BOSTON -- House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi fired back Monday at critics who have accused him of a growing number of ethics violations, calling the allegations "baseless" and saying he would not step down.
In a strongly worded letter to House lawmakers, the Democratic speaker said he was outraged that his reputation, integrity and good name has been called into question.
"The newspaper suggestions and the complaints of the Republican Party are baseless," DiMasi wrote.
He added: "I have followed the rules and laws by which we are governed by fully disclosing all of my personal financial interests and by fully disclosing relationships so that there would be no suggestion or any appearance of impropriety."
Republicans have asked for four separate ethics investigations into DiMasi's activities, including his relationship with a close friend turned lobbyist and a software firm that was awarded a state contract.
The ethics questions have fueled speculation DiMasi might be forced from the powerful post. A low-level speakers battle between House Majority Leader John Rogers, D-Norwood and Ways and Means Chairman Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, has bubbled up in recent weeks over who could replace DiMasi.
But the speaker said Monday he had no intentions of stepping down.
"We must resist the attempts to distract us from our legislative goals," DiMasi wrote. "I look forward to continuing to work with you to decide the meaningful issues that are important to all of our constituents."
The Republican's most recent ethics complaint was filed over DiMasi's relationship with close friend Richard Vitale, who had been his accountant and campaign treasurer. Published reports said Vitale had been hired by ticket brokers to push for a bill that would lift restrictions on their business, but he had not registered as a lobbyist.
Last week, DiMasi paid off a $250,000 third mortgage on his North End condominium, loaned by Vitale. Vitale also registered as a lobbyist after Secretary of State William Galvin warned failing to do so could result in penalties.
In his letter, DiMasi said he's always placed the public good ahead of personal friendships during his years on Beacon Hill.
"I have never, ever conducted myself in a way that would favor the interests on any individual," DiMasi said. "I have made my decisions based solely on the interests of my constituents and the people of the commonwealth."
Republicans were unimpressed.
"Speaker DiMasi's whitewashing completely ignores the gravity of the situation and most of the facts," state GOP spokesman Barney Keller said. "If Speaker DiMasi didn't do anything wrong, why did he pay back the $250,000 loan and why did Richard Vitale register as a lobbyist?"
DiMasi has battled a string of recent ethics questions, including:
-- his decision in 2006 to kill a bill designed to block a liquefied natural gas project from being built on land in Fall River. The land was owned by Jay Cashman, a developer with a close relationship to DiMasi. Cashman later sold the land to terminal developers for a $14.2 million profit, according to The Boston Globe.
-- the decision to accept more than $10,000 in donations from a software firm for a charity golf event he hosted. Cognos ULC was initially awarded a $13 million state contract, but it was canceled after Inspector General Gregory Sullivan found it was improperly awarded under a rushed process that bypassed bidding rules.
-- his decision to play golf twice with Joe O'Donnell, co-owner of Suffolk Downs, the East Boston horse track interested in a casino license. DiMasi was the most vocal opponent of Gov. Deval Patrick's bill to license three resort style casinos in Massachusetts.
DiMasi also was criticized after it was reported that Rep. Charles Murphy, a Burlington Democrat, voted seven times in April even though he was in the Virgin Islands at the time. DiMasi has proposed a secure voting system for the House.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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