Patters

When Deval Patrick came under fire for renting a $46K, it took only a couple days before he announced that he would pay half the cost (and also pay for several others things, such as the cost of redecorating his office). While of course Patrick did nothing wrong, here's a far more serious case:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/...n2511510.shtml

Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence M. Small is living a lifestyle more like a corporate CEO than the steward of a charity funded by donors and taxpayer dollars, according to an independent audit and an Inspector General's report obtained by CBS News.

While Smithsonian museums suffer leaky roofs and wait for funding for repairs and restorations, the reports find possibly "lavish and extravagant" expenditures by and for Secretary Small.

The disclosure comes after a recent GAO report indicated that the institution's facilities would require $255 million a year for the next 9 years (or $2.3 billion in total) for repairs and maintenance.

Among the questionable expenses cited:

* Small's salary was increased from $356,000 in 2000 to $819,000 in 2005 without any apparent justification or benchmarks;

* In 2005 Small received up to $179,322 in additional compensation for housing costs, including a subsidy based on a fixed 30-year mortgage rate to occupy the house he already owns;

* Small is allowed premium first class travel (which is usually disallowed and/or deemed inappropriate for charities);

....

wistahpatsfan

Patrick did nothing "illegal" but what he did was wrong in the budgetary climate that will require huge cuts in all departments and the possibility of increased taxes, either directly or as fees. How can you say that's not wrong?

The Smithsonian case...
I know of a local museum curator who is brilliant and always said his career goal would be running the Smithsonian for FREE! This "Small" man should be deported to Florida or something.

Patters

It's my impression that every single governor sets up his new home as he sees fit. It's a perk in an important job that doesn't pay nearly as well as the private sector.

QuiGon

And he's a liberal so you'll give him a free pass no matter what he does... meanwhile, the morons in Massachusetts who thought DeVille Patrick would be a new type of politician, are learning it's politics-as-usual from the man with $12,000 drapes...

Patters

That's right, but my point about it being a perk is still valid.

Well, at least he apologized and is paying for them himself. That's better than a lot of politicians.

Harry Boy

__________________
Harry Boy (Genius)

In The Absence Of Law And Order Society Will Surely Destroy Itself

wistahpatsfan

That may be true, but his thought process has been revealed pretty clearly in his first 6 weeks. This guy is a carpet-bagging elitist jerk. How he got nominated over Gabrielli is beyond me. It'll never cease to amaze me how Mass. voters keep going for these carpet-baggers. Amazing! (I voted for Mihos because I thought he really wanted to be the governor and not leave at the first White House appointment)

Patters

No. He's a "good government" type. You know the MassPirg group? He reminds me of a grownup version of one of them. I think he'll take on the Democratic establishment that controls the state government. Romney, Celucci, and Weld all tried to and lost. Patrick's victory is in part the result of the Democratic desire to clean up Democratic politics in this state. It remains to be seen whether he'll be co-opted, defeated, or win that battle. Whoever made fodder of his little spending extravaganza threw the first shot. I wonder if it was a Democrat?

I would have supported Mihos if not for Patrick, whose views I like very much. Mihos' website listed all sorts of ideas and a lot of them were very creative. I think Mihos would have been a breath of fresh air after someone like Romney. (I like Deval, but he's almost as plastic as Romney.)

Harry Boy

Political Correctness got him the job, it might do the same thing for the next president.

__________________
Harry Boy (Genius)

In The Absence Of Law And Order Society Will Surely Destroy Itself

patriotspride

Patrick is a idiot .what a total lack of judgment combined with complete arrogants .we are so lucky to have him as gov not.