Therese Murray documents

[Ian David]

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

What are we to make of the supposedly apolitical office of the state Inspector General, releasing a selectively exonerating statement about Therese Murray yesterday, the day before she is to be elected president of the state senate?

As first reported by Statehouse News Service, and included in Herald and Globe articles today, the IG released a statement saying that, while the investigation into the international tourism marketing earmarks is ongoing, the IG has thus far uncovered “no evidence to suggest that any state officials (elected or appointed) were provided trips or airplane tickets by MIMP or any related parties.”

That aspect of the story is peripheral to the main allegations made in the article I ran that precipitated the IG's investigation. The main allegation is that Murray, along with state representative Dan Bosley, curtailed a competitive-bid process in order to ensure that the contract went to their prefered recipient, William MacDougal's Tourism Massachusetts (aka Massachusetts International Marketing Partnership).

Moreover, my story relayed concerns that Murray's powerful position as senate Ways & Means chair -- and presumptive senate president-in-waiting -- was preventing any serious inquiry into the allegations.

The IG's decision to release its statement yesterday certainly bolsters those concerns.

Senator Murray has claimed, through other media outlets, that MacDougall's company was chosen through an extensive open selection process. (She has not contacted the Phoenix since the story ran). But documentation says otherwise.

More:
http://www.thephoenix.com/TalkingPolitics/PermaLink.aspx?guid=6fc6adcd-3739-4cfd-8ed3-4a53b573ed3c

I hope that these allegations are baseless, but that even if it turns out there is a real scandal here, that Ms. Murray lasts at least long enough to derail the anti-gay marriage ammendment.