House Speaker Wants Probe Into Patrick’s Trade Missions

House Speaker Robert DeLeo says Massachusetts lawmakers should take a look at reports that former Gov. Deval Patrick used funds from quasi-public state agencies to help pay for trade missions he led as governor.

The Boston Herald reported Wednesday that the former Democratic governor funneled more than $37 million from agencies like the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority and Massport into trusts to promote tourism and economic development.

The Herald reported that about $1.3 million helped pay for trade missions led by Patrick during his time in office.

DeLeo said Thursday that he was unaware the money from the agencies had gone to the trusts.

He said it was something lawmakers ``really should take a look at.''

Republican Leader Bruce Tarr has called on the state inspector general to investigate.

Patrick recently joined the Boston firm Bain Capital.  (Associated Press)