On June 25, State Representative Daniel Webster (R-Pembroke) voted in support of a compromise package regarding state ethics laws. His office released the following statement:

While the final roll call tallied Rep. Webster’s vote in the affirmative, he was deeply troubled by the fact that much of the “culture” on Beacon Hill remains untouched.  Representative Webster contests that real ethics reform will only materialize once the political culture at the State House is altered.

“I will be the first to admit that there is a serious credibility problem when it comes to the ethical standards to which the legislature holds itself to,” said Webster.  “The conference committee report does address some of the ethical problems, but I maintain that there is still a long road to travel in attaining a full overhaul.”

Representative Webster believes there are greater steps that can be taken to eliminate the ethical improprieties on Beacon Hill; the first being the restoration of two-party government.

“Until political balance is returned to the state legislature, the democratic super-majority will continue to act in favor of the special interests and not the taxpayers of the state.  Furthermore, each legislative body must reform its own internal rules of procedure.  The Speaker of the House rules with an iron fist when it comes to much of the business that is conducted on the House floor,” said Representative Webster.

He believes that much of the recent corruption at the State House has flowed from recent Speakers’ ability to amass power in the absence of two party government.  Representative Webster advocates for the implementation of new rules that would limit the Speaker’s consolidation of power, thus eliminating many avenues that have led to scandal and corruption.

“In order to end ‘business as usual’ at the State House, the legislature needs to take a good, hard look at itself and realize that many of the ethical violations at the capitol were enabled from within.  Cultural change within state government will only happen if we change the way we do business, I look forward to implementing further initiatives to better address the issue of ethics.  This is the people’s House and we are elected to represent their interests rather than promote the interests of the institution,” said Representative Webster.