Binienda had compared a proposal that lobbyists wear I.D. badges to the tattooing of Jewish prisoners during the Holocaust.
Rep. John Binienda (D-Worcester), chairman of the House Rules Committee, said the idea of making lobbyists wear an identification badge revolted him and served as a reminder of Nazi Germany. BOSTON — Rep. John Binienda (D-Worcester), chairman of the House Rules Committee, issued an apology Thursday morning for remarks suggesting that a Republican proposal to require lobbyists to wear ID badges was akin to the tattooing of Jews by the Nazis.
“Yesterday, I made an inappropriate analogy regarding a proposed change to the House Rules,” Binienda said in a statement. “No comparison can be made between the Nazi regime and a rules proposal made by members in good faith. I apologize to the sponsors as well as the people of Massachusetts for my words and look forward to working with the sponsors on these proposals.”
Binienda had also called the proposal “revolting” and criticized as “childish” and partisan other portions of a sweeping ethics overhaul offered by Republicans.
Republicans issued their proposal last week, citing the conviction of former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi on corruption charges as the impetus for the filing.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo indicated Wednesday, through a spokesman, that he expects the House to give the GOP proposal consideration. Binienda told the News Service he plans to meet with DeLeo and discuss the rules proposal after the Legislature finishes work on next year’s state budget.
Republicans suggested Wednesday that several Democrats had signaled an interest in signing onto the plan. Reps. John Rogers (D-Norwood) and Colleen Garry (D-Dracut) have signed on already, according to House Minority Leader Brad Jones and Rep. Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk).
The proposal calls for a ban on members and staff from contacting public entities regarding pending contract procurements, largely limiting House members and staff to written recommendations for job applicants in the public sector, creating a duty for members to report unethical or criminal conduct by members or staff, treating sexual harassment as an ethical as well as employment issue, and limiting lobbyists access to members and staff unless they're wearing a lobbyist ID badge.