By Katie Curley
Staff writer
June 06, 2009 03:59 am NEWBURYPORT — In a week that brought ethics scandals and heaps of criticism on the Legislature, Greater Newburyport's two House members are speaking out on ethics reforms and growing public scrutiny. Former House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi was indicted on corruption charges Tuesday in a widening scandal that federal authorities say involved $57,000 in payouts to DiMasi in exchange for a lucrative state contract for the firm Cognos. State Rep. Mike Costello, D-Newburyport, a personal friend of DiMasi who has known the former speaker since he was 12 years old, said the allegations have been deflating for him. "I'm very disappointed on a personal note. These allegations are very serious, but now it is in the hands of the justice system," Costello said, noting he hopes people refrain from making snap judgments until DiMasi is able to tell his side. "The allegations of receiving money for an official act are one of the more serious breaches of public trust someone in his position can commit." State Rep. Harriett Stanley, D-West Newbury, said yesterday DiMasi's situation has made hers more difficult. "DiMasi's behavior, and then indictment, makes every elected official in the commonwealth look bad," Stanley said. "Unfortunately, we now have to work double time to assure the public we are worthy of these jobs." On Wednesday, Stanley spoke at the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce meeting, noting the push to toughen ethics laws will not be the only solution to the problem. "The toughest ethics laws in the world would not prevent people from misbehaving," Stanley said. "All they do is make it easier to catch them and give them a greater punishment." Costello, who was promoted to chairman of public safety under DiMasi's rule and is a known friend of the former House speaker, has documented involvement with Richard McDonough, the lobbyist connected to Cognos. McDonough was also indicted this week on corruption charges. In December, McDonough provided Secretary of State William Galvin's office a list of reimbursements he received from Cognos, the company at the center of the DiMasi scandal. According to reports, the expenses include a 2007 trip to the Kentucky Derby. Among the expenses were three meals, from May 3 to 5, for McDonough, Cognos sales agent Joseph Lally (who was also indicted on corruption charges this week), and three Massachusetts House committee chairmen, including Costello, who said he attended the derby with friends. The total bill of $1,927 for those meals did not include unspecified contributions toward the tab that McDonough said were made by Reps. Ronald Mariano of Quincy, Brian Dempsey of Haverhill and Costello. Costello said he paid for his own meal at the time. "In the presence of lobbyists, I am always making sure I am cognizant of the rules — some of the toughest in the country, and I don't put myself in a position where I can be compromised," he said. 'We are always scrutinized' Costello said he had never heard, seen, or been privy to any information regarding DiMasi's alleged misdeeds but said, unfortunately, the good things DiMasi worked for while in power will pale in light of the allegations. "I've never taken money for a vote. That's as bad of a violation as you can have," Costello said. "I've been here 10 years, and I've never seen anything, and that's what's shocking about what happened even with (state Sen. Dianne) Wilkerson. I just never saw it." Wilkerson was arrested in October on corruption charges of accepting bribes. She resigned from the Senate in November. "I work very hard, and I represent poor people and causes," Costello said. "I want to make people's lives better, and I've never been involved with any piece of this legislation. I had nothing to do with it." Costello said he has no regrets about being a known friend to DiMasi or being at events with lobbyists. "I see lobbyists every day," Costello said. "But the words legislator and lobbyist have been demonized." Costello said it is instances like the recent ethics scandal that make politicians question why they are in politics. "We are always scrutinized," Costello said, noting he has to file expense reports several times a year. "If you take me or take DiMasi out of the picture and you look at the demonization of public officials and it's very dangerous because it gets to a point no one wants to run for office." Costello said his own father, Nick Costello, who served as state representative and senator, left office with less money than he went in. Like his father, he said he is not in public service to make money. "I won't be here forever; who knows when my term will end," he said. "We get under $60,000 a year to miss kids birthdays and try to rush back and see our kids grow and working three or four nights a week, and I have to say, I get deflated and wonder if it's worth it to take all this negative criticism. That's the issue." Currently, Costello said his attention is toward solving the state's current financial woes and riding out the recent storm of ethical allegations battering Beacon Hill. "I've been working hard as chairman of public safety for four years, and I'm trying to save real money," Costello said, noting prison reform as one way of saving costs for the state. "I know I take controversial stances, and I'm not afraid to take a vote or say what I believe," Costello said. "If people don't want it or think someone can do a better job or has a better philosophy, they have that option to run or vote for someone else." Stanley noted similar sentiments saying, "Our responsibilities as a member of the democracy is to elect the best people we can," Stanley said. "A lot of my colleagues won't say this but it is true: When you get here, you have power, and the longer you're here, the more power you have. It's a real test for you to use the power to help the people who sent you here or to help yourself." Gov. Deval Patrick said he and other top leaders need to move quickly to approve sweeping ethics reforms. "People's faith and trust in government have been shaken," Patrick said Thursday during his monthly radio show. "It is really important that we move on all of this." The House and Senate have approved separate ethics bills, and Patrick has proposed his own reform package. Patrick said his top priorities are strengthening the power of the State Ethics Commission, giving the secretary of state subpoena authority to investigate campaign finance violations and sharpening rules limiting gift-giving to lawmakers. The House and Senate bills would also adopt tougher criminal sanctions, including setting a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine for bribing a state official. Critics have said the Senate bill would weaken the Ethics Commission by requiring it to suspend civil investigation of an elected official if the attorney general decides to open a criminal investigation. A six-member conference committee met for the first time Thursday to work out a compromise version of the bills. The meeting was closed to the media.
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