DiMasi to foot most of the bill on $40,000 office renovation
(Office of House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi)
A 3-foot rip in the carpet in the officer House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi had to be repaired with black duct tape after several people tripped, according to a press release. The carpet is being replaced.
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
In the late 1980s, Senate President William Bulger caused a media frenzy when reporters learned that he spent $160,000 of taxpayer money renovating his private State House office, which included $41,000 for custom-made English carpet. Earlier this year, it was Governor Deval Patrick who grabbed headlines when the press learned he spent $27,000 to renovate his State House office, spending $10,000 alone on damask drapes.
House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi may have learned from the experience of his fellow politicians. DiMasi's office issued a press release today announcing that work had begun on a $40,000-plus overhaul of the speaker's office, complete with photographs of water stains and torn carpet. One photograph showed a 3-foot cut in the 20-year-old carpet that had to be repaired with black duct tape after several visitors to the speaker's office tripped, according to the press release.
"The speaker is well aware that he media would be interested," said spokesman David Guarino. "That's why we put out the press released and in an attempt to be up front about the cost, most of which are being paid for by his committee."
DiMasi’s campaign fund will pay for $30,000 worth of office furniture, which will include a conference table with four chairs, two arm chairs, a sofa, coffee table, and two wing chairs that will sit in front of the speaker’s fireplace. Taxpayers will pay to replace the carpet in the speaker’s three public offices, which is estimated to cost $13,000.
