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Patrick signs ethics overhaul bill into law

E-mail|Link|Comments () July 1, 2009 12:36 PM

By Matt Viser, Globe Staff

Governor Deval Patrick this morning signed a sweeping ethics overhaul into law, joined by top state lawmakers who hope the new rules will help restore public confidence in state government after several highly publicized scandals.

“The ethics reform bill raises the level of expectation inside the building to what the public is entitled to – and expects,” said Patrick, joined by House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray.

Patrick singled out three people for their work: Ben Clements, his chief legal counsel; House Majority Leader James Vallee; and DeLeo. Notably absent was anyone from the Senate

“Together we have done what so many thought their public leaders could never achieve,” DeLeo said. “And that was to bring real reform to Beacon Hill….My hope is that with the passage of this law, we will restore the public’s confidence in government.”

The Senate had two members resign last year, one of whom, Senator Dianne Wilkerson of Roxbury, was photographed by federal agents accepting money - an alleged payoff for her help in passing legislation. The other, Senator J. James Marzilli Jr. of Arlington, was indicted on charges of accosting four women in downtown Lowell.

Last month, former House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly orchestrating a scheme that allowed him to pocket $57,000 from a software company while he was using his office to make sure the company won state contracts.

The ethics overhaul is one of a group of bills that have dominated discussion at the State House over the past few months. Patrick and top state lawmakers, after wrangling over details, have also approved changes in pension and transportation laws.

On Monday, Patrick signed a $27 billion budget that includes more than $1 billion in new taxes on Massachusetts residents and visitors, most of it by increasing the state’s 5 percent sales tax to 6.25 percent.