Walsh won't take state job

That's one skirmish for the taxpayers! The war is still ongong!

One down!! How many more to go?

For all the stupid stories the globe has, and the big stories it misses, here is an example of one it got right twice and did the job that the press is suppose to do. Well done. Good investigating, good reporting.

Smart choice. I am glad that the pressure was put on to the Administration and Marian Walsh by the voters of this state! Enough is enough.

Sounds kind of trivial if you ask me....

She shouldn't accept the position, she is a hack and that was a hack job given to her as pay back from our arrogant govenor. She is just as arrogant as he is and she thinks that that the voters are stupid. Deval makes Dukakis look good.

Why is she turning it down? I thought it was an extremely important position even though it hadn't been filled for 12 years? And I thought she was beyond humble by cutting the salary to 125K, which would only be a 50K increase on her current salary. Poor Senator Walsh. I weep for the injustice done unto you. Will you at least give us a statement on how, in these troubled times, you owe it to the people of Massachusetts to not go against their will even though you thought the job important and not a favor for supporting a foolish, incompetent, completely out of touch, and clueless Governor?

Patrick is an embarassment to the office. He hasn't a clue what he is doing. he is already a lame duck and acting like one. he should go to DC with his PAL.

What a total and utter debacle. Mr. Patrick has to be worse than Dukakis at this point. He has done nothing except create stories like this one.

TRIVIAL stuff, Deval (stop talking down to us you clown). This guy has done nothing other than create hack jobs for supporters. Hopefully he reisgns soon.

Walsh needs to also resign her senate seat. Her actions during this entire sorry episode shows she is part of the crowd of do nothing state workers.

Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!!!

Together we can..... all look really stupid.......

I'm so glad they didn't get away with it, I've got my bumper ticker on my truck, "Don't blame me, I voted for Muffy"

As a former employee of Mass HEFA, I welcome this news! I worked at HEFA for 5 years and the position of Assistant Executive Director was not necessary and that's why it was vacant for 12 years. This was Deval's sad attempt to reward a friend of his with a high paying, do nothing job.
I hope that everyone who voted for Deval instead of Kerry Healey are rethinking their vote.

"She denied that Patrick... or his aides, had prevailed upon her to step
aside from taking the position..."

Right...It was all her idea. Governor Dufus and the Three Stooges that
work for him had NOTHING to do with it!

How long until we see the email trail from Deval's minions, orchestrating
the backout?

and what type of golden parachute did she get ??

We, the Public, just want government to see that if we have to tighten our belt, EVERYONE has to suck it in! Stop trying to sneak stuff past us -- we're way past that.

"Change agent." Patrick can never get out of euphemism mode. This would have been the perfect chance for him to admit his mistake, but the elites don't make mistakes. That's for the little people.

Too many 'Authorities' in this state, not enough pork-trimming. This is just a start, I hope. Fold the entire agency.

Who cares, they'll give it to someone else.

The point is now that worthless position is there and they're going to give it to someone. That person will accomplish nothing and eventually retire on the backs' of the taxpayers. The only thing left to complete the cycle is for the voters to put more Democrats in. "Together we can" find "Change we can believe in"

good move erkel , bet you didn't have anything to do with her not taking the job , (yeah right) this move will not get you re - elected next election , better take any job the prez gives you and take your political hacks marion and her hubby with you

One hack down a million to go... 2010 can't come soon enough. Down with King Deval the Last!

Ok, and why did we have to all go through this when the hiring should not have happened. Obviously this was a patronage hiring which has been substantiated above with the internal emails from the governor's aides which has direct input from the Governor. Is our governor and his aides so oblivious to the fact that filling a job that has been open for 12 years with a 100k salary increase is completely wrong. Folks, I dont know about you but we have a lot to be worried about......

''I feel I have become the issue,'' said Walsh.

Wrong,Walsh!! Liberal greed and selfishness are the issues.Well, liberal greed ,selfishness and Deval Patrick's incredibly high level of stupidity.Fortunately,though we're going to remove him from office in the next election.

Massachusetts has become mob-mentality land.

I wish I had handled my vote at the polls when Patrick was running differently.

"I wish we had handled it different", Even with the mountain of negitive reports, articles and getting hammered (rightly so) everyday for the last 10 days, our "Yes we can" can'r even standup like a man and say he screwed up. Mr. one term Gov; Here are some lessons learned :
One: Never fill a job that has been empty for 12 years.
Two: Never fill a job with a long term hack that wants her pay to jump from 75K to $175 without at least making it appear she has the skill set to do the job.
Three: When caught with your hand in the cookie jar, don't try to tell us that we are not being fair and

Thanks to the Globe for uncovering this, & digging thru layers of "dis-information" from Patrick's staff, to bring us the truth about this rigged appointment -- disguised as a hiring. I do feel sorry for Walsh, an apparently competent person who got swept-away by the 'tsunami'' resulting from the inept, dishonest way that Patrick's administration handled this, from the get-go.

Moving forward, I would like to believe that Patrick & Co. are now (finally) up-to-speed on Public Policy matters, & stop the sleazy, back-room wheeling & dealing that smacks of the "Same-Old..." we're just way-too accustomed to learning about!

Goodbye Jamie Lee Curtis! We will Miss you!

Boo Hoo. the position should remain vacant for another 12 years. perhaps Cadillac Devalle will accept an Obama offer and do us all a favor by leaving!

Smart decision! This position has been vacant for 12 years and has proven to be unnecessary. The governor needs to eliminate it altogether.

Are we supposed to feel bad here? Seriously? "Its been very painful"???? Too bad that the public is now payting attention to the Hack-A-Rama because money is so tight these days Deval!!!!! Well guess what? You and your cronyism days are numbered. We aren't going to take it anymore. Get ready for your future roll in the Obama administration because you will not win re-election, that much I can guarantee. Do the right thing. Its the same thing LBJ did in 1968. Announce that you will not seek, nor will you accept, the nomination for Governor of the Commonwealth of MA.

Now for the final act. Both Gov Patrick and Marian Walsh MUST resign. This is such a monumental error in judgement, we the taxpayers MUST question anything and everything they do. How can they effectively govern aything with such poor decision making abilities. It is imperative that the public call for their resignations. There is no other solution to fixing this broken government than to start cleaning house. We MUST demand their resignations.

"She denied that Patrick, who has been politically damaged by controversy, or his aides, had prevailed upon her to step aside from taking the position at The Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority."

After Duval's assertion that his office was not involved in selecting her was found to be a lie, who is going to believe this.

Don't worry marian , you will get some other hack job from devil somewhere else, you will be fine ,probably in DC , the good word is in with the prez

So does she still plan on being my state senator??? Why doesn't she resign that so that someone who might actually WANT to represent the people might be able to do so !!!!!

w00t!

"It's been very painful" said Urkel. Only because you were caught!

The Government needs to stop "creating" jobs for people when they want to increase the taxes that you and I all pay every day. At some point they have to realize that you can't get blood from a stone.

As an early supporter of Deval it's clear this guy still doesn't get it. He's bad for Massachusetts.

Good now let's get Devil, ops I Duval out

Good riddance.

I'm impressed. The governor actually did the right thing here. So did Walsh. Go figure.

Another HACK gets the boot.

Keep it up...Wilkerson, DiMasi....there's plenty more where they all came from

The Globe and Herald should be getting a bailout to keep the laser on Beacon Hill.

So even if this wasn't quid pro quo, once again the APPEARANCE of impropriety didn't register at all , to anyone. That kind of stupidity is alarming in itself.

LOL, I hope Deval enjoys the rest of his 1st and only term as Govna.

I'm sure it was painful. Imagine having to give up the $100K pay raise (not to mention the perks) and not get to fill a job that has been apparently unnecessary for a dozen years. And just imaging how Governor Patrick has to rack his brains for an alternative way to show his gratitude for his supporter.
Painful doesn't begin to describe it.

Now lets talk about Mayor Menino’s misappropriation of millions of dollars in federal stimulus money.

As a man with a Harvard MBA I can tell you this: A budget will always tell you where a leader sets ones priorities:

JUST IN: Boston Public Schools REHIRE 29 music and art teachers. LAYOFF 18 English and Math teachers! Not sold? They are rehiring 17 Foreign Language teachers. This is wonderful. Our kids can’t write in English, but heck they might remember how to say hi in Mandarin in 20 years.

All jokes aside. This is a travesty. Is art and music important? Of course. But…but not at the expense of reading/writing and adding/subtraction. The Mayor has made it crystal clear: The city’s financial situation is dire. As a result he needs to be in triage mode.

Question: An emergency room doctor faces a man with horrible frostbite and a heart attack; what does he treat first? Heart attack first, frostbite second. So should the Mayor have the same approach toward education. Math and English above all else. And if you disagree, then just take a look at No Child Left Behind. It is the law.

Look, the current economic crisis we now face is in large part due to people not understanding the math behind their mortgages and not being able to read the fine print.

So I ask: Did Mayor Menino, Dr. Johnson, and the School Committee even read their own budget? Did they not hear when President Obama stated that he wanted the Stimulus to support the advancement of math/science & technology? Or is this all a misunderstanding of the facts on their part? Perhaps they missed the memo from the state: Boston is ranked a dismal 246 out of 248 in math scores and 257 out of 248 in English. Or perhaps their image of an ideal society is one of illiterate painters.

Mr. Mayor these numbers are unacceptable and you have a FIDUCIARY responsibility to improve them above all else. So lets get these teachers rehired ASAP and get back to the business of teaching our students the fundamentals.

Please call or email the Mayor to voice your concern: mayor@cityofboston.gov or 617.635.4500

And if he doesn’t fix the problem: I have a hunch someone else will. He is a former inner-city teacher who’s name is Sam Yoon.

P.S.
(I wouldn’t bother with Superintendent Johnson. She is an out-of-stater with a “revolving door” reputation. No doubt she will be hustling on to a new job soon. Unconcerned by the wake of students that can’t add/subtract or read/write.)

Yes, it's so very painful to get caught. The Governor is a clown. he will damage this state beyond repair. Thanks liberal zombies. Together we can.

What what WHAT??!! Is this some shame being shown by Coupe Deval?

Hmm, not really, based on his "change agent" comment, that kind of BS
is indicative of his near-whole lack of clarity.

That said, this is a start!

They wished they had handled it differently. Not that it was wrong in the first place. Not that political cronyism is wrong. Deval did nothing wrong, Walsh did nothing wrong, they wished they had handled it differently. What? Did it in secret? Did it when no one noticed? Such is the political culture in Mass.

One down, One to go. Weve had enough Deval

''I wish we had handled it different,'' said Patrick
So do I Governor, back a November or so ago when the people elected you to office.

''It's been very painful.''
You speak for the good citizens of the Commonwealth who await your term to expire.

Another win for Coupe Deval. I'll bet this guy won't even have the grapes to run for re-election.

What a great day - it couldn''t happen to a nicer hack.

''I wish we had handled it different,'' said Patrick, who put his arm around Walsh at one point to demonstrate his support for her. ''It's been very painful.''

Yes, Governor, Yes. Like in never making such an appointment in the first place, regardless of who the person is. Hopefully you heard the public on this one and you won't make this mistake again.

What a waste of time, energy, paper, ink and electrons.

The voters are hoping you finally will "get it." Wish we could say that we expect that to be the case.

Glad to see someone finally came to their senses. Noone handled this one very well.

Thank God! See you later. If she is voted back next year then it is now the voters fault.

It took this woman almost 2 weeks to come to her senses? What an arrogant idiot!!! But that's typical of liberal socialists.

Good work, Marian!!!

It was the right thing to do!!

IT'S THE SAME OLD FRIENDS AND FAMILY GAMES ON BEACON HILL
THAT GET THE JOBS THE AVERAGE TAX PAYER NEVER GETS THE JOB

And to think I still see cars around this city with Deval bumper stickers on them. People are sheep.

I hope someone is there to put their arm around you when you become a one term Governor. Take a position with Obama now.

How do I apply for this job now that it's opened up again?

He brought this all on himself...big idiot...he's relieved?...she was probably getting threats. ...when is his term OVER?....

Does the job even have a description?

One Hack Down.....Thousands to go!

Thank you, Sen. Walsh, and good luck to you. A little too late, BUT it was the appropriate thing to do...for all concerned...too tainted to succeed. Now...onward with the (above board) business of the state, which includes reform, ethics practices, stimulus packages and revenue sources for Transportation. Yes we can!

Obama-Lite just does not get it! The position was unfilled for 12 years. Clearly there is no reason for it to exist at all except for political back-scratching. That is especially true in these times when government payrolls should be shrinking like the public sector's.

This job had been vacant for twelve years and certainly didn't need to be filled at this time. That money can be used elsewhere and Marion can just be satisfied with what she gets as a state senator. Maybe Deval has learned a lesson with this fiasco.

This episode should illustrate why the entire state job appointment and hiring processes should be reviewed in the public arena. To paraphrase the governor's new friend in the White House, a little bit of sunshine is the best disinfectant. There is too much opacity for state hiring, especially anyone considered "management."

This should extend into that new tax shelter that has developed over the past two decades: Non-profit and Not-for-profits. These sectors are the new bureacracies that have salries and benefits that EXCEED what can be found in the private sector. They directly, and indirectly, receive public funding from their tax avoidance and divert these de factor public subsidies to enrich their employees while acting in the least haste to solve the so-called problems they are supposed to be serving. We need these entities to open the books or give back the tax shelter status.

Another hack bites the dust. Too bad another 4 or 5 hundred wont do the same. But we only have ourselves to blame because we the great political minds in this state keep voting for these idiots no matter how many times they screw us. Boo Hoo!!

IS she going to leave the State Senate now or stay on and not run for re-election ?

Now if we can get Deval's useless neighbor to resign his 120K per year FAKE state job, we'll be making some progress!

That Senator Walsh has made this decision does not change the facts that (a) Governor Patrick (he was behind it, despite what his aides claim) tried to appoint someone to a position that had been vacant for over a decade at a ridiculously exorbitant salary in this economic climate, and (b) that Ms. Walsh was not truthful when she claimed that the agency had set the salary ("based on due dilgence") without expressing any reservations about the salary amount. Shame on both the Governor and Senator Walsh -- the outrage and ridicule directed at both is very well deserved.

The damage has been done to Gov. Patrick, supporters like myself feel he has made to many of these types of decisions, now has a deep hole to dig out from, I hope he does it, but can't have any more of these "old political games", in this day of so many media outlets and types, nothing goes unnoticed, and the economy makes everything so much more important. Maybe he should look at other jobs like this one and make them vacant for 12 years, will save a lot of money, and show that a new politics is really here.

Thats good deval feel the pain you lie'n bastard more of the same politics in mass. the republicans could run a corpse against you and win.

you lost my vote

as that for trivial?

good..take a hike...i don't even want to see you working the fry-o-lator at KFC.

Deval still doesn't get it.

The end of this sordid story? Boy, is Deval Patrick in over his head being the governor of this state. It's getting clearer by the day why Obama didn't offer him a position in his administration. I can hardly wait for 2010 so I can vote for whomever runs against Patrick.

Deval you are an idiot....please leave

If she's so vital and could do such great work and is so willing do it for a 30K annually. Phoney.

Good, unnecessary at this point in the State's economy!

please exit now!!!

Now to get rid of Deval Patrick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

she had to quit, not than Deval got rid of her...

Don't worry Marian Walsh!!! Gov. Patrick will have a nice $250,000 UMass job waiting!!! Hang in there!!! Keep your head up and be strong!!!

Good. Wait though she'll probably be up for something else soon.

I'm sure they'll find another useless hack to fill this 12 year vacancy as it seems like such an important position.

A "change agent" ? How about just another political hack getting a plumb job with no qualifications. Bye, bye Deval: this one is going to sting come election time.

Patrick relieved? Yeah I`ll say. She should be applauded for walking away. This was not a "needed position" especially during these tough economic times.

She feels tshe has *become* the issue?

She was ALWAYS the issue. She had no qualifications for this high-paying and long-vacant job that suddenly just had to be filled.

Dear Governor What is a change agent for a position unfilled for 12 years Who are you kidding Please do the State a favoe and resign

Good job Marian. You did a right thing. See you at MBTA, or MTA.. you choose.

Please, Patrick! You should be the next one to step aside.

Well she can always get work as an oompa loompa if "Screw em all Deval" cant find another spot at the trough for her.

Deval is already politically damaged.

This event will not be forgotten come election time. I hope his oppenent in 2010 rides this issue into the Corner Office in November of 2010. This, and his other "trivial" mistakes should put Deval Patrick in the unemployment line, along with his deadbeat appointees.

120,000 dollars is way too much!

It is good that Walsh is not going to take the job. I hope that she is still going to resign as she no longe wants to be a state senator.

''It's been very painful.''
Great, just great Deval. Appointing a political hack supporter of yours to a do nothing job during draconian budget cuts is "painful"? This governor is so detached from reality that it is almost comical. Painful is having to choose between paying the mortgage or paying your car payment or paying your property tax bill. This isn't painful, Deval, it is a comedy and you are the star.

change you can count on.

Senator Walsh has done a fantastic job and has always impressed me as a person with integrity. I applaud her decision to not take this job. While she is very qualified, the timing works against her...and the Governor. Kudos to a fine leader, and thank you for making this difficult but right decision. Hopefully it will calm some of the public anger directed at government right now. Reform is needed in many areas, and I think Sen. Walsh has paid a huge price in this effort.

The only reason Ms. Walsh reduced her salary,was because it put her and her husband,who makes 117,000 for the state,under O'bama,s 250,000 tax cap.

Duhval should have canceled the appointment instead of leaving it to her to back out.

Not nearly as painful for the citizens of this state, watching such an pathetic display of blatant patronage and the lies trying to cover it up. Coupe Deval should resign next.

Ms. Walsh, Ms. Walsh, Ms. Walsh... Please! Stop! No more!
I just read the Globe piece and saw the NECN video clip of your interview. In the latter, you said:

"We thought it was a good match fot my skill set... I have a solid banking background...taxation background...in non-profit...and I have good leadership skills."

OK... good leader...then why not lobby for THE executive director position at this HEFA?? What's with this assistant executive directorship? What in the world is that any way? ASSISTANT executive director??? An assistant that makes $175k a year?? For a job that hasn't been required to be filled in over 12 years?? Your comment was so terribly disingenuous, if you looked at yourself on the video, I think even you would see that you had a rough time believing your own words. You and your boss (who I voted for, btw), are digging deeper holes here. Don't blame the media. They are jusy keeping you, ahem, ethics reformers honest. You wanted to have a cushy payback for your support of the governor when he was campaigning and were counting on the "unspoken" quid pro quo. Most of us call that cronyism. Especially at a time when the state is hurting economically, a good leader would have known that this was precisely the wrong thing to do, and would never have accepted this job. You would have instead insisted on a position better suited for your said qualification, and not this featherbedding nonsense. You and the governor got caught, dear. Shame.
freddycake

Marian made the correct decision. The next correct decision should be to eliminate the job. It hasn't been filled for 12 years and there is no need to fill it now or ever.

Hi Globe, now that you are paying attention to Patrick, can you please now get rid of the political hack Gov. Patrick had another of his appointed boards fire a qualified person for? Check out the International Trade Office. The guy couldn't make it as a chief of staff for a department but is now supposed to lead trade missions???

I kind of feel badly for State Senator Walsh - this really is not her fault. Gov Patrick totally dropped the ball when he did not have the insight to realize that positions open for 10 years are to be eliminated not filled. It was never about the salary $175K... $120K.. whatever - it needs to be ZERO and finally that's what we are getting.

What the heck were her qualifications?

Painful for who? You, Mr. Guv? What about the taxpayers? Filling a position that's been vacant for years and years? Whose side are you on anyway? Sadly, I voted for you, but you won't be getting my vote next time.

Wilkerson, Walsh and Turner hold the elevator! Sal will be right along!