Two Out of Three is a Start....

So. The Cadillac DeValle will be paid for partly by Governor Patrick. His excuse that the Crown Vic that Mitt Romney drove "has 80,000 miles on it and the heater doesn't work!" merely increased Porcupine's respect for Mitt's frugality, if it's true. Now, the $595 per month difference in the leases will be paid by Gov. Patrick - hopefully from his own pocket, and not from his campaign account.

Also, he will reimburse the Commonwealth $27,000 that he spent on office furniture. Again, hopefully not from the campaign account. What appears to have been replaced are the enormous blue velvet Scarlett-O'Hara-looking drapes,with a bright chintz, as well as the oaken desk and some other furniture.

What perhaps SHOULD be paid from the campaign account is the new $72,000 Chief of Staff for Mrs. Patrick. That's almost two Cadillacs, and doesn't take into account pension and health benefits, which average $12,000 for a state employee.

To put this into perspective, a Chief of Staff for a Legislative Committee, responsible for arranging all hearings, vetting all bills, arranging notification for testimony, providing the Chair with research and analysis - this responsible postion is paid less than $40,000. Yet Diane Patrick needs somebody paid twice as much to verify her speaking engagement with the Urban League.

Perhaps the Chief of Staff position, given to his chief fundraiser, is something that he should use the campaign account to pay. Together we can...figure out how to have the style so wanted without soaking the taxpayers for it.

Cross Posted at RED MASS GROUP