Small business owner, erstwhile unemployed guy, and self-identified MA Tea Party Republican Mark Fisher wants to be governor here. He spoke with me today about his vision of what government should and should not be about. On his campaign … [Read more...]
“Toll equity” plaintiffs lose in the Appeals Court
Globe: The newest ruling from Massachusetts Appeals Court Judge Peter J. Rubin, dated Monday, came in response to a request for an emergency injunction against the turnpike authority from the plaintiffs, who claim in their suit that the … [Read more...]
Turnpike lawsuit loses in first round
The lawsuit challenging the Turnpike's tolls as unconstitutional taxes has been rejected by a trial court judge. [Clarification: The judge denied a request for a preliminary injunction; he has not yet dismissed the suit, though I'd … [Read more...]
A great primer on swaptions, and other MassPike minutiae
In case you didn't know, Turnpike board member Mary Connaughton writes a blog over at the Herald that is well worth checking in on. One of her latest posts, coming on the heels of the swaptions news of the week, is an excellent primer … [Read more...]
Toll payers file class action lawsuit against the Turnpike Authority
Storied class-action attorney Jan Schlichtmann has found his latest cause: trying to recover hundreds of millions of dollars worth of tolls paid inside of Route 128 and allegedly unlawfully diverted to pay for the Big Dig. A group of toll … [Read more...]
Target: Sacred Cows (Even the Successes?)
Authored by bipartisan leaders (including, full disclosure, my former boss, Speaker DiMasi), the bill required all sides to give - with a mandate that people get insurance, that most businesses provide it and that the state and feds pay big … [Read more...]
Turnpike chief LeBovidge is out
Not exactly a shocker: Turnpike Authority head Alan LeBovidge has resigned, says the Globe. No news yet on a likely replacement. Who is your nominee? (UPDATE: JohnD has this amusing observation on a successor: "The nationwide … [Read more...]
Swaptions hilarity continues: state now a step closer to guaranteeing Pike’s debt
Today the legislature sent to the Governor a bill that would put the full faith and credit of the Commonwealth behind the Turnpike Authority's obligations under a disastrous "swaptions" agreement about which we've written quite a good deal. … [Read more...]
Alan LeBovidge, Paul Reville, what’s the difference?
Alan LeBovidge So now we have a clueless "manager" who can't even manage to keep traffic flowing through a toll booth. Dismissed once by the governor (probably with good reason), his lack of management skill and inane public … [Read more...]
Transport: Nope, still don’t get it
Things must be pretty tense on Beacon Hill these days. Mary Connaughton's aggravated. Aloisi's irritated. Therese Murray is dissed.Again ... the frustrating thing about the Transport Reform Rodeo down at the State House is the … [Read more...]