Perhaps I haven’t been paying close enough attention- this expensive vacation for state legislators Dempsey, Mariano, and Costello, apparently financed (at least in part) by a company with high-stakes “business before the state”, is news to me, and would seem to be the most important information contained in the article.

Perhaps the three legislators in fact paid their own way- in which case they would be guilty only of creating the “appearance of a conflict of interest”. But in that case, why would Cognos have needed to reimburse McDonough for $13,000 related to the trip? It certainly looks as if Cognos paid for this vacation, effectively bribing three legislators with the ability to influence the awarding of an expensive contract to their outfit.

If everything is indeed as it appears, I would hope that the state and federal grand juries we are told have been convened are preparing bribery and corruption indictments for these three legislators as we speak.

If you disagree, perhaps someone could explain how the conduct of these legislators is substantially different from that of other, recently disgraced and indicted, local politicians?

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Comments

  1. The conduct of the legislators and Speaker Sal DiMasi should offend all of us.  Everyone can read this Boston Globe article.

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    p>Richard McDonough is a chip off the old block.  His father Sonny McDonough was a long time governor’s councilor.

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    p>It is long past time for progressives in Massachusetts to say this type of stuff is not okay!

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    p>This seems to be a ‘How To’ guide for lobbying on Beacon Hill.

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    p>First:  Lose at golf, including the wager that you bill to the client.

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    p>Second:  Fund travel junkets to key legislators.

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    p>Third:  Buy pricey meals.

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    p>Fourth: Obtain lucrative state contracts.

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    p>Again, Sonny would be so proudof his prodginy!

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  2. Of course everyone is theoretically innocent until proven guilty.  But this all doesn’t look above boards in the court of public opinion.

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    p>Everyone has a way to spin the facts to claim they have done nothing untoward.

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    p>To be continued . . .

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    p>As I say, what would Sal do?

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