Inflation, New Jersey Style

Who knew Illinois could be bested by Ms. New Jersey?:

Massachusetts is neck-and-neck with New Jersey in the political-corruption derby. Democratic House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi was indicted for alleged influence peddling in January and resigned. He is the third consecutive House speaker to be indicted. State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson was busted last October after investigators allegedly watched her stuff bribe money into her brassiere -- providing the only real evidence of inflation in two years. Gov. Patrick is under fire for appointing political cronies to high-paying posts despite a campaign pledge to end "politics as usual." If that phrase sounds familiar, it's because Obama's campaign advisor David Axelrod also advised Patrick's gubernatorial campaign.

Ms. New Jersey.

P.S.

Max D. Stern, Wilkerson's defense attorney, pushed back, telling Hillman his client had never been convicted of destroying records. "It's an occasion to engage in character assassination," he said. "There is no evidence whatsoever that she ever destroyed documents."

Emphasis mine. These guys are more entertaining than our guys. You gotta admit that. Encore:

According to a 32-page affidavit filed in the case, Wilkerson abrought along a grandchild when she accepted a $1,000 bribe on Aug. 31, 2007, at the Fill-A-Buster restaurant, which is directly across the street from the State House.

Awk, how admirable:

"There is no evidence that she shared her cash with anyone else," Sullivan said, adding that other Beacon Hill lawmakers are not implicated.

The charges, which were unsealed this morning, contend that Wilkerson accepted the bribes in exchange for, among other things, helping the Roxbury nightclub Deja Vu get a liquor license.

Enough, puh-leaze. Deja Vu? How tasteful.