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Martha Coakley on Government Reform
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Fined for violating campaign finance laws
Attorney General Martha Coakley is calling on federal authorities to take a 'close look' into GOP gubernatorial rival Charlie Baker's role at a Cambridge firm and a $25 million deal it scored with New Jersey's public pension fund. It's raised questions
of whether state or federal 'pay-to-play' rules were violated, though Baker has denied that, arguing that despite his title, he wasn't an employee of General Catalyst and has no role in the deals it makes. Coakley said oversight agencies, such as the
SEC, should take a look into what she called 'troubling allegations' surrounding Baker and General Catalyst. A Baker spokesman said, 'Charlie has been completely transparent about this contribution and his association with General Catalyst.
The fact remains that this contribution is permissible. This is politics over substance from Attorney General Coakley who was recently fined thousands of dollars for violating campaign finance laws.' (Boston Herald, 5/16/2014)
Source: Mass IEPAC: Research Profile on Charlie Baker, p. 64-65
, Sep 1, 2014
Paid $17,000 fine for using state vehicle for campaigning
Attorney General Martha Coakley did not reimburse Massachusetts for more than four years of travel to campaign and political events in a state vehicle, dating back to the month after her 2010 US Senate loss. But her campaign said it reimbursed the
state Wednesday for $10,820.09 in gas and mileage expenses accrued during her 2010 reelection effort for attorney general, subsequent political events, and her gubernatorial campaign, which she launched in September.
Coakley's state political committee agreed to turn over more than $17,000 to charity as part of an agreement with campaign finance regulators announced last month. The state's Office of Campaign and Political Finance concluded that
Coakley had violated Massachusetts campaign finance law by using her federal Senate funds for state political activities. (Boston Globe, 5/22/2014)]
Source: Mass IEPAC: Research Profile on Charlie Baker, p.165
, Sep 1, 2014
Enhance Super PAC donor disclosure and boost donation limits
A pending campaign finance reform bill would enhance Super PAC donor disclosure and boost donation limits to candidates. Republican Charlie Baker said he was generally supportive of the measure, but criticized what he called a special exemption for
Democratic-leaning labor unions. Attorney General Martha Coakley, Treasurer Steve Grossman, and former federal health care administrator Don Berwick all said they support the bill, which would require super political action committees to report their
donors within seven days of their expenditures. As primary and general election votes approach, those windows would close to every 24 hours. In seeking to shine light on shadowy sources of
campaign financing, the bill, which would take effect immediately upon passage, could change how voters judge candidates based on the outside groups that are backing them.
Source: Mass IEPAC: Research Profile on Charlie Baker, p.250
, Sep 1, 2014
Promises to disavow super PAC money even if rivals don't
Baker says he will not "unilaterally disarm" by disavowing super PACs. But in a bold move that could trip up her front-runner status,
Martha Coakley tells the Herald she'll publicly disavow any super PAC created to boost her bid for the Corner Office--even if her gubernatorial rivals embrace help from the big-money behemoths.
Republican Charlie Baker said he's already defending himself against negative super PAC ads airing against him. "First of all, candidates don't actually control them, and secondly super
PACs are already running ads against me and I'm certainly not gonna unilaterally disarm in the face of that kind of assault," he said. (Boston Herald, 6/2/2014)
Source: Mass IEPAC: Research Profile on Charlie Baker, p.248 q
, Sep 1, 2014
Current FEC reporting on donors & meetings is enough
Khazei challenged all of his rivals to list their donors on their campaign Web sites, and divulge all of their meetings--both public and behind closed doors--if elected to the Senate.Coakley said the campaign information was already on the Federal
Election Commission Web site, while Capuano told Khazei he would not post his schedule because many people with personal problems want to meet with him. "If that's what you want to do, I will tell you, you will have a lot of people who will not come to
see you," the congressman said.
On a matter of current events, the candidates were asked whether public figures should have an expectation to privacy. Capuano, Pagliuca and
Khazei expressly said they personally had nothing to hide; but all said an examination of their lives was fair game. Coakley warned, however, that an excessive focus would deter people from running for political office.
Source: WBZ-TV on 2009 MA Senate Debate
, Dec 2, 2009
Democracy's promise based on government working well for all
I have decided to run for Senate because government should work well, and work for everyone. This is the promise on which our democracy is based, and I believe it's time to renew that promise.
The performance of our government seems at times disheartening and discouraging. I believe now is the time to move beyond the idea of "good enough for government" and demand a new standard of excellence.
Source: Senate candidacy announcement speech
, Sep 3, 2009
Page last updated: Jul 20, 2017