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Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, far left in the front row, and Sen. Brian Joyce, beside him, wear sunglasses with employees during a visit to Randolph Engineering in Randolph in October. TWITTER PHOTO

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State senators north and west of Boston who received pricey sunglasses from Sen. Brian Joyce say they didn't think much of what the Milton Democrat gave them as a Christmas gift.

Joyce's gift of sunglasses reported to be worth more than $200 each -- but that he bought for one-third of that price -- was the subject of a complaint from the state GOP to the state Ethics Commission on Thursday.

"Senator Brian Joyce, who has been in office for 17 years, should know that state ethics prohibits him from receiving a special discount that is not available to the public," the letter from Massachusetts Republican Party Chairwoman Kirsten Hughes said.

All of the state's senators received the gift.

Senators reached Friday said they received the sunglasses when chamber colleagues exchanged gifts for Christmas before the last session ended. But they didn't think much of it, and didn't join the call for an investigation into the matter.

"Just like every senator, I received the glasses," said Jamie Eldridge, an Acton Democrat, adding that the glasses are still in their case. "I honestly couldn't tell what their value was."

Eldridge said he'd like to have clarification from the Ethics Commission about gifts among legislative colleagues. It is his understanding, he said, that an exemption to state ethics laws for legislators allows for gifts to colleagues.

The GOP complaint quotes a state law banning a public employee from accepting a "gift of substantial value given not for or because of a specific official act but because of his position." A public employee cannot use his or her official position for privileges not available to other people, the quoted law says.

Read more from the original source:
Senators' gifts of sunglasses in glare of ethics spotlight