Massachusetts Republican Party Chairman Kristen Hughes called out East Boston Democratic state Sen. Anthony Petruccelli today for sponsoring an earmark featured in a recent report by WGBH News and the New England Center for Investigative Reporting.
Our report focused in part on the Petruccelli earmark allocating $75,000 for a “job readiness” program to be implemented by the National Youth Development Council at East Boston High School.
Neither the headmaster of the school nor National Youth Development Council president Richard T. Smith were able to provide details about the program, including the nature of the program itself or whether it was, in fact, taking place at East Boston High School.
Despite claiming nonprofit status for several years, the youth council was not registered with the state attorney general’s division of nonprofits and charities; several board members and officers listed on the group’s website and corporate paperwork appeared unaware they were listed as such and said they had not spoken with Mr. Smith in years.
“This shady earmark is just another example of Democrats on Beacon Hill wasting taxpayer dollars with no accountability,” Hughes said in a statement.
"Earmarks are definitely a part of the process, and something that all legislators do — we get that,” said Terry MacCormack, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Republican Party, in a phone call. “But in many instances [earmarks] have been an excuse for folks to be fiscally irresponsible and not totally accountable to taxpayers.” “This kind of stuff is going to have more light shined on it going forward.” Petruccelli's office did not respond to an email and call seeking comment.
Correction: This article originally repeated an incorrect assertion by state GOP chairman Kristen Hughes that the Petruccelli earmark had been vetoed by the Republican Gov. Charlie Baker. He did not veto it.
