Critics question Mass. inaugural funding

The Boston Globe reports:

Common Cause, the independent political watchdog group, said yesterday that it was "deeply disappointed" with Governor-elect Deval Patrick's plans to seek corporate donations for his inauguration, even as Patrick's advisers finalized plans to use a network of political insiders and business people to solicit contributions.

Patrick's plan for an outdoor inauguration draws opposition among legislators. B1.

The group's Massachusetts chapter said it was sending a letter to Patrick to register its concerns about Patrick's plans to raise up to $50,000 each from corporate and individual donors to help pay for the $1 million-plus inauguration festivities, the state's most expensive celebration ever.

"Businesses that are looking for favorable treatment from the new administration and are subject to regulation, are fighting for contracts, are looking for tax breaks, should not be part of the equation," said Pamela H. Wilmot, executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts. "It gives the appearance that it is politics as usual and that it is a political insiders' ball and [that] it is not an open grass-roots event where the common man is treated the same as everyone else."

Common Cause goes after a Democrat.