The infection on Beacon Hill

The indictments focus on two state contracts worth $17.5 million landed by Canadian-based software firm Cognos ULC in 2006 and 2007. Richard McDonough, a DiMasi pal and lobbyist for Cognos, and Richard Vitale, DiMasi's former campaign treasurer, were also indicted. They allegedly vacuumed up hundreds of thousands of dollars in unreported fees from the fourth target of the probe, Cognos sales agent Joseph Lally. DiMasi, who was charged with conspiracy, honest services mail fraud, and aiding and abetting, has denied ever putting the fix in for the company. But the US attorney lays out a damning paper trail to the contrary, including allegations of $4,000 monthly payments to DiMasi received from Cognos through an intermediary during much of 2005, and a $25,000 payoff in 2006.

A festering sore is open on Beacon Hill, attracting all manner of schemers and influence peddlers. DiMasi is the third consecutive speaker to find himself the target of federal investigators. Yet the legislators are unable even to craft a comprehensive ethics reform bill that would ban gifts to lawmakers. Both the House and Senate reject Governor Patrick's sensible effort to allow state investigators to seek judicial approval to record conversations in corruption cases. And the Senate nervily passes an ethics bill that weakens the authority of the Ethics Commission at the exact moment the public is demanding strict application of the state's conflict-of-interest laws.

The State House isn't in need of mere reform. It needs cauterization.