New In The Phoenix -- DeLeo's Haul

In this week's issue of the Boston Phoenix -- in print and online now -- I look at House speaker Robert DeLeo's striking $400,000 fundraising haul so far this year, primarily from lobbyists and special interests. As I discuss in the article, the contributions are only available for public view now, after the end of the formal legislative session, rather than while the legislation and budget decisions are being decided -- and potentially influenced.

One note: I mention in the article that two state representatives tell me that House Ways & Means chair Charley Murphy (the other big fundraiser in that chamber) solicited their future support for speaker at dinner meetings. Murphy strongly denies to me that he has made any such entreaties to members. I should have gotten that denial from him before the article, and apologize for not doing so.

The article is here: Good to be King