Romney admin sought to derail a press conference by the family of Big Dig tunnel collapse victim Milena Del Valle by charging high up front cost for use of a state facility.
“Jim Rooney just called to say Del Valle reps are at new conv cntr looking to rent space for Wed. press conference,” Romney budget chief Thomas Trimarco wrote to then press secretary Eric Fehrnstrom on Aug. 25, 2006, weeks after the July 10 collapse.
“The normal charge is ($)20,000 … I suggest they be treated no differently than any other user of the facility and hope the upfront cost would deter them from renting high cost state facility for their media circus,” Trimarco wrote…
Just imagine if using high up front costs to deter activity was part of your playbook.
What other kinds of activity could be quashed — on public campuses, in public parks, in public courthouses — the possibilities are endless
