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BOSTON • THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2009
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Patrick’s ‘lobbyist’ hire draws official outrage Board member calls the $175,000 appointment a political reward Old is new again for Raphael Saadiq page 11
A member of the board that hired a state senator to fill a long-empty executive job ripped Gov. Deval Patrick and his colleagues for the appointment and said the state should not be spending $175,000 per year on a glorified lobbyist. Marvin Gordon said yesterday that he was on vacation and had no notice that the Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority was going to vote on hiring Sen. Marian
Walsh, D-Boston. The vote was not itemized on the board’s public agenda and came up at the end of the meeting, during a section described generically as the “Chairman’s Report.” The hiring was approved unanimously. Walsh was an early political supporter, and both the governor and Legislature have faced a public outcry over recent patronage appointments within state government.
“I don’t think a state agency should be hiring anybody as a lobbyist,” Gordon said. “I think that filling a $175,000 job as a political reward for this governor, who I expected a lot more from, is unconscionable.” Board Chairman Allen Larson said the vote wasn’t highlighted in the agenda because it was printed in advance. He said he emailed members of the Walsh vote while Gordon was on vacation. AP
Job jumping Walsh is looking at a $100K raise G Walsh would step down from the Senate, where she earns $76,440 as majority whip, to take the new job. MHEFA is a nonprofit agency that helps arrange financing for education, health and cultural institutions. It has not had an assistant executive director for at least the past 12 years.
The $43M (plus) woman page 05
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Red meat a danger to your eyesight page 07
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Celtics’ Rajon Rondo makes a pass in the lane against Jermaine O’Neal of the Miami Heat at the TD Banknorth Garden last night.
Celtics battle the Heat in Boston
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C’s hang on to win, 112-108 OT