Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Mitt *hearts* Matt

By

Too good to pass up, even if it’s old news.  From an online database of political contributions.

And, in related news, alert reader Dave from Hvad points out that one does have cause to question just how committed Mitt Romney was to making sure the Big Dig tunnels are in good repair when reviewing the FY 2007 budget.

Wow – $56 million down to $25 million.  That’s a substantial cut.  I trust he can explain it.

Please share widely!
fb-share-icon
Tweet
0

Comments

  1. I’m impressed with the info and the table format. Any tips on how we can make tables like that?

  2. I could be wrong, I admit I am not too famliar with the process but I thought I heard something about a Legislature and how it votes on budgets.  Correct me if I am wrong.

    • The legislature gave him a budget for $56M and he vetoed $31M of it as unnecessary.  He may have been counting on an override, but he took full credit for the “bravery” of cutting $500M in spending.  He’s responsible for the consequences of that money not being spent.  In this case, he’s on record as saying far too much was being spent on operations and maintenance.  Is that clear enough?

      • Hold Romney’s feet to the fire because he did it.  But I am getting a little tired of the Do Nothing Legislature.

  3. I hope somebody picks this up and runs with it.

    <

    p>
    As my mother would have said, “The nerve of that man….”

    • He should consider doing that. Otherwise, I take Reilly’s words as political grandstanding at its worst. Seriously, he should have had a spokesperson. He needs to keep his job seperate from his campaign and not take advantage of it in the public eye (same thing for Romney).

      <

      p>
      I’ve always been a fan of politicians resigning when they seek higher office.

      • If the Legislature had merged the Dig and Pike with Mass Highway, he WOULD have been the guy.  As it is, it’s a seperate authority, with a seperate budget and fiscal structure, and it would have to be somebody there.  I’m not saying Matt, but musta been a Matt Wonk.

        • I know that EOTC and the Pike are separate.  But everyone at the Pike hates Romney, and the staff answers to Amorello.  So where does Romney get his transportation advice?  From EOTC.  Do you seriously think a Matt Wonk is going to recommend that Romney strip $31 million out of Matt’s budget??

            • Thy name is the Big Dig planners. How dare you suggest they would keep anything other than efficiency and the public interest in mind when assessing the necessary budget requirements. PS: Doubt aired on safety of I-93 tunnels Engineer cites leaks, damage, lack of data. By Sean P. Murphy and Raphael Lewis, Globe Staff. March 15, 2005. “The engineering specialist who led the investigation into leaks in the Big Dig says he can no longer say with confidence that the Interstate 93 tunnels are safe to drive in, according to a letter obtained by the Globe. The March 9 letter from prominent tunnel consultant Jack K. Lemley to the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority represents a startling reversal from testimony Lemley offered last November on Beacon Hill, when he told worried lawmakers: ”I have no reason to believe there is any risk to public safety” for those driving in the Interstate 93 tunnels. Since then, Lemley wrote, new information has surfaced that more than 40 large sections of tunnel wall contain construction defects and that fireproofing material has been damaged by leaks and fallen into the roadway. In addition, he wrote, project officials have blocked him from obtaining records and data related to those problems. “I am now unable to express an opinion as to the safety of the I-93 portion of the Central Artery,” Lemley added. “My modified position is necessary due to a revised understanding of the magnitude of problems that we became aware of following our testimony on November 30, 2004, and the recent failures reported in the local newspapers.” In his letter, Lemley said his change of position was also driven by the apparent lack of any formal plan by project officials to address the leaks. Doug Hanchett — a spokesman for the Turnpike Authority, which oversees the $14.6 billion project — said authority chairman Matthew J. Amorello had yet to receive Lemley’s letter. However, Hanchett stated: “We believe the tunnels are perfectly safe. If we ever had a reasonable inkling otherwise, we’d close the tunnels. Public safety is always our first concern.” Like I said, selfless.

Archives