“DeLeo Should Put the Interests of the Taxpayers Before Political Considerations” 

The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance released the following statement today in response to Tuesday’s public statement by Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, in which he did not indicate if State Representative David Nangle (D-Lowell) would need to step down from his position as a Floor Division leader, as well as on the House Ethics and Rules committees. Rep. Nangle was arrest Tuesday on 28 separate charges related to misuse of campaign funds. House leadership positions come with a $30,000 raise over legislative base pay.

“Now is not the time for the Massachusetts legislature to close ranks and protect one of their own like they usually do. Keeping Representative Nangle in his positions as part of the House leadership team, as well as on the Rules and Ethics Committees, is an absolute slap in the face to hard working, law abiding taxpayers. What kind of signal does it send to the public,” commented Paul D. Craney, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.

Nangle, who has served in the House since 1999, is a top member of Speaker DeLeo’s leadership team and was charged with 10 counts of wire fraud, 4 counts of bank fraud, 9 counts of making a false statement to a bank, and 5 counts of filing false tax returns. In just the last few years, the legislature has seen multiple members of the legislature, including Senator Brian Joyce and Representative Garrett Bradley, resign for similar charges.

“Is Nangle’s role on the Ethics Committee and the Rules Committee so important that these committees can’t function without him? By not making a move, Speaker DeLeo is putting political interests ahead of the interests of the taxpayers,” concluded Craney.

The Massachusetts legislature is the only state legislative body in the country that exempts itself from both public records laws and open meeting laws.