MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET CUTS AGAIN THIS YEAR!!!!...WHO IS THE DUMB, DUMBER, DUMBEST? THE GOVERNOR, LEGISLATURE, OR CITIZENS WHO BELIEVE THERE IS AN ACTUAL CRISIS AND NOT ANOTHER COVERUP? IS THIS ANOTHER MAKE BELIEVE SCHEME TO ONCE AGAIN JUSTIFY INEFFICIENCY, WASTE, OR MISMANAGEMENT FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF GIVING MORE TO THE SPECIAL INTERESTS AND PRESERVING MORE PATRONAGE SPECIAL INTEREST SPENDING FOR INSIDERS AND CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTERS?
December 30, 2008
Massachusetts Unecessary Budget Cuts Are Another Scheme To Fool The Taxpayers and Citizens
Shame and stupidity prevails on any proposed Massachusetts budget cuts with the Governor cutting budgets even wanting supreme powers to cut at will. This clearly shows an absolute dumbness that only depicts a continual lack of leadership failure with both the House and Senate Leadership enablers being part of the scheme. Unfortunately, most in the media will not report the real facts as always not to antagonize future access to the political elite.
There should be no budget shortfalls and a leaner budget to begin with. Stop feeding the addiction of costly no bid contracts to vendors, providers, and consultants that cost billions of budget taxpayer dollars. Elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse rampant throughout in several budget areas alone could solve any deficiency. Going after the so called underground economy that flourishes in the state alone means billions of additional revenue.
The elimination of unneeded patronage positions will enable the career dedicated workforce to perform their mandated duties on behalf of the taxpayers and citizens of Massachusetts.
Time for a true line item, subsidiary accounts, object codes, and a scheduling state budget filled with true accountability and oversight devices to regain the trust in government by the citizenry.
These are the solutions in plain talk. The bad taste of the Big Dig, Turnpike, Special Interest campaign Contributions, and those who practice personal gain instead of the common good has left citizens to be cynical and have no trust in Massachusetts Government.
Reforms are needed now, not yesterday, or tomorrow. Show us there is indeed a crisis and waste, fraud, and abuse has been eliminated openly and honestly then belief in our government will be restored and the citizens will follow.
MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK CONTINUES THE FAILURE OF BOTCHED TRANSPORATION POLICIES FOR THE SPECIAL INTERESTS.....APPOINTMENT OF DISCREDITED JIM ALOISI AS TRANSPORTATION CZAR FRONT PERSON ONLY CONTINUES THE FAILURE OF HIS GURU FRED SALVUCCI THE DESIGNER WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BIG DIG SCHEME AND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FAILURES
December 29,2008
The appointment and those trying to justify Jim Aloisi as Massachusetts Transportation are absolutely wrong. Bad doctors should not be defended by the Medical Society. Likewise, horrific lawyers are not supported by the Bar Association. Therefore, Special Self Interest Transportation lawyers like Jim Aloisi whose most questionable track record should not be supported. Supporting the despicable proven transportation record are his Special Interest Colleagues shows self interest prevails at the expense of the common interest.
Any public relations attempts to give Jim Aloisi credibility only diffuses attention, damage control or cover up of his resume of sharing responsibility for the Massachusetts Transportation failure. The decades Aloisi failed self and special interest resume should have been the basis for his rejection to this position. Governor Patrick who recently appointed a so called Ethics Taskforce has clearly sent a direct message reform and integrity will not be part of his administration. Already, there were questions of judgment of Governor Deval Patrick as revealed in prior held positions for Texaco, Coca Cola, and a paid Board member and advocate for guilty home loan provider Ameriquest.
The issue of Jim Aloisi is all the facts of him being part of the special interest guilty or enabler crowd that knowingly have allowed the Massachusetts Transportation Calamity to what the state is facing today.
Aloisi is a giant in the culture of his mentor and advocate former Transportation Secretary Fred Salvucci who plotted the conspiracy of little or no accountability or oversight on the BIG DIG that gave us no bid cost plus Bechtel Parsons private managers with all the construction shoddiness that is an international example in inefficiency, waste and mismanagement. This led to the Big Dig going from the original $2.3 Billion to its current$23 Billion Plus. Recently, Aloisi voted as a member of the Massport Board to give Big Dig Parsons Brinkerhoff Managers a multi million dollar contract after all the carnage of wasteful public dollar spending and unnecessary human tragic suffering. The Aloisi questionable tenure as Turnpike lawyer was a disaster. Aloisi then being hired as a Turnpike private attorney with questionable billings ranging from $600,000 to $1,000,000 further adds to his lack of any credibility. All these issues with his campaign contributions to Governor Patrick and Beacon Hill insiders shows Aloisi stands with the special interests and not for the common good of the citizens of Massachusetts.
If Governor Patrick really wanted to resort to the past and history of what inefficiency, waste, and mismanagement that was part of the Big Dig, Tunnels, and Turnpike, he should have brought back the real manipulator that laid the real ground work for all that is wrong and went wrong for the past several decades in the Massachusetts Transportation infrastructure. That person is MIT Professor and father of the Big Dig, Massachusetts Road and Bridge failure himself, the real Transportation Secretary in or out of office Fred Salvucci and not wannabe protege Jim Aloisi.
The sole issue is the track record of the candidate. The track record of Aloisi is despicable and he should not serve. The original Turnpike and Tunnel Bonds were paid off years ago and the road should have been set free. The Turnpike was advertised of not to pay for the Big Dig that was to be paid with 90% Federal funds and did not leaving Massachusetts citizens responsible. The Massachusetts Legislature and Citizens were deceived. Federal Highway Funds for repairs to Massachusetts roads and bridges were diverted to the Big Dig under the Salvucci doctrine. The previous promised Gas Tax did not fix Massachusetts roads and bridges as also promised. Aloisi was in authority when the devious Salvucci was planning and implementing the conspiracy, silent, fully aware, and did nothing to prevent the Massachusetts Transportation Calamity we face today. Aloisi has lost the faith and trust to manage billions of Transportation Agencies Tax and Toll Dollars.
Jim Aloisi should not even been considered for Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation based on his Special and Self Interest Track Record that has been documented by many already in the media.
December 29,2008
The appointment and those trying to justify Jim Aloisi as Massachusetts Transportation are absolutely wrong. Bad doctors should not be defended by the Medical Society. Likewise, horrific lawyers are not supported by the Bar Association. Therefore, Special Self Interest Transportation lawyers like Jim Aloisi whose most questionable track record should not be supported. Supporting the despicable proven transportation record are his Special Interest Colleagues shows self interest prevails at the expense of the common interest.
Any public relations attempts to give Jim Aloisi credibility only diffuses attention, damage control or cover up of his resume of sharing responsibility for the Massachusetts Transportation failure. The decades Aloisi failed self and special interest resume should have been the basis for his rejection to this position. Governor Patrick who recently appointed a so called Ethics Taskforce has clearly sent a direct message reform and integrity will not be part of his administration. Already, there were questions of judgment of Governor Deval Patrick as revealed in prior held positions for Texaco, Coca Cola, and a paid Board member and advocate for guilty home loan provider Ameriquest.
The issue of Jim Aloisi is all the facts of him being part of the special interest guilty or enabler crowd that knowingly have allowed the Massachusetts Transportation Calamity to what the state is facing today.
Aloisi is a giant in the culture of his mentor and advocate former Transportation Secretary Fred Salvucci who plotted the conspiracy of little or no accountability or oversight on the BIG DIG that gave us no bid cost plus Bechtel Parsons private managers with all the construction shoddiness that is an international example in inefficiency, waste and mismanagement. This led to the Big Dig going from the original $2.3 Billion to its current$23 Billion Plus. Recently, Aloisi voted as a member of the Massport Board to give Big Dig Parsons Brinkerhoff Managers a multi million dollar contract after all the carnage of wasteful public dollar spending and unnecessary human tragic suffering. The Aloisi questionable tenure as Turnpike lawyer was a disaster. Aloisi then being hired as a Turnpike private attorney with questionable billings ranging from $600,000 to $1,000,000 further adds to his lack of any credibility. All these issues with his campaign contributions to Governor Patrick and Beacon Hill insiders shows Aloisi stands with the special interests and not for the common good of the citizens of Massachusetts.
If Governor Patrick really wanted to resort to the past and history of what inefficiency, waste, and mismanagement that was part of the Big Dig, Tunnels, and Turnpike, he should have brought back the real manipulator that laid the real ground work for all that is wrong and went wrong for the past several decades in the Massachusetts Transportation infrastructure. That person is MIT Professor and father of the Big Dig, Massachusetts Road and Bridge failure himself, the real Transportation Secretary in or out of office Fred Salvucci and not wannabe protege Jim Aloisi.
The sole issue is the track record of the candidate. The track record of Aloisi is despicable and he should not serve. The original Turnpike and Tunnel Bonds were paid off years ago and the road should have been set free. The Turnpike was advertised of not to pay for the Big Dig that was to be paid with 90% Federal funds and did not leaving Massachusetts citizens responsible. The Massachusetts Legislature and Citizens were deceived. Federal Highway Funds for repairs to Massachusetts roads and bridges were diverted to the Big Dig under the Salvucci doctrine. The previous promised Gas Tax did not fix Massachusetts roads and bridges as also promised. Aloisi was in authority when the devious Salvucci was planning and implementing the conspiracy, silent, fully aware, and did nothing to prevent the Massachusetts Transportation Calamity we face today. Aloisi has lost the faith and trust to manage billions of Transportation Agencies Tax and Toll Dollars.
Jim Aloisi should not even been considered for Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation based on his Special and Self Interest Track Record that has been documented by many already in the media.
JAMES ALOISI, MASSACHUSETTS NEW TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY SIGNALS A NEW DEPTH BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK. HOW CAN PATRICK AND ALOISI STATE THAT PAST WASTE, FRAUD, ABUSE WILL NOT CONTINUE? THE CITIZENS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW.
December 23, 2008
The snow storm appointment last Friday of James Aloisi, Massachusetts Transportation Secretary, and all reported on him these past says it all.
All the effort of sincere Citizens and Whistleblowers to monitor and report on transportation waste, fraud and abuse is for nothing. Governor Patrick and Aloisi's Transportation Committee Chairs Senator Steven Baddour and Joseph Wagner will most likely only continue the past practices that led to waste, fraud, and abuse of Taxpayer dollars.
Aloisi is the poster picture of patronage, questionable government contracts, campaign contributions and Specail Interests that will most likely continue if unchecked. The Patrick Adminsistration has reached a new depth and all his talk and appointing a so called Ethics Task Force is once again stating to the citizens there will be no reform efforts.
Massachusetts needs another WARD type commission that came about during the government center scandal to get the real facts, precisely pinpoint blame for current failures to see where the monies went before any toll or gas tax increases. The time is overdue for real accountability and oversight that guarantees no more waste, fraud, and abuse of Federal Highway Monies, Toll and Tunnel Collections, or Gas Taxes.
(Note: Also posted on Boston Magazine Daily Blog)
December 23, 2008
The snow storm appointment last Friday of James Aloisi, Massachusetts Transportation Secretary, and all reported on him these past says it all.
All the effort of sincere Citizens and Whistleblowers to monitor and report on transportation waste, fraud and abuse is for nothing. Governor Patrick and Aloisi's Transportation Committee Chairs Senator Steven Baddour and Joseph Wagner will most likely only continue the past practices that led to waste, fraud, and abuse of Taxpayer dollars.
Aloisi is the poster picture of patronage, questionable government contracts, campaign contributions and Specail Interests that will most likely continue if unchecked. The Patrick Adminsistration has reached a new depth and all his talk and appointing a so called Ethics Task Force is once again stating to the citizens there will be no reform efforts.
Massachusetts needs another WARD type commission that came about during the government center scandal to get the real facts, precisely pinpoint blame for current failures to see where the monies went before any toll or gas tax increases. The time is overdue for real accountability and oversight that guarantees no more waste, fraud, and abuse of Federal Highway Monies, Toll and Tunnel Collections, or Gas Taxes.
(Note: Also posted on Boston Magazine Daily Blog)
Boston Magazine Daily Website Issues Comments on Massachusetts Governor Patrick Pick for Transportation Secretary....This Publication was one of the first to do an investigative series on the Big Dig and received much unfair criticism at the time....They were right.
December 21, 2008
Boston Magazine should be proud for all the investigative work the publication put into to exposing the Big Dig long before the costs escalated from $2.3 Billion to $23+Billion. Your magazine exposed much of the bad designs, inefficiencies, waste, and mismanagement. Boston Magazine listened to those who were sincere and were the Whistleblowers.
We who observed saw Boston Magazine being put under undue pressure by the Big Dig Special Interest Machine and did not buckle. When Boston Magazine did their series on the Big Dig, it the magazine worked both against both Boston Globe and Boston Herald Editorial Boards Interests and many in both Print and Broadcast Media that were in the love in with The Big Dig Public Relations machine and those who would profit. A statement in recent years further corroborated that both Boston Daily Paper Editorial Boards were “in the tank”. This was made by former Boston Globe Columnist and CBS4 Columnist Jon Keller when asked why the Boston Papers did not report more on the Big Dig. Keller even outed former Globe writer David Warsh as a basis for verification.
Jon Strahinch and former Boston Globe Reporter John Coughlin wrote the several investigative reports for Boston Magazine and tediously verified their findings. Their work was not recognized by the decision makers of the time in the Federal and State Government that have become part of the Big Dig international disgrace. The citizens of Massachusetts owe both of them a Profile in Courage Award.
Jim Aloisi was part of that bad Big Dig Culture always seeming to profit by a government patronage position, lobbying, or being paid ridiculously for time as a private attorney. His appointment sends a bad message for government reform, accountability, and oversight in an almost lost war in Massachusetts against Transportation, Waste, Fraud and Abusive Way of life.
(Note: Also. posted on Boston Magazine daily Website)
December 21, 2008
Boston Magazine should be proud for all the investigative work the publication put into to exposing the Big Dig long before the costs escalated from $2.3 Billion to $23+Billion. Your magazine exposed much of the bad designs, inefficiencies, waste, and mismanagement. Boston Magazine listened to those who were sincere and were the Whistleblowers.
We who observed saw Boston Magazine being put under undue pressure by the Big Dig Special Interest Machine and did not buckle. When Boston Magazine did their series on the Big Dig, it the magazine worked both against both Boston Globe and Boston Herald Editorial Boards Interests and many in both Print and Broadcast Media that were in the love in with The Big Dig Public Relations machine and those who would profit. A statement in recent years further corroborated that both Boston Daily Paper Editorial Boards were “in the tank”. This was made by former Boston Globe Columnist and CBS4 Columnist Jon Keller when asked why the Boston Papers did not report more on the Big Dig. Keller even outed former Globe writer David Warsh as a basis for verification.
Jon Strahinch and former Boston Globe Reporter John Coughlin wrote the several investigative reports for Boston Magazine and tediously verified their findings. Their work was not recognized by the decision makers of the time in the Federal and State Government that have become part of the Big Dig international disgrace. The citizens of Massachusetts owe both of them a Profile in Courage Award.
Jim Aloisi was part of that bad Big Dig Culture always seeming to profit by a government patronage position, lobbying, or being paid ridiculously for time as a private attorney. His appointment sends a bad message for government reform, accountability, and oversight in an almost lost war in Massachusetts against Transportation, Waste, Fraud and Abusive Way of life.
(Note: Also. posted on Boston Magazine daily Website)
Savings Could be at least $750 million to $1.5 billiuon+ Alone In The State Budget. .....Massachusetts Non Profits, Not For Profits, and Foundations Must Now Clean UP Their Own Management Greed As WHat Was Exposed In The Banking And Insurance Industry.
December 16, 2008
Government,Foundations, and Citizens all struggling in our nation's failed economy caused by unmonitored corporate financial greed and failed government oversight must show additional compassion and dig deeper into their pocketbooks. Compassion, Care, and Concern are needed to guarantee what is funded is precisely spent as intended.
However, the time has come that the non profits and not for profits be held to a higher standard also. Greed CEO salaries.golden parachutes, fat expense accounts, and interrelated sweetheart contracts must be addressed. Direct care services advertised must be maintained with need sincerity and actually being provided as funded.
Estimates not taking in consideration the $$$$billions in private giving accounts in the state budget alone if waste, fraud, abuse corruption and doing proper oversight could recover $750 Billion+ to $1.5 Billion + alone in State budget Expenditures by holding the non profit and not for profit Human Services Industrial Complex were properly audited and monitored.
December 16, 2008
Government,Foundations, and Citizens all struggling in our nation's failed economy caused by unmonitored corporate financial greed and failed government oversight must show additional compassion and dig deeper into their pocketbooks. Compassion, Care, and Concern are needed to guarantee what is funded is precisely spent as intended.
However, the time has come that the non profits and not for profits be held to a higher standard also. Greed CEO salaries.golden parachutes, fat expense accounts, and interrelated sweetheart contracts must be addressed. Direct care services advertised must be maintained with need sincerity and actually being provided as funded.
Estimates not taking in consideration the $$$$billions in private giving accounts in the state budget alone if waste, fraud, abuse corruption and doing proper oversight could recover $750 Billion+ to $1.5 Billion + alone in State budget Expenditures by holding the non profit and not for profit Human Services Industrial Complex were properly audited and monitored.
Machusaetts Citizenn Group STOP THE PIKE COALITION has offered hope with their mobilization to bring attention to fake increases in the Gas tax, Tunnel and Turnpike Tolls.
December 16, 2008
This group has captivated the hearts and hopes of the citizenry to bring precise attention to fake increases in the Gas Tax, Turnpike and Tunnel Tolls. They should not waste their new found credibility by focusing or wasting time on non direct issues they face.
The group has shown they can mobilize the citizens.
Now, it is time to focus on the issue of waste, fraud, and abuse of where previous funds went slated to repair
the state's deteriorating roads and bridges from the previous Gas Tax, Tunnel and Turnpike Tolls that were diverted or used to continue not make the Turnpke free by the Big Dig Special interests in and out of Government.
December 16, 2008
This group has captivated the hearts and hopes of the citizenry to bring precise attention to fake increases in the Gas Tax, Turnpike and Tunnel Tolls. They should not waste their new found credibility by focusing or wasting time on non direct issues they face.
The group has shown they can mobilize the citizens.
Now, it is time to focus on the issue of waste, fraud, and abuse of where previous funds went slated to repair
the state's deteriorating roads and bridges from the previous Gas Tax, Tunnel and Turnpike Tolls that were diverted or used to continue not make the Turnpke free by the Big Dig Special interests in and out of Government.
MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE, TUNNEL, AND GAS TAX INCREASE PROPOSALS BEING DONE TO COVER UP INEFFICIENCY, WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE OF THE BIG DIG AND FAILURE TO FIX THE ROADS AND BRIDGES FROM THE PREVIOUS GAS TAX INCREASE?
December 8, 2008
Former longtime Turnpike Chair Jack Driscoll wanted to pay off original bonds to make the road free. His financial promise was not carried out by his successors and they issued more bonds and unnneeded debt. Former House Chair of Transportation and now lobbyist Steven Karol stated in a debate measure before the House to stop legislation that would have guaranteed oversight of the Big Dig that the turnpike would not pay for the Big Dig!
During the heyday of the BIG DIG Karol and his cochair counterpart in the Massachusetts Senate Robert Havern battled against or did not listen to calls for accountability and oversight of the Big Dig. The plague of the Big Dig scheme was birthed by former Democratic Michael Dukais and his Transportation guru Fred Salvucci. Subsequent Republican Governors Weld, Cellucci, Swift, and Romaney along with their transportation czars Jim Carlin and Jim Kerasiotis elevated the effort to an art form.
This resulted in needed funds to fix unfit roads and bridges coming in from the Federal Government being diverted to the Big Dig. Their tandam efforts saw the Big Dig go from $2.3 Billion to $23+ Billion with almost not accountability and oversight. Massachusetts now has the most expensive unmonitored privitized construction project monument in history built that resulted in waste, fraud, and abuse, and bad construction.
We were promised that the Big Dig would be funded 90% with federal funds and was not. The last gas tax in 1991 was suppose to fix the roads and bridges needing repairs and did not.
Current Transportation Committee heads Senator Baddour and Representative Joseph Wagner need an education wake up call. First, their Transportation Committee should hire its own non political independent structural and civil engineers and an economist to do its own analysis and determine the real needs and not depend on the special interests to set policy. Also, when will Senator Baddour and Representaive Wagner learn that privatization with no accountability that they have allowed does not work? They have not learned from privatization failures of the Big Dig genius of Bechtel Parson or Modern Continental on Rte. 3.
Massachusetts needs another WARD type commission that came about during the government center scandal to get the real facts, precisely pinpoint blame for current failures to see where the monies went before any toll or gas tax increases. The time is overdue for real accountability and oversight that guarantees no more waste, fraud, and abuse of Federal Highway Monies, Toll and Tunnel Collections, or Gas Taxes.
December 8, 2008
Former longtime Turnpike Chair Jack Driscoll wanted to pay off original bonds to make the road free. His financial promise was not carried out by his successors and they issued more bonds and unnneeded debt. Former House Chair of Transportation and now lobbyist Steven Karol stated in a debate measure before the House to stop legislation that would have guaranteed oversight of the Big Dig that the turnpike would not pay for the Big Dig!
During the heyday of the BIG DIG Karol and his cochair counterpart in the Massachusetts Senate Robert Havern battled against or did not listen to calls for accountability and oversight of the Big Dig. The plague of the Big Dig scheme was birthed by former Democratic Michael Dukais and his Transportation guru Fred Salvucci. Subsequent Republican Governors Weld, Cellucci, Swift, and Romaney along with their transportation czars Jim Carlin and Jim Kerasiotis elevated the effort to an art form.
This resulted in needed funds to fix unfit roads and bridges coming in from the Federal Government being diverted to the Big Dig. Their tandam efforts saw the Big Dig go from $2.3 Billion to $23+ Billion with almost not accountability and oversight. Massachusetts now has the most expensive unmonitored privitized construction project monument in history built that resulted in waste, fraud, and abuse, and bad construction.
We were promised that the Big Dig would be funded 90% with federal funds and was not. The last gas tax in 1991 was suppose to fix the roads and bridges needing repairs and did not.
Current Transportation Committee heads Senator Baddour and Representative Joseph Wagner need an education wake up call. First, their Transportation Committee should hire its own non political independent structural and civil engineers and an economist to do its own analysis and determine the real needs and not depend on the special interests to set policy. Also, when will Senator Baddour and Representaive Wagner learn that privatization with no accountability that they have allowed does not work? They have not learned from privatization failures of the Big Dig genius of Bechtel Parson or Modern Continental on Rte. 3.
Massachusetts needs another WARD type commission that came about during the government center scandal to get the real facts, precisely pinpoint blame for current failures to see where the monies went before any toll or gas tax increases. The time is overdue for real accountability and oversight that guarantees no more waste, fraud, and abuse of Federal Highway Monies, Toll and Tunnel Collections, or Gas Taxes.
WORCESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT RELEASES PUBLIC RECORDS TO THE WORCESTER TELEGRAM AFTER LONG BATTLE
December 8, 2008
FYI-I am enclosing a news article from the Worcester Telegram about their tedious efforts to obtain Public records relative to allegations of Police Overtime Abuse and an Internal Affairs Issue. My concerns in my comment are the administration and implementation Public Records Laws. The Media and citizenry should not be victims because of the failure by the office of Attorney General and Secretary of State to enforce and prosecute Public records laws in a rapid and comprehensive manner. The barriers and hurdles the media and citizens face to obtain Public Records must be improved by stronger administration and enforcement.
FROM: John Gatti Jr,
Reader Comments
Transparency and Openness in Government must be practiced at all times.
Inefficiency, waste, and management in Government expenditures cannot be tolerated. However,if the goal of the media is sensational tabloid journalism, that also cannot be tolerated and civil rights of public employees must be honored.
What this public records request brings out is what some have been stating for years relative to Massachusetts Public Records Laws.
These laws are not being enforced and implemented. The past two Attorney Generals Harshbarger, Reilly, and now Coakley do not even handily enforce or routinely dismiss this law. Former Secretary of State Connolly and now successor Galvin cannot obtain even handed prosecution from the Office of Attorney General when a judged violation occurs. Public Records Supervisor Alan Cote decision making process is impotent at best.
This case clearly shows government failure to make judgements on public records disclosure on a definitive basis one way or another. Massachusetts desperately needs a Freedom of Information Commission to make rapid judgements on what are Public Records and what are not.
Most troubling to those of us that deal daily with public access is the time,effort,and expense the Telegram has gone through on this issue to obtain a resolution. This brings the pertinent point that how many other denials of access the Telegram, all media, and citizens who lack the financial means to pursue access then face a stone wall, tire and stop.
Another serious flaw and locally is the political discrimination manner that District Attorneys selectively administer Open Meeting Laws. Our local District Attorney Attorney Joseph D.Early Jr is a prime example violator.
Calls for strong reform and implementation for Public Records,Open Meeting, Whistleblower, and Shield laws continuely are dismissed by Government leaders. The Media and Citizens must have a strong outcry to save our Press Freedoms and Free Speech.
-John Gatti Jr
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dec 8, 2008
T&G to receive officer’s records
File on cop more than 1,500 pages
By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
scroteau@telegram.com
WORCESTER— The internal affairs records of Police Officer Mark A. Rojas will be turned over to the Telegram & Gazette by tomorrow, City Manager Michael V. O’Brien said yesterday.
Last week, Police Chief Gary J. Gemme said the records were not going to be released on Wednesday — the day he said they were going to be turned over — because a lawyer for the patrolmen’s union asked to review the 1,508-page file.
The chief agreed to postpone the release until at least Thursday, but Mr. O’Brien said yesterday the records will be available tomorrow.
“The chief informed me today (Sunday) that the T&G’s FOIA request for Officer Rojas’s employment file will have all internal reviews complete by Tuesday, December 9, 2008 and will have this set for pick up by the close of business on the ninth,” Mr. O’Brien said. “I trust this will bring closure to this matter.”
Mr. O’Brien said the chief contacted the patrolmen’s union and those officials are aware of the timetable.
The T&G initially requested copies of citizen complaints against Officer Rojas in April. The Police Department was paid $1,500 for the records Aug. 28.
Police spokesman Sgt. Kerry F. Hazelhurst said a lawyer for the New England Police Benevolent Association Local 911 wouldn’t be able to review the redacted file until Thursday.
“I stated from the outset that this particular request is rife with extraordinary circumstances. As you know, there is an external investigation under way regarding overtime abuse allegations, tying up internal resources to properly support this effort,” Mr. O’Brien said. “This FOIA request also required more due diligence than is typical, for it an extensive employment file over 1,500 pages containing active criminal investigations, witnesses, whistleblowers and other sensitive law enforcement information that cannot be released.”
The Police Department released a sample of the records recently. One page was completed blacked out and another had several redactions.
December 8, 2008
FYI-I am enclosing a news article from the Worcester Telegram about their tedious efforts to obtain Public records relative to allegations of Police Overtime Abuse and an Internal Affairs Issue. My concerns in my comment are the administration and implementation Public Records Laws. The Media and citizenry should not be victims because of the failure by the office of Attorney General and Secretary of State to enforce and prosecute Public records laws in a rapid and comprehensive manner. The barriers and hurdles the media and citizens face to obtain Public Records must be improved by stronger administration and enforcement.
FROM: John Gatti Jr,
Reader Comments
Transparency and Openness in Government must be practiced at all times.
Inefficiency, waste, and management in Government expenditures cannot be tolerated. However,if the goal of the media is sensational tabloid journalism, that also cannot be tolerated and civil rights of public employees must be honored.
What this public records request brings out is what some have been stating for years relative to Massachusetts Public Records Laws.
These laws are not being enforced and implemented. The past two Attorney Generals Harshbarger, Reilly, and now Coakley do not even handily enforce or routinely dismiss this law. Former Secretary of State Connolly and now successor Galvin cannot obtain even handed prosecution from the Office of Attorney General when a judged violation occurs. Public Records Supervisor Alan Cote decision making process is impotent at best.
This case clearly shows government failure to make judgements on public records disclosure on a definitive basis one way or another. Massachusetts desperately needs a Freedom of Information Commission to make rapid judgements on what are Public Records and what are not.
Most troubling to those of us that deal daily with public access is the time,effort,and expense the Telegram has gone through on this issue to obtain a resolution. This brings the pertinent point that how many other denials of access the Telegram, all media, and citizens who lack the financial means to pursue access then face a stone wall, tire and stop.
Another serious flaw and locally is the political discrimination manner that District Attorneys selectively administer Open Meeting Laws. Our local District Attorney Attorney Joseph D.Early Jr is a prime example violator.
Calls for strong reform and implementation for Public Records,Open Meeting, Whistleblower, and Shield laws continuely are dismissed by Government leaders. The Media and Citizens must have a strong outcry to save our Press Freedoms and Free Speech.
-John Gatti Jr
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dec 8, 2008
T&G to receive officer’s records
File on cop more than 1,500 pages
By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
scroteau@telegram.com
WORCESTER— The internal affairs records of Police Officer Mark A. Rojas will be turned over to the Telegram & Gazette by tomorrow, City Manager Michael V. O’Brien said yesterday.
Last week, Police Chief Gary J. Gemme said the records were not going to be released on Wednesday — the day he said they were going to be turned over — because a lawyer for the patrolmen’s union asked to review the 1,508-page file.
The chief agreed to postpone the release until at least Thursday, but Mr. O’Brien said yesterday the records will be available tomorrow.
“The chief informed me today (Sunday) that the T&G’s FOIA request for Officer Rojas’s employment file will have all internal reviews complete by Tuesday, December 9, 2008 and will have this set for pick up by the close of business on the ninth,” Mr. O’Brien said. “I trust this will bring closure to this matter.”
Mr. O’Brien said the chief contacted the patrolmen’s union and those officials are aware of the timetable.
The T&G initially requested copies of citizen complaints against Officer Rojas in April. The Police Department was paid $1,500 for the records Aug. 28.
Police spokesman Sgt. Kerry F. Hazelhurst said a lawyer for the New England Police Benevolent Association Local 911 wouldn’t be able to review the redacted file until Thursday.
“I stated from the outset that this particular request is rife with extraordinary circumstances. As you know, there is an external investigation under way regarding overtime abuse allegations, tying up internal resources to properly support this effort,” Mr. O’Brien said. “This FOIA request also required more due diligence than is typical, for it an extensive employment file over 1,500 pages containing active criminal investigations, witnesses, whistleblowers and other sensitive law enforcement information that cannot be released.”
The Police Department released a sample of the records recently. One page was completed blacked out and another had several redactions.
Massachusetts Republican Senate Leader Richard Tisei who did little or nothing when Republican Governors led the State now wants Ethics Reform under a Democratic Governor!
December 6,2008
I congratulate Senator Tisei, Minority Leader of the Republicans in the Massachusetts State Senate for coming almost too late to the issue of ethics reform? Senator Tisei said nothing and did nothing when Republican Governors Weld, Cellucci, Swift, and Romney were in charge and doing their wasteful unaccountable deeds of tax dollars thatlacked oversight on the Big Dig, Human Sevices, Consultants, Vendors, and Providers. He was there and watched the Governors of his party making the Big Dig costs go from #2.3 Billion to $23 billion that was riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse. Now there is no Republicans no longer control and he wants to become a taxpayer watchdog?
This Task Force was appointed at this time especially in light of the current Beacon Hill Scandals does appear as damage control. Their failure will be apparent with cursory recommendations that will come forward amount to only window dressing.
Look at the some names on this so called task force Charles Baker Jr., Scott Harshbarger, and Representative James Fagan! All had a part in the Big Dig fiasco that went from$2.3 Billion to $23 Billion that was riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse. This project was the largest construction cost construction project in history.
Does more need to be said about their watch and responsibilities? The Governor appointed this group and his person was named chair! Done deal, can this bring real reform? more political posturing and not real reforms?
The time has come for an independent government reform organization that should be installed and more independent than the WARD Commission that was formed during the Government Center Scandal. Maybe this time around the recommendations will be folllowed. Stop fooling the citizenry.
Time for a Governor and Legislature of both parties to disinfect their act and become true statesman.
December 6,2008
I congratulate Senator Tisei, Minority Leader of the Republicans in the Massachusetts State Senate for coming almost too late to the issue of ethics reform? Senator Tisei said nothing and did nothing when Republican Governors Weld, Cellucci, Swift, and Romney were in charge and doing their wasteful unaccountable deeds of tax dollars thatlacked oversight on the Big Dig, Human Sevices, Consultants, Vendors, and Providers. He was there and watched the Governors of his party making the Big Dig costs go from #2.3 Billion to $23 billion that was riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse. Now there is no Republicans no longer control and he wants to become a taxpayer watchdog?
This Task Force was appointed at this time especially in light of the current Beacon Hill Scandals does appear as damage control. Their failure will be apparent with cursory recommendations that will come forward amount to only window dressing.
Look at the some names on this so called task force Charles Baker Jr., Scott Harshbarger, and Representative James Fagan! All had a part in the Big Dig fiasco that went from$2.3 Billion to $23 Billion that was riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse. This project was the largest construction cost construction project in history.
Does more need to be said about their watch and responsibilities? The Governor appointed this group and his person was named chair! Done deal, can this bring real reform? more political posturing and not real reforms?
The time has come for an independent government reform organization that should be installed and more independent than the WARD Commission that was formed during the Government Center Scandal. Maybe this time around the recommendations will be folllowed. Stop fooling the citizenry.
Time for a Governor and Legislature of both parties to disinfect their act and become true statesman.
Award Wining Reporter Gabrielle Gurley asserts her support for a Gas Tax in Commonwealth Magazine
November 25,2008
(John Gatti Jr response on Commonwealth Magazine Blog Site)
I am most disappointed in your support of a Gas Tax Increase without stating the facts and history of how previous ones were spent. Representative David Linsky should at least look at the issue in total and present all the facts and history of where the gas tax increases went before demanding any gas tax or allowing any toll increases.
Your editor Bruce Mohl once ran The Globe Statehouse Bureau with integrity and fairness. I welcome him verifying any comments I am about to make because he was there during the Big Dig infancy and previous gas tax increase.
The former chair of the House Transportation Committee Representative Steven J. Karol stated in a contentious debate on the House Floor in May 1990 that no Turnpike funds would be used to pay for the Big Dig. This took place to approve legislation many were involved that already passed the Senate which would have provided oversight and accountability of the Big Dig project. The Special Interests defeated the measure.
When the last gas tax increase was approved in 1991, we were told that was adequate to fix the deteriorating roads and bridges that upon review did not. Look at was done and not fixed. Look at Federal Funds pouring into Massachusetts that could have been used to repair Massachusetts Interstate and Primary Roads and Bridges and were not.
The sad revelation revealed this week that Parsons Brinkerhoff part of the Big Dig engineering, design, and private oversight of the construction team that ran the Big Dig project from the original $2.3 billion to $23 Billion+ that is now to be awarded the lead design manager for the $370 million Massport project. You should ask the readers if this is right for the inefficiency, waste, mismanagement, fraud, and abuse of the Big Dig. under their watch? This is a moral and financial outrage. The Big Dig is the world’s largest construction project and is a monument for private sector greed and ravage of taxpayers by state and national government. Gas Taxes, Turnpike and Tunnel Tolls expansions should be taken off the table and not even be considered upfront.
Gas Taxes, Turnpike and Tunnel Tolls expansions should be taken off the table and not even be considered upfront.
The time has come for Massachusetts to establish a new WARD Type Commission such as established during the Boston Government Scandal that forced the legislature to implement many government contracting reforms that seem to have eroded in recent years.
Government and the media should inform the Citizens and Taxpayers where previous gas tax increases that were previously promised to fix and repair all the dysfunctional roads and bridges. The guilty and enablers who got Massachusetts into this mess must be exposed and held accountable first. The failure to prosecute in criminal and Civil Courts the truly guilty is deplorable and an insult to all Massachusetts citizens.
To do any increases to the taxpayer without insuring again independent proper government oversight and accountability that is truly independent and staffed to stand up to bad construction practices and the many special interests of contractors, bankers, bonding companies, insurers, consultants, out of touch labor bosses, and campaign contributions that will take Massachusetts citizens for a ride again is wrong and will lead to a further disaster to Taxpayers.
I respect your journalism and writing. However, I would request in the future you present all sides if you wear your reporter’s hat.
I have previously written a column that is posted on my Blog in which I name those I consider the guilty, enablers, and heroes of the Big Dig as well as leading us into the current gas tax increase that did not fix our continuing falling apart Massachusetts roads and bridges.
http://oversightwatchmassachusetts.blogspot.com/
Posted by: John Gatti Jr | November 25, 2008 at 10:34 PM
November 25,2008
(John Gatti Jr response on Commonwealth Magazine Blog Site)
I am most disappointed in your support of a Gas Tax Increase without stating the facts and history of how previous ones were spent. Representative David Linsky should at least look at the issue in total and present all the facts and history of where the gas tax increases went before demanding any gas tax or allowing any toll increases.
Your editor Bruce Mohl once ran The Globe Statehouse Bureau with integrity and fairness. I welcome him verifying any comments I am about to make because he was there during the Big Dig infancy and previous gas tax increase.
The former chair of the House Transportation Committee Representative Steven J. Karol stated in a contentious debate on the House Floor in May 1990 that no Turnpike funds would be used to pay for the Big Dig. This took place to approve legislation many were involved that already passed the Senate which would have provided oversight and accountability of the Big Dig project. The Special Interests defeated the measure.
When the last gas tax increase was approved in 1991, we were told that was adequate to fix the deteriorating roads and bridges that upon review did not. Look at was done and not fixed. Look at Federal Funds pouring into Massachusetts that could have been used to repair Massachusetts Interstate and Primary Roads and Bridges and were not.
The sad revelation revealed this week that Parsons Brinkerhoff part of the Big Dig engineering, design, and private oversight of the construction team that ran the Big Dig project from the original $2.3 billion to $23 Billion+ that is now to be awarded the lead design manager for the $370 million Massport project. You should ask the readers if this is right for the inefficiency, waste, mismanagement, fraud, and abuse of the Big Dig. under their watch? This is a moral and financial outrage. The Big Dig is the world’s largest construction project and is a monument for private sector greed and ravage of taxpayers by state and national government. Gas Taxes, Turnpike and Tunnel Tolls expansions should be taken off the table and not even be considered upfront.
Gas Taxes, Turnpike and Tunnel Tolls expansions should be taken off the table and not even be considered upfront.
The time has come for Massachusetts to establish a new WARD Type Commission such as established during the Boston Government Scandal that forced the legislature to implement many government contracting reforms that seem to have eroded in recent years.
Government and the media should inform the Citizens and Taxpayers where previous gas tax increases that were previously promised to fix and repair all the dysfunctional roads and bridges. The guilty and enablers who got Massachusetts into this mess must be exposed and held accountable first. The failure to prosecute in criminal and Civil Courts the truly guilty is deplorable and an insult to all Massachusetts citizens.
To do any increases to the taxpayer without insuring again independent proper government oversight and accountability that is truly independent and staffed to stand up to bad construction practices and the many special interests of contractors, bankers, bonding companies, insurers, consultants, out of touch labor bosses, and campaign contributions that will take Massachusetts citizens for a ride again is wrong and will lead to a further disaster to Taxpayers.
I respect your journalism and writing. However, I would request in the future you present all sides if you wear your reporter’s hat.
I have previously written a column that is posted on my Blog in which I name those I consider the guilty, enablers, and heroes of the Big Dig as well as leading us into the current gas tax increase that did not fix our continuing falling apart Massachusetts roads and bridges.
http://oversightwatchmassachusetts.blogspot.com/
Posted by: John Gatti Jr | November 25, 2008 at 10:34 PM
BIG DIG. GUILTY, ENABLERS AND HEROES
(Please note this is a previously written column that is being posted because a lead partner in design and oversight of the Big Dig has been given a $370 million contract by Massport which I consider and outrage for their performance on the Big Dig!)
November 25, 2008
1977, began the history of the so called Massachusetts Ward Commission chaired and named after a former president of Amherst College who led a citizen panel outraged at the public construction contract scandal that occurred with the building of the infamous Boston Government Center. Their report two years later caused the halls of the Massachusetts Statehouse to loudly shake and so called reforms took place in Massachusetts state government including the advent of the office of Inspector General.
Those construction reforms seem to have failed and been forgotten and a reverse in integrity and ethics has once again surfaced in Massachusetts with school construction, highway, consultant, and vendor repeated scandals being revealed almost weekly. And finally the scandals of Boston’s Central Artery almost $20 billion dollar failure no longer is being able to be covered up by both State and Federal Managers and elected legislators from both parties. US Attorneys, Attorney Generals, Inspector Generals and their colleagues all now are acting piecemeal toothless and ineffective despite warnings for decades by whistleblowers, some journalists, citizens, and a minor cadre of courageous officials. The time has come for a new Ward Commission to clean up the current mess.
State and Federal Taxpayers once again must be exasperated and disgusted at the latest Boston’s Central Artery Project-Big Dig tragedy that is pushing the media. When enough is is enough? No more cover-ups are needed. Time for the truth to least not repeat all the mistakes of the past even now when so much state and federal dollars has been wasted, shoddy construction, and a death that should have been avoided. Billions of Dollars have been wasted in Boston.
Outrageous for Massachusetts Senators Kennedy and Kerry who are now calling for better highway tunnel inspections and so called “Value Engineering”! In addition, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is hinting at doing a cash settlement of $1billion to forgive Bechtel Corporation and potentially others to remove criminal liability! The recent settlement by the Boston US Attorney to settle for $50 million and relieve civil and criminal liability for faulty loads of Big Dig Concrete at this late date of the almost completed 20 year project is another further despicable outrage.
This incompetent damage control cover-up after the fact by those who should have been the watchdogs is a further nadir of disgrace of public trust oversight again fostered on State and National Taxpayers.
Senators Kennedy and Kerry advocating for enhanced tunnel inspections and for “Value Engineering” is a moral and ethical outrage. Value engineering calls for an additional set of engineers and others to be called in evaluating as to quality, cost, and need for major construction projects.
When there were outcries for Big Dig Oversight by those good intentioned citizen and government advocates documented precisely in 1994 and years before by the Massacusetts Inspector general, the Massachusetts House Post Audit and Oversight Committee for Value Engineering and accountability both Senator Kennedy and Kerry were unheard and were part of the enablers that did nothing.
Additionally, I cannot recall at anytime either Kennedy or Kerry leading any charge for accountability or oversight of the project when citizen and government advocates were pleading for assistance for expenditure and construction sanity on the project. Senator Kerry even made the impression that all was well and monies were there joining the Big Dig Bechtel Public relations Specialists to mute outcries for accountability.
The bottom line is Democratic Governor Michael Dukakis and his Secretary of Transportation Fred Salvucci and then highway commissioner Jane Garvey were the forefathers and birth mother laying the foundation for the Big Dig scheme that brought the “no bid, cost plus and little oversight of “ Bechtel with the many other contractors and consultants. Their legacy was continued and enhanced to an art form by the succeeding Republican Governors of Massachusetts, Weld, Cellucci, Swift, and Romney along with their minions of Peter Nessen, Jim Kerasiotis, James Carlin, and Charlie Baker.
The Massachusetts Legislature at almost every inch of the way has shown a lack of oversight and accountability fostered and responsible by the former long term Chairs of the Joint Committee on Transportation Robert Havern and Steven Karol. State Senator Mark Pacheco who heads the Senate Post Audit and Oversight Committee is now making pronunciations on the Big Dig! His so called landmark contract legislation of accountability and oversight called the Pacheco Bill of a decade and a half ago specifically exempts engineering and design from proper fiscal analysis that allowed the Big Dig calamity. Pacheco’s exemption paved the way with impunity for the failures of Bechtel and others to ply their runaway costs.
Boston CBS 4 reporter Jon Keller stated recently on a station’s talk show when asked why all the failures of the original $2.3 Billion contract now reaching $18-$20 Billion project was not reported by the media. Keller the former Boston Globe Editorial writer and columnist stated that both Editorial Boards of the Boston Newspapers (Globe and Boston Herald) were in the “tank”. He even outed a former Globe colleague David Warsh as a long time enabler. There are so many other names of journalists and media types that participated or turned a blind eye.
Next, we had the revolving door of Massachusetts State Attorney Generals L. Scxott Harshbarger and Tom Reilly. Massachusetts also had Democrat and Republican US Attorneys of Wayne Budd, Donald Stern, and Michael Sullivan who served Democratic and Republican Presidents as well as Congresses adding to the record of little or no pleas for oversight. Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone formerly top criminal prosecutor for the state Attorney General who went on to work for the US Attorney has a record of toothless probes on the Big Dig during his tenures.
The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Offices of Inspector General along with the politically appointed non career managers of the Massachusetts State Highway Department and toll road Turnpike Authority required little or no accountability of Federal, State tax dollars, and Toll Fees. Their inactions insured shoddy workmanship and cost escalations despite outcries from construction workers and government engineers. This resulted in diversion of needed State and Federal Tax dollars from other Massachusetts roads and bridges resulting in their serious current disrepair status.
I suggest those seeking the truth on the Big Dig look at the State House Post Audit and Oversight Committee and past reports on the Big Dig under former chairs Cerasoli, Kennedy, and especially the era of William Nagle and staff director Thomas Hammond to determine the facts against what Kennedy, Kerry and others after decades are trying to do to appear as crusaders. That legislative committee of integrity was the sole sanctuary to bring financial sanity and oversight to the project despite the Big Dig juggernaut of attacks. Their efforts were stopped when Representative James Fagan became chair and the departure of then crusading Staff Director Thomas Hammond.
Additionally, talk to the real heroes of good government that sounded the alarms who were dismissed, demeaned, intimidated, or called “gadflys” by the Big Dig propaganda machine. They include reporters Peter Howe, Tim Sandler,Wendell Woodman, John Coughlin, Charles Sennott, Joe bergantino Ron Gallobin, Jon Wells, David Kassel, John Vanscoyoc, John Strahinch, and Joe Bergantino to name a few to the list. Also, note people such as legislators, the late Fran Doris, Marie Parente, Bill Constantino, Tom Norton, William Keating, and Richard Moore, Warren Tolman, and Vincent Mannering. Even Speaker Dimasi when a rank and file legislator and Emmanuel Serra were also dismissed. Special mention should go to the late Jerry Williams, Fred Langone, Chris Ianella, Joe Baresi, Steve Cotton, Joe Dinucci as well as Howie Carr, Larry Overlan, K. Dunn Gifford, Auditor DeNucci, and Scott Amey of the Washington based whistleblower group Project on Government Oversight for all their time and efforts that went unheeded by Kennedy-Kerry and others.
The Kerry and Kennedy new attempts at revisionism and attempting to act like whistleblowers in seeking Highway Tunnel Inspections and so called “ Value engineering” is short of nothing too late. Both senators at this stage of their careers have the distinction of promoting with no oversight the largest and most costly flawed government construction project ever undertaken in the United States. Their continued repetitive actions of coverup is ensuring Boston’s Big Dig to be the largest international construction monument for waste, fraud, and abuse. Massachusetts new Governor Deval Patrick should not let all the enablers and the Big Dig guilty get Pardons and Freedoms for so called minor “Chump Change” that will allow again State and Federal Taxpayers and the infinity Toll Road Toll Payers to continue and be victimized.
Massachuestts needs a new WARD Commission to get needed reforms and be the model for the federal government to follow.
John Gatti Jr. is the architect of the Massachusetts Public Employee Whistleblower Law and one of the first to call for Oversight on Boston’s Central Artery Project. He writes and reports on Business, Labor, andGovernment Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.
(Please note this is a previously written column that is being posted because a lead partner in design and oversight of the Big Dig has been given a $370 million contract by Massport which I consider and outrage for their performance on the Big Dig!)
November 25, 2008
1977, began the history of the so called Massachusetts Ward Commission chaired and named after a former president of Amherst College who led a citizen panel outraged at the public construction contract scandal that occurred with the building of the infamous Boston Government Center. Their report two years later caused the halls of the Massachusetts Statehouse to loudly shake and so called reforms took place in Massachusetts state government including the advent of the office of Inspector General.
Those construction reforms seem to have failed and been forgotten and a reverse in integrity and ethics has once again surfaced in Massachusetts with school construction, highway, consultant, and vendor repeated scandals being revealed almost weekly. And finally the scandals of Boston’s Central Artery almost $20 billion dollar failure no longer is being able to be covered up by both State and Federal Managers and elected legislators from both parties. US Attorneys, Attorney Generals, Inspector Generals and their colleagues all now are acting piecemeal toothless and ineffective despite warnings for decades by whistleblowers, some journalists, citizens, and a minor cadre of courageous officials. The time has come for a new Ward Commission to clean up the current mess.
State and Federal Taxpayers once again must be exasperated and disgusted at the latest Boston’s Central Artery Project-Big Dig tragedy that is pushing the media. When enough is is enough? No more cover-ups are needed. Time for the truth to least not repeat all the mistakes of the past even now when so much state and federal dollars has been wasted, shoddy construction, and a death that should have been avoided. Billions of Dollars have been wasted in Boston.
Outrageous for Massachusetts Senators Kennedy and Kerry who are now calling for better highway tunnel inspections and so called “Value Engineering”! In addition, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is hinting at doing a cash settlement of $1billion to forgive Bechtel Corporation and potentially others to remove criminal liability! The recent settlement by the Boston US Attorney to settle for $50 million and relieve civil and criminal liability for faulty loads of Big Dig Concrete at this late date of the almost completed 20 year project is another further despicable outrage.
This incompetent damage control cover-up after the fact by those who should have been the watchdogs is a further nadir of disgrace of public trust oversight again fostered on State and National Taxpayers.
Senators Kennedy and Kerry advocating for enhanced tunnel inspections and for “Value Engineering” is a moral and ethical outrage. Value engineering calls for an additional set of engineers and others to be called in evaluating as to quality, cost, and need for major construction projects.
When there were outcries for Big Dig Oversight by those good intentioned citizen and government advocates documented precisely in 1994 and years before by the Massacusetts Inspector general, the Massachusetts House Post Audit and Oversight Committee for Value Engineering and accountability both Senator Kennedy and Kerry were unheard and were part of the enablers that did nothing.
Additionally, I cannot recall at anytime either Kennedy or Kerry leading any charge for accountability or oversight of the project when citizen and government advocates were pleading for assistance for expenditure and construction sanity on the project. Senator Kerry even made the impression that all was well and monies were there joining the Big Dig Bechtel Public relations Specialists to mute outcries for accountability.
The bottom line is Democratic Governor Michael Dukakis and his Secretary of Transportation Fred Salvucci and then highway commissioner Jane Garvey were the forefathers and birth mother laying the foundation for the Big Dig scheme that brought the “no bid, cost plus and little oversight of “ Bechtel with the many other contractors and consultants. Their legacy was continued and enhanced to an art form by the succeeding Republican Governors of Massachusetts, Weld, Cellucci, Swift, and Romney along with their minions of Peter Nessen, Jim Kerasiotis, James Carlin, and Charlie Baker.
The Massachusetts Legislature at almost every inch of the way has shown a lack of oversight and accountability fostered and responsible by the former long term Chairs of the Joint Committee on Transportation Robert Havern and Steven Karol. State Senator Mark Pacheco who heads the Senate Post Audit and Oversight Committee is now making pronunciations on the Big Dig! His so called landmark contract legislation of accountability and oversight called the Pacheco Bill of a decade and a half ago specifically exempts engineering and design from proper fiscal analysis that allowed the Big Dig calamity. Pacheco’s exemption paved the way with impunity for the failures of Bechtel and others to ply their runaway costs.
Boston CBS 4 reporter Jon Keller stated recently on a station’s talk show when asked why all the failures of the original $2.3 Billion contract now reaching $18-$20 Billion project was not reported by the media. Keller the former Boston Globe Editorial writer and columnist stated that both Editorial Boards of the Boston Newspapers (Globe and Boston Herald) were in the “tank”. He even outed a former Globe colleague David Warsh as a long time enabler. There are so many other names of journalists and media types that participated or turned a blind eye.
Next, we had the revolving door of Massachusetts State Attorney Generals L. Scxott Harshbarger and Tom Reilly. Massachusetts also had Democrat and Republican US Attorneys of Wayne Budd, Donald Stern, and Michael Sullivan who served Democratic and Republican Presidents as well as Congresses adding to the record of little or no pleas for oversight. Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone formerly top criminal prosecutor for the state Attorney General who went on to work for the US Attorney has a record of toothless probes on the Big Dig during his tenures.
The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Offices of Inspector General along with the politically appointed non career managers of the Massachusetts State Highway Department and toll road Turnpike Authority required little or no accountability of Federal, State tax dollars, and Toll Fees. Their inactions insured shoddy workmanship and cost escalations despite outcries from construction workers and government engineers. This resulted in diversion of needed State and Federal Tax dollars from other Massachusetts roads and bridges resulting in their serious current disrepair status.
I suggest those seeking the truth on the Big Dig look at the State House Post Audit and Oversight Committee and past reports on the Big Dig under former chairs Cerasoli, Kennedy, and especially the era of William Nagle and staff director Thomas Hammond to determine the facts against what Kennedy, Kerry and others after decades are trying to do to appear as crusaders. That legislative committee of integrity was the sole sanctuary to bring financial sanity and oversight to the project despite the Big Dig juggernaut of attacks. Their efforts were stopped when Representative James Fagan became chair and the departure of then crusading Staff Director Thomas Hammond.
Additionally, talk to the real heroes of good government that sounded the alarms who were dismissed, demeaned, intimidated, or called “gadflys” by the Big Dig propaganda machine. They include reporters Peter Howe, Tim Sandler,Wendell Woodman, John Coughlin, Charles Sennott, Joe bergantino Ron Gallobin, Jon Wells, David Kassel, John Vanscoyoc, John Strahinch, and Joe Bergantino to name a few to the list. Also, note people such as legislators, the late Fran Doris, Marie Parente, Bill Constantino, Tom Norton, William Keating, and Richard Moore, Warren Tolman, and Vincent Mannering. Even Speaker Dimasi when a rank and file legislator and Emmanuel Serra were also dismissed. Special mention should go to the late Jerry Williams, Fred Langone, Chris Ianella, Joe Baresi, Steve Cotton, Joe Dinucci as well as Howie Carr, Larry Overlan, K. Dunn Gifford, Auditor DeNucci, and Scott Amey of the Washington based whistleblower group Project on Government Oversight for all their time and efforts that went unheeded by Kennedy-Kerry and others.
The Kerry and Kennedy new attempts at revisionism and attempting to act like whistleblowers in seeking Highway Tunnel Inspections and so called “ Value engineering” is short of nothing too late. Both senators at this stage of their careers have the distinction of promoting with no oversight the largest and most costly flawed government construction project ever undertaken in the United States. Their continued repetitive actions of coverup is ensuring Boston’s Big Dig to be the largest international construction monument for waste, fraud, and abuse. Massachusetts new Governor Deval Patrick should not let all the enablers and the Big Dig guilty get Pardons and Freedoms for so called minor “Chump Change” that will allow again State and Federal Taxpayers and the infinity Toll Road Toll Payers to continue and be victimized.
Massachuestts needs a new WARD Commission to get needed reforms and be the model for the federal government to follow.
John Gatti Jr. is the architect of the Massachusetts Public Employee Whistleblower Law and one of the first to call for Oversight on Boston’s Central Artery Project. He writes and reports on Business, Labor, andGovernment Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.
Boston Globe Editorial About Unkindest Healthcare Cuts Misses the Mark....The Power Of The Pen Is Off target
November 21, 2008
The Boston Globe has an editorial today about the unkindest cuts and the suffering in healthcare. Due respect to what this editorial states, the power of the pen continues to be off target. Nothing will be done in healthcare until such time the sellers and providers are held accountable: hospitals, insurers, drug companies, and government.
Consumers, citizens in need, and businesses cannot be expected to be continually victimized on behalf of healthcare industry greed and constant costly corrupt practices.
Hospital deregulation in the early 1990 era was to foster healthcare competition and did not. You saw, see, and will see the survival of the deep pockets and not the most efficient in the hospital and healthcare delivery care system.
Partners Healthcare and its monopolistic practices is exterminating community hospitals and centers and the catering allowance of boutique healthcare for the very well off from everywhere continues to the detriment of all.
The constant high price advertising and million dollar plus salaries for former failed government geniuses such as Republican Charles Baker from the financially bailed out Harvard Pilgrim healthcare and now Democrat James Roosevelt at Tufts healthcare occupying a most well heeled financial CEO perch is the high point of greed that the auto company honchos should emulate. Their continued frazzle dazzle made state government to go from a provider of human services to a buyer of unmonitored health services.
For profit, non profit, and not for profit Massachusetts healthcare from top to bottom needs an in depth greed analysis. The current Massachusetts system of healthcare for the not and under insured scammed, launched, and implemented from PR lobbyist guy Jack Connors, The Vault, and Chamber of Commerce deserves a self audit for care, concern, and compassion.
Waste, fraud, and Abuse in healthcare premiums, drugs, and tax dollars being squandered in healthcare and non quality services must be addressed.
Time to listen and address healthcare from the bottom up from consumers, medical support staff, nurses, doctors and not top down from the sell serving medical CEO golden bonus crowd of managers, dysfunctional legislature, and infiltrated so called business groups that the healthcare industries paying dues victimizes non healthcare businesses battling to maintain the healthcare for themselves and employees.
The time has come for a legislature to do something in healthcare that is a right for every resident of this state by listening to the citizenry and telling the healthcare industry enough is enough.
MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK MUST NOT BECOME TRAPPED WITH CYNICAL ATTACKS FROM UNSTATED PERPETRATORS THAT DETRACKS FROM LEADERSHIP DESPERATELY NEEDED
November 20, 2008
Democrat Governor Deval Patrick speaking at Suffolk University launched an attack upon his detractors unnamed. The guessing game ranges who the guilty maybe? They must be some from his own party, maybe a Governor Wannabe, the media, or the remnants of an almost extinct Massachusetts Republican Party.
Governor Patrick you are entering the third year of your four year tenure. You had so much vision and promise during your campaign and when first elected. However, you are acting like so many Governors before you be they Republican or Democrat, self service and not public service.
You can still be identified as a statesman instead as another politician. Your state is in crisis with so many sinking needing lifelines for food, medical care, shelter, education. The state’s middle class is under siege with job insecurity, failure to be able to pay for mortgages or rent. The business and industrial climate is sinking. You must reach the hearts and hopes of all citizens and not display public personal sarcasm. That is beneath you and your office.
It is time for your utmost leadership to challenge and work against any and all cynicism real or imagined that you insist is there. You must rise above the naysayer and be one for the vision of greatness for the Massachusetts present and future. Give the needed Hope, Concern, Compassion, and Sunshine needed in these times of failure and hopelessness in so many areas.
Government must be there before, during, and after when crisis or despair occurs. Mechanisms and rapid response solutions whether they affect humanity, family, or business crises must be ingrained and ready when needed.
Start with issuing a compact declaring direct confrontation to end all inefficiencies, waste, and mismanagement of government expenditures with all vendors, contractors, consultants and providers of taxpayer dollars be they for profit, non profit, or not for profit. Strong Waste and Fraud prevention apparatuses must be built into all state, local, and authority agencies. You must declare and attain a goal of a government that works, free of spoils, and patronage to restore merit, pride, and performance for employees performing their duties.
Issue a transparent budget complete with line items, subsidiary accounts, object codes and position scheduling with precise goals and objectives to be obtained for each tax dollar spent that will include detailed monthly reports to be publicly stated by you and not others.
Curb the appetite of the elected of massive fundraising and special interest campaign contributions. Lobbying on issues before government must be educational from the well heeled and equaled from those advocates and citizens less endowed.
I welcome you to be the first Governor of Massachusetts to be remembered as a statesman and not another politician for the 21st century.
Massachusetts Common Cause Head Pam Wilmot Must Resign from Governor Deval Patrick's So Called Stacked Public Integrity Task Force To Maintain Her credibility As The Process Already Appears Tainted By Closed Door Meeting
November 19, 2008
The head of Common Cause of Massachusetts Pam Wilmot should immediately resign from Governor Deval Patrick’s self appoiunted so called Public Integrity Ethics Taskforce in which he also selected the chairperson. The Task Force being appointed at this time especially in light of the current Beacon Hill Scandals does appear as damage control. Chastising the Governor or that panel for holding its first meeting behind closed doors is an insult to Ms. Wimot’s membership, organization, and supporters. The failure will be apparent is if she continues to participate or be used with the so called recommendations that may come forward amount to only window dressing.
Look at the some names on this so called task force Charles Baker Jr., Scott Harshbarger, and Representative James Fagan! All had a part in the Big Dig fiasco that went from$2.3 Billion to $23+ Billion that was riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse. This project was the largest construction cost construction project in history. Does more need to be said about their watch and responsibilities?
Ms. Wilmot from Common Cause of Massachusetts, do not give yourself and your organization a not proud moment. Resign now and submit recommendations that you have done over the years that were never taken seriously by so called decision makers.
The time has come for an independent government reform organization that should be installed and more independent than the WARD Commission that was formed during the Government Center Scandal.
Ms. Wilmot could lead a credible reform movement and not be used as she has and not have to publicly scold Governor Patrick.
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATORS MOVING TO INCREASE GAS TAX,,,NEED A TIME OUT...LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST THAT DID NOT FIX OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES
November 18, 2008
Gas Taxes, Turnpike and Tunnel Tolls expansions should be taken off the table and not even be considered upfront.
The time has come for Massachusetts to establish a new WARD Type Commission such as established during the Boston Government Scandal that forced the legislature to implement many government contracting reforms that seem to have eroded in recent years.
Government and the media should inform the Citizens and Taxpayers where previous gas tax increases that were previously promised to fix and repair all the dysfunctional roads and bridges. The guilty and enablers who got Massachusetts into this mess must be exposed and held accountable first. The failure to prosecute in criminal and Civil Courts the truly guilty is deplorable and an insult to all Massachusetts citizens.
To do any increases to the taxpayer without insuring again independent proper government oversight and accountability that is truly independent and staffed to stand up to bad construction practices and the many special interests of contractors, bankers, bonding companies, insurers, consultants, out of touch labor bosses, and campaign contributions take Massachusetts citizens for a ride again is wrong and will lead to a further disaster to Taxpayers and Citizens.
The Massachusdetts Legislature Is Alseep Again By Allowing Governor Patrick And The Turnpike Gang To Cover Further Waste, Fraud and Abuse with New Toll Increases.
November 14, 2008
When will the Massachusetts legislature wakes up from a deep sleep to finally addressing phony turnpike toll increases that we were told in May 1990 that no tolls would be used to pay for the Big Dig? The project was to cost only $2.3 Billion and now will go to $23+ billion. The project is a national and international monument for the world’s most expensive road and bridge project that is riddled with poor engineering, construction, lack of oversight and accountability with little or no financial or jail punishment of the guilty and enablers.
Not a penny more for the Big Dig and all roads and bridges until first there is a determination that all Massachusetts citizens and taxpayers know the real unvarnished facts, a non special interest economic analysis is done, and all the dastards that got us into this mess are truly exposed and held accountable.
There must be a true non-partisan state government structure dedicated to independent oversight and accountability. The total reliance on private no bid for profit oversight by Bechtel and others of tax expenditures has been a failure. Only then, can we discuss and prioritize and objectively analyze what needs to be done.
We must know where the transportation monies went before any dastardly consideration of digging deeper into taxpayer pockets.
November 14, 2008
When will the Massachusetts legislature wakes up from a deep sleep to finally addressing phony turnpike toll increases that we were told in May 1990 that no tolls would be used to pay for the Big Dig? The project was to cost only $2.3 Billion and now will go to $23+ billion. The project is a national and international monument for the world’s most expensive road and bridge project that is riddled with poor engineering, construction, lack of oversight and accountability with little or no financial or jail punishment of the guilty and enablers.
Not a penny more for the Big Dig and all roads and bridges until first there is a determination that all Massachusetts citizens and taxpayers know the real unvarnished facts, a non special interest economic analysis is done, and all the dastards that got us into this mess are truly exposed and held accountable.
There must be a true non-partisan state government structure dedicated to independent oversight and accountability. The total reliance on private no bid for profit oversight by Bechtel and others of tax expenditures has been a failure. Only then, can we discuss and prioritize and objectively analyze what needs to be done.
We must know where the transportation monies went before any dastardly consideration of digging deeper into taxpayer pockets.
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is talking Massachusetts Turnpike transfer of the agency and Big DIG issues in Boston Globe Op-ed.....Enclosed is a previously written history of the BIG DIG Guilty, Enablers, and Heroes he should look at before he acts like another admistration or boldly decides to act like a statesman....
November 13, 2008
1977, began the history of the so called Massachusetts Ward Commission chaired and named after a former president of Amherst College who led a citizen panel outraged at the public construction contract scandal that occurred with the building of the infamous Boston Government Center. Their report two years later caused the halls of the Massachusetts Statehouse to loudly shake and so called reforms took place in Massachusetts state government including the advent of the office of Inspector General.
Those construction reforms seem to have failed and been forgotten and a reverse in integrity and ethics has once again surfaced in Massachusetts with school construction, highway, consultant, and vendor repeated scandals being revealed almost weekly. And finally the scandals of Boston’s Central Artery almost $20 billion dollar failure no longer is being able to be covered up by both State and Federal Managers and elected legislators from both parties.
US Attorneys, Attorney Generals, Inspector Generals and their colleagues all now are acting piecemeal toothless and ineffective despite warnings for decades by whistleblowers, some journalists, citizens, and a minor cadre of courageous officials.
The time has come for a new Ward Commission to clean up the current mess. State and Federal Taxpayers once again must be exasperated and disgusted at the latest Boston’s Central Artery Project-Big Dig tragedy that is pushing the media. When enough is is enough? No more cover-ups are needed. Time for the truth to least not repeat all the mistakes of the past even now when so much state and federal dollars has been wasted, shoddy construction, and a death that should have been avoided. Billions of Dollars have been wasted in Boston.
Outrageous for Massachusetts Senators Kennedy and Kerry who are now calling for better highway tunnel inspections and so called “Value Engineering”! In addition, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is hinting at doing a cash settlement of $1billion to forgive Bechtel Corporation and potentially others to remove criminal liability! The recent settlement by the Boston US Attorney to settle for $50 million and relieve civil and criminal liability for faulty loads of Big Dig Concrete at this late date of the almost completed 20 year project is another further despicable outrage.
This incompetent damage control cover-up after the fact by those who should have been the watchdogs is a further nadir of disgrace of public trust oversight again fostered on State and National Taxpayers.
Senators Kennedy and Kerry advocating for enhanced tunnel inspections and for “Value Engineering” is a moral and ethical outrage. Value engineering calls for an additional set of engineers and others to be called in evaluating as to quality, cost, and need for major construction projects.
When there were outcries for Big Dig Oversight by those good intentioned citizen and government advocates documented precisely in 1994 and years before by the Massacusetts Inspector general, the Massachusetts House Post Audit and Oversight Committee for Value Engineering and accountability both Senator Kennedy and Kerry were unheard and were part of the enablers that did nothing.
Additionally, I cannot recall at anytime either Kennedy or Kerry leading any charge for accountability or oversight of the project when citizen and government advocates were pleading for assistance for expenditure and construction sanity on the project. Senator Kerry even made the impression that all was well and monies were there joining the Big Dig Bechtel Public relations Specialists to mute outcries for accountability.
The bottom line is Democratic Governor Michael Dukakis and his Secretary of Transportation Fred Salvucci and then highway commissioner Jane Garvey were the forefathers and birth mother laying the foundation for the Big Dig scheme that brought the “no bid, cost plus and little oversight of “ Bechtel with the many other contractors and consultants. Their legacy was continued and enhanced to an art form by the succeeding Republican Governors of Massachusetts, Weld, Cellucci, Swift, and Romney along with their minions of Peter Nessen, Jim Kerasiotis, James Carlin, and Charlie Baker.
The Massachusetts Legislature at almost every inch of the way has shown a lack of oversight and accountability fostered and responsible by the former long term Chairs of the Joint Committee on Transportation Robert Havern and Steven Karol. State Senator Mark Pacheco who heads the Senate Post Audit and Oversight Committee is now making pronunciations on the Big Dig! His so called landmark contract legislation of accountability and oversight called the Pacheco Bill of a decade and a half ago specifically exempts engineering and design from proper fiscal analysis that allowed the Big Dig calamity. Pacheco’s exemption paved the way with impunity for the failures of Bechtel and others to ply their runaway costs.
Boston CBS 4 reporter Jon Keller stated recently on a station’s talk show when asked why all the failures of the original $2.3 Billion contract now reaching $18-$20 Billion project was not reported by the media. Keller the former Boston Globe Editorial writer and columnist stated that both Editorial Boards of the Boston Newspapers (Globe and Boston Herald) were in the “tank”. He even outed a former Globe colleague David Warsh as a long time enabler. There are so many other names of journalists and media types that participated or turned a blind eye.
Next, we had the revolving door of Massachusetts State Attorney Generals L. Scxott Harshbarger and Tom Reilly. Massachusetts also had Democrat and Republican US Attorneys of Wayne Budd, Donald Stern, and Michael Sullivan who served Democratic and Republican Presidents as well as Congresses adding to the record of little or no pleas for oversight. Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone formerly top criminal prosecutor for the state Attorney General who went on to work for the US Attorney has a record of toothless probes on the Big Dig during his tenures.
The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Offices of Inspector General along with the politically appointed non career managers of the Massachusetts State Highway Department and toll road Turnpike Authority required little or no accountability of Federal, State tax dollars, and Toll Fees. Their inactions insured shoddy workmanship and cost escalations despite outcries from construction workers and government engineers. This resulted in diversion of needed State and Federal Tax dollars from other Massachusetts roads and bridges resulting in their serious current disrepair status.
I suggest those seeking the truth on the Big Dig look at the State House Post Audit and Oversight Committee and past reports on the Big Dig under former chairs Cerasoli, Kennedy, and especially the era of William Nagle and staff director Thomas Hammond to determine the facts against what Kennedy, Kerry and others after decades are trying to do to appear as crusaders. That legislative committee of integrity was the sole sanctuary to bring financial sanity and oversight to the project despite the Big Dig juggernaut of attacks. Their efforts were stopped when Representative James Fagan became chair and the departure of then crusading Staff Director Thomas Hammond.
Additionally, talk to the real heroes of good government that sounded the alarms who were dismissed, demeaned, intimidated, or called “gadflys” by the Big Dig propaganda machine. They include reporters Peter Howe, Tim Sandler,Wendell Woodman, John Coughlin, Charles Sennott, Joe bergantino Ron Gallobin, Jon Wells, David Kassel, John Vanscoyoc, John Strahinch, and Joe Bergantino to name a few to the list. Also, note people such as legislators, the late Fran Doris, Marie Parente, Bill Constantino, Tom Norton, William Keating, and Richard Moore, Warren Tolman, and Vincent Mannering. Even Speaker Dimasi when a rank and file legislator and Emmanuel Serra were also dismissed. Special mention should go to the late Jerry Williams, Fred Langone, Chris Ianella, Joe Baresi, Steve Cotton, Joe Dinucci as well as Howie Carr, Larry Overlan, K. Dunn Gifford, Auditor DeNucci, and Scott Amey of the Washington based whistleblower group Project on Government Oversight for all their time and efforts that went unheeded by Kennedy-Kerry and others.
The Kerry and Kennedy new attempts at revisionism and attempting to act like whistleblowers in seeking Highway Tunnel Inspections and so called “ Value engineering” is short of nothing too late. Both senators at this stage of their careers have the distinction of promoting with no oversight the largest and most costly flawed government construction project ever undertaken in the United States. Their continued repetitive actions of coverup is ensuring Boston’s Big Dig to be the largest international construction monument for waste, fraud, and abuse. Massachusetts new Governor Deval Patrick should not let all the enablers and the Big Dig guilty get Pardons and Freedoms for so called minor “Chump Change” that will allow again State and Federal Taxpayers and the infinity Toll Road Toll Payers to continue and be victimized.
Massachuestts needs a new WARD Commission to get needed reforms and be the model for the federal government to follow.
November 13, 2008
1977, began the history of the so called Massachusetts Ward Commission chaired and named after a former president of Amherst College who led a citizen panel outraged at the public construction contract scandal that occurred with the building of the infamous Boston Government Center. Their report two years later caused the halls of the Massachusetts Statehouse to loudly shake and so called reforms took place in Massachusetts state government including the advent of the office of Inspector General.
Those construction reforms seem to have failed and been forgotten and a reverse in integrity and ethics has once again surfaced in Massachusetts with school construction, highway, consultant, and vendor repeated scandals being revealed almost weekly. And finally the scandals of Boston’s Central Artery almost $20 billion dollar failure no longer is being able to be covered up by both State and Federal Managers and elected legislators from both parties.
US Attorneys, Attorney Generals, Inspector Generals and their colleagues all now are acting piecemeal toothless and ineffective despite warnings for decades by whistleblowers, some journalists, citizens, and a minor cadre of courageous officials.
The time has come for a new Ward Commission to clean up the current mess. State and Federal Taxpayers once again must be exasperated and disgusted at the latest Boston’s Central Artery Project-Big Dig tragedy that is pushing the media. When enough is is enough? No more cover-ups are needed. Time for the truth to least not repeat all the mistakes of the past even now when so much state and federal dollars has been wasted, shoddy construction, and a death that should have been avoided. Billions of Dollars have been wasted in Boston.
Outrageous for Massachusetts Senators Kennedy and Kerry who are now calling for better highway tunnel inspections and so called “Value Engineering”! In addition, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is hinting at doing a cash settlement of $1billion to forgive Bechtel Corporation and potentially others to remove criminal liability! The recent settlement by the Boston US Attorney to settle for $50 million and relieve civil and criminal liability for faulty loads of Big Dig Concrete at this late date of the almost completed 20 year project is another further despicable outrage.
This incompetent damage control cover-up after the fact by those who should have been the watchdogs is a further nadir of disgrace of public trust oversight again fostered on State and National Taxpayers.
Senators Kennedy and Kerry advocating for enhanced tunnel inspections and for “Value Engineering” is a moral and ethical outrage. Value engineering calls for an additional set of engineers and others to be called in evaluating as to quality, cost, and need for major construction projects.
When there were outcries for Big Dig Oversight by those good intentioned citizen and government advocates documented precisely in 1994 and years before by the Massacusetts Inspector general, the Massachusetts House Post Audit and Oversight Committee for Value Engineering and accountability both Senator Kennedy and Kerry were unheard and were part of the enablers that did nothing.
Additionally, I cannot recall at anytime either Kennedy or Kerry leading any charge for accountability or oversight of the project when citizen and government advocates were pleading for assistance for expenditure and construction sanity on the project. Senator Kerry even made the impression that all was well and monies were there joining the Big Dig Bechtel Public relations Specialists to mute outcries for accountability.
The bottom line is Democratic Governor Michael Dukakis and his Secretary of Transportation Fred Salvucci and then highway commissioner Jane Garvey were the forefathers and birth mother laying the foundation for the Big Dig scheme that brought the “no bid, cost plus and little oversight of “ Bechtel with the many other contractors and consultants. Their legacy was continued and enhanced to an art form by the succeeding Republican Governors of Massachusetts, Weld, Cellucci, Swift, and Romney along with their minions of Peter Nessen, Jim Kerasiotis, James Carlin, and Charlie Baker.
The Massachusetts Legislature at almost every inch of the way has shown a lack of oversight and accountability fostered and responsible by the former long term Chairs of the Joint Committee on Transportation Robert Havern and Steven Karol. State Senator Mark Pacheco who heads the Senate Post Audit and Oversight Committee is now making pronunciations on the Big Dig! His so called landmark contract legislation of accountability and oversight called the Pacheco Bill of a decade and a half ago specifically exempts engineering and design from proper fiscal analysis that allowed the Big Dig calamity. Pacheco’s exemption paved the way with impunity for the failures of Bechtel and others to ply their runaway costs.
Boston CBS 4 reporter Jon Keller stated recently on a station’s talk show when asked why all the failures of the original $2.3 Billion contract now reaching $18-$20 Billion project was not reported by the media. Keller the former Boston Globe Editorial writer and columnist stated that both Editorial Boards of the Boston Newspapers (Globe and Boston Herald) were in the “tank”. He even outed a former Globe colleague David Warsh as a long time enabler. There are so many other names of journalists and media types that participated or turned a blind eye.
Next, we had the revolving door of Massachusetts State Attorney Generals L. Scxott Harshbarger and Tom Reilly. Massachusetts also had Democrat and Republican US Attorneys of Wayne Budd, Donald Stern, and Michael Sullivan who served Democratic and Republican Presidents as well as Congresses adding to the record of little or no pleas for oversight. Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone formerly top criminal prosecutor for the state Attorney General who went on to work for the US Attorney has a record of toothless probes on the Big Dig during his tenures.
The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Offices of Inspector General along with the politically appointed non career managers of the Massachusetts State Highway Department and toll road Turnpike Authority required little or no accountability of Federal, State tax dollars, and Toll Fees. Their inactions insured shoddy workmanship and cost escalations despite outcries from construction workers and government engineers. This resulted in diversion of needed State and Federal Tax dollars from other Massachusetts roads and bridges resulting in their serious current disrepair status.
I suggest those seeking the truth on the Big Dig look at the State House Post Audit and Oversight Committee and past reports on the Big Dig under former chairs Cerasoli, Kennedy, and especially the era of William Nagle and staff director Thomas Hammond to determine the facts against what Kennedy, Kerry and others after decades are trying to do to appear as crusaders. That legislative committee of integrity was the sole sanctuary to bring financial sanity and oversight to the project despite the Big Dig juggernaut of attacks. Their efforts were stopped when Representative James Fagan became chair and the departure of then crusading Staff Director Thomas Hammond.
Additionally, talk to the real heroes of good government that sounded the alarms who were dismissed, demeaned, intimidated, or called “gadflys” by the Big Dig propaganda machine. They include reporters Peter Howe, Tim Sandler,Wendell Woodman, John Coughlin, Charles Sennott, Joe bergantino Ron Gallobin, Jon Wells, David Kassel, John Vanscoyoc, John Strahinch, and Joe Bergantino to name a few to the list. Also, note people such as legislators, the late Fran Doris, Marie Parente, Bill Constantino, Tom Norton, William Keating, and Richard Moore, Warren Tolman, and Vincent Mannering. Even Speaker Dimasi when a rank and file legislator and Emmanuel Serra were also dismissed. Special mention should go to the late Jerry Williams, Fred Langone, Chris Ianella, Joe Baresi, Steve Cotton, Joe Dinucci as well as Howie Carr, Larry Overlan, K. Dunn Gifford, Auditor DeNucci, and Scott Amey of the Washington based whistleblower group Project on Government Oversight for all their time and efforts that went unheeded by Kennedy-Kerry and others.
The Kerry and Kennedy new attempts at revisionism and attempting to act like whistleblowers in seeking Highway Tunnel Inspections and so called “ Value engineering” is short of nothing too late. Both senators at this stage of their careers have the distinction of promoting with no oversight the largest and most costly flawed government construction project ever undertaken in the United States. Their continued repetitive actions of coverup is ensuring Boston’s Big Dig to be the largest international construction monument for waste, fraud, and abuse. Massachusetts new Governor Deval Patrick should not let all the enablers and the Big Dig guilty get Pardons and Freedoms for so called minor “Chump Change” that will allow again State and Federal Taxpayers and the infinity Toll Road Toll Payers to continue and be victimized.
Massachuestts needs a new WARD Commission to get needed reforms and be the model for the federal government to follow.
Mitt Romney Media Guy Eric Fehrnstrom Again Under Assault. A former dynamic Investigative Reporter Like Many who Lacked Career Opportunities In The Declining Media Being Forced Into Public Relations
November 11, 2008
The Boston Globe recently published a guest column from Eric Fehrnstrom former Massachusetts Governor and Republican candidate for President Mitt Romney that detailed his views of unfair attacks on Youtube and internet use by bloggers. The Boston Phoenix and the Blue Mass Group took exception to the column and writer that has raised a reflection about this one time promising investigative journalist whose lack of career job opportunities in the declining media apparently forced him to become a public relations spokesperson.
I spent well over a decade as an advocate at the statehouse. I recall Eric as a your reporter working at the statehouse for the Boston Herald. He was an excellent young at the time inquisitive investigative reporter working under fellow reporters Jon Wells, Bob Connolly, and Peter Lucas Wells and Fehrnstrom as a team worked above and beyond sccoping the Globe and plying their trades through hard work.
Eric was always fair and objective as well as helpful. When other reporters would only listen to the establishment elected politicos to always gain stories and access, both Eric and Jon Wells would listen to those of us seeking a reporter to exposen improprieties. These two would even report our accurate views even in contradiction to the Herald Editorial Board.
Unfortunately for Eric, the career path in the media was not there and the wage scale quite low. Journalism then lost a bright competent investigative reporter.
Supporting a family, he stunned me when he accepted a job with State Treasurer Joe Malone and later Governor Mitt Romney.
With Malone when I and others stood up to the waste, fraud, and abuse in the State Treasurers Office, Eric was a hard hitting adversary.We had several confrontations during legisltive hearings before the Public Service committee and at times quite caustic.
The same also when working later for Mitt Romney.
I do not agree with Eric on many issues. However, he was always available to have a discussion on issues that I diagreed with him on.
Journalism and the media has changed in the last 20 years and newspapers are becoming relics of the past. The free press that our citizens expect and taken for granted is in rapid. I just imagine what Eric Fehrnstrom could have been like so many other potential investigative reporters if newspapers and investigative reporting was not in such decline with little or no job opportunities and stable career path.
All OUT REPORTING IS NEEDED TO GAIN REFORMS AND STOP THE WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN CONSTRUCTION LABOR BOSSES AND NON UNION CONTRACTORS
November 7,2008
There is a constant daily all out media war being conducted in the construction industry by the labor bosses and non union contractors in Massachusetts that needs truth and investigative reporting to truly inform the citizenry. The media in some sort of continuous analysis must present the reality of the situation in order to be a catalyst for the required reforms.
The babble and phony statements continue relative to union and non union projects. The labor bosses on one side and so called non union contractors on the other side. The highly paid construction bosses out of touch with their members and taxpayers continue their show boating. The unions themselves squabble among themselves with various crafts raiding the others' work on job sites. The so called non union contractors keep on giving misinformation and working for goals of little or no oversight by maintaining a blind eye to the rampant fraud and abuse
The bottom line is prevailing wage laws on public works projects and their intention is good for the industry and taxpayers. The laws insure quality in construction be a union or non union contractor doing the work utilizing public taxpayer dollars.
The problem is the laws are not being properly enforced by state government to insure that a dollars work of public works construction for a dollar being paid. The labor bosses themselves are to be blamed since they destroyed the Secretariat of Labor. These same bosses continually cover up non enforcement, monitoring, and their destruction of proper enforcement. The Attorney General does not employ a system of systematic construction workplace inspections that continues to result in widespread cheating both in construction and employment laws. Workforce Development continues not to function properly with politically appointed managers who knowingly allow the crisis in former labor boss roles who now manage the agency.
Coupled with the labor bosses and so called open shop contractors war are the victimizing of union and nonunion workers and taxpayers. Bid ,Workers Compensation Employment, Wage and Hour, Tax, Safety, Development and Engineering laws, rules, and regulations are literally not being enforced in public and private construction works.
Even the BIG DIG with the original price tag going from two billion to twenty three billion has not awakened the Governor and Legislature. Honest employers and their employees be union or non union who maintain proper standards are being forced to compete against those unscrupulous contractors who cheat and rarely fear getting caught.
The time has come for another WARD type Commission which was implemented during the Government Center construction scandal be formed to deal with public and private construction Procurement and Bid Laws. However, this time there must be built in continuous monitoring and enforcement, to protect government funding, the taxpayers and citizens. The so called labor bosses, union and open shop contractors, engineers, architects, government officials must realize and address this reality. Public Interest and not self interest must come first.
MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY MARTHA COAKLEY MAY BE ENGAGING IN POLITICAL ROULETTE WITH TAUNTON DAM SUIT AND DISREGARDING OTHER NEGLECTED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DAM SAFETY
Massachusetts Attorney General appears to be engaging in another publicity media sound bite to get publicity for future campaigns or gather fund raising dollars that elected politician be a member of either party typical engage with her latest alleged suit against two private Taunton Dam Owners?
Is this another public relations media hype coming the same day the Attorney general is being touted for another political office in the BOSTON HERALD?
Is this so called suit like the Big Dig prosecutions only to settle out of court later for little or nothing after the public and media forgets after getting a resume headline?
The whole issue of Dam Safety in Massachusetts has not been properly reported, covered and corrected for years. The state has literally dismantled its own staffing ability to insure, monitor, and prosecute for the public safety of both public and private dams.
This neglected area and dependency on the campaign contributing engineering consultants has drowned out the cries and calls for real reforms. When will our Governor and Legislature realize hiring consultants like the BIG DIG Boston Central Artery that blossomed from $2.3 billion to to $23 Billion most expensive public works in history lacking any real accountability and Oversight.
The reason for a major part of the debacle was that turning over accountabi;ity and monitoring to private for profit entities like Bechtel and Parsons who do not come under the State Ethics Commission, Open Meeting Laws does not work?
When will the Big Media listen and demand another independent Ward type Commission that was formed during the Government Center Scandal to do real reforms not listened to for all aspects of the current failed no bid system of contracts to vendors, consultants, and providers?
Another Example of Massachusetts Wage and Labor Laws in Shambles:$14.75m settlement over tips for 600 Canyon Ranch Workers
October 23, 2008
This is another example of a failure of Massachusetts government. Massachusetts has become a cheaters paradise for businesses that do no properly pay taxes, workers compensation, mandated wages and benefits to their workers.
Masssachusetts was formerly the national leader in child labor, employment, and wage enforcement laws. Honest employers and their employees are being forced to compete unfairly against businesses that cheat.
Most cheating businesses have little fear of being caught as the Attoney Generl and Workforce Development do not enforce the laws, rules, and regulations with adequate staffing, oversight, and prosecutions.
The blame squarely falls on those elements in organized labor that destroyed the hard fought Secretariat of Labor instead of monitoring and holding the agency accountable. Those labor bosses have failed to advocate and insure adequate resources and those agencies are doing their mandated functions. They continue to cover up their failure for their decisions with workers and the taxpayers continuing to suffer.
It is unfortunate that workers who are exploited have to retain a lawyer for hire to obtain the fruits of their labor and government in their time of need is not there to help. Unfortunately, some of the elements from organized labor that sat by and covered up the destruction of Massachusetts employment law enforcement are now in charge of those government agencies.
The message to those businesses who cheat,do so, the chances of getting caught is little or nil, and when caught pay up most times cents on the dollar. Massachusetts has welcomed businesses who cheat their employees and do not pay their fair share of taxes
The New frontier of Healthcare Exploitation
October 22, 2008
There were until their recent death Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, and Insurer AIG. Then there is the new frontier of healthcare to be exploited. Two high profile politico types have made the transition from party politics and the revolving door of goivernment. They now have become CEO of two of Massachusetts leading healthcare groups
The Massachusetts pioneers are a Democrat so called activist Jim Roosevelt of Tufts Health Care Plan and Republican Charles Baker of Harvard Pilgrim combining to to redefine more failed health care in Massachusetts. Both men have had meteor rise to $$$$Million+ salaries and perches and the honor of aiding and helping to destroy the healthcare delivery system in Massachusetts by their failed advocacy of the state not being a provider of human services to becoming a buyer of human services.
Their records are most clear. Baker the former State Secretary of Human Services and the state's top financial head. While longtime Democratic Committee lawyer and advocate for the providers, consultants, and vendors takeover of the human services delivery system. These two are now could be called the poster boys for self interest and personal profiting against public interest and the common good.
The citizens and media should not be fooled or takin in. Beyond the hype these two guys will only continue to further the so called non profits, for profits, and for profits healthcare first and not in the interests of business, industry, workers, and citizens in need of quality healthcare. Don’t be fooled!
Former Massachuusetts Treasurer Honored with a Boston park named after him!
October 22, 2008
There was a ceremony in Boston yesterday to honor former Massachusetts Treasurer Robert Q. Crane by naming a public park for him.
Honoring a former state treasurer who was a most likeable person does not cover up for the absolute poor performance of pension liabilities, investments, and handling of public funds during his tenure. Doesn't double dipping, spoils, and patronage also apply? His dynamic personality could have done so much good and made our state a better place and the pension and management of funds a role model. Instead, his legacy is one of self interest and misses the mark what public service for others should be.
Another nail in the coffin is being reported of one more challenge to journalism and the free press by the New York Times.
This deals with a revolt by several newspapers against the Associated Press. The complaints include costs are too expensive, what is received appears of little use, and that the Associated Press acts in competition.
The daily news about the newspaper, magazine, and broadcast industry becomes most dreadful each day.
The information institutions the American Citizenry knows is in a constant state of demise, downsizing for survival, or being extinguished.
All traditional means of communication seems to be replaced by means of the internet where news of any sort is obtained instantly in the home or office and most often at no charge.
No longer is the structure of how we receive news, investigative reporting, columnists’ views, or editorials need a print or broadcast structure.
The internet and its immediate is great. However, it is destroying the profession of journalism and the media institutions we know.
Despite the good intentions for survival with innovation by media management, reporters, and support employees, the crisis continues.
The traditional press freedoms we the citizen expect and want are under severe attack with little or no answers for what the future will be. Shame on all as we watch and appear powerless to protect them for this and future generations.
This deals with a revolt by several newspapers against the Associated Press. The complaints include costs are too expensive, what is received appears of little use, and that the Associated Press acts in competition.
The daily news about the newspaper, magazine, and broadcast industry becomes most dreadful each day.
The information institutions the American Citizenry knows is in a constant state of demise, downsizing for survival, or being extinguished.
All traditional means of communication seems to be replaced by means of the internet where news of any sort is obtained instantly in the home or office and most often at no charge.
No longer is the structure of how we receive news, investigative reporting, columnists’ views, or editorials need a print or broadcast structure.
The internet and its immediate is great. However, it is destroying the profession of journalism and the media institutions we know.
Despite the good intentions for survival with innovation by media management, reporters, and support employees, the crisis continues.
The traditional press freedoms we the citizen expect and want are under severe attack with little or no answers for what the future will be. Shame on all as we watch and appear powerless to protect them for this and future generations.
Massachusetts Unecessary Budget Cuts Are Another Scheme To Fool The Taxpayers and Citizens
Shame and stupidity prevails on the Massachusetts budget cuts with the Governor to the Attorney General cutting their own budgets as a show of absolute dumbness that only depicts a continual lack of leadership failure.
There should be no budget shortfalls and a leaner budget to begin with. Stop feeding the addiction of costly no bid contracts to vendors, providers, and consultants that cost billions of budget taxpayer dollars. Elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse rampant throughout in several budget areas alone could solve any deficiency. Going after the so called underground economy that flourishes in the state alone means billions of additional revenue.
The elimination of unneeded patronage positions will enable the career dedicated workforce to perform their mandated duties on behalf of the taxpayers and citizens of Massachusetts.
Time for a true line item, subsidiary accounts, object codes, and scheduling state budget filled with true accountability and oversight devices to regain the trust in government by the citizenry.
Shame and stupidity prevails on the Massachusetts budget cuts with the Governor to the Attorney General cutting their own budgets as a show of absolute dumbness that only depicts a continual lack of leadership failure.
There should be no budget shortfalls and a leaner budget to begin with. Stop feeding the addiction of costly no bid contracts to vendors, providers, and consultants that cost billions of budget taxpayer dollars. Elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse rampant throughout in several budget areas alone could solve any deficiency. Going after the so called underground economy that flourishes in the state alone means billions of additional revenue.
The elimination of unneeded patronage positions will enable the career dedicated workforce to perform their mandated duties on behalf of the taxpayers and citizens of Massachusetts.
Time for a true line item, subsidiary accounts, object codes, and scheduling state budget filled with true accountability and oversight devices to regain the trust in government by the citizenry.
Today's Boston Herald Business news Article on Labor and Tax Laws Enforceent News Article misses the point.
I am disappointed. The facts about the Massachusetts workplace is not being accurately reported. The facts are Massachusetts working children, men, women, and the legitimate businesses and industries that employ them are being forced to compete against those employers who do not pay taxes, benefits, and maintain proper labor workplace standards. One only has to ask to see documentation on how many workplace inspections, prosecutions, and number of inspectors and needed support staff are assigned in those agencies under the Attorney General and Governor.
The Massachusetts workplace is now that of a Cheaters Paradise in regard to employment, wage enforcement, and accident investigations and is no longer a national leader in honest employer and employee rights and obligations.
The breakup of the Secretariat of Labor in 1993 instigated by labor bosses and labor attorney then Senate Ways and Means Chair Tom Birmingham has been the deep root cause. Since then several labor bosses, those in charge of the labor movement, and politically appointed managers now on the state payroll continue to cover up their failure by sporadic public relations initiatives.
Citizens and the Media-Don’t be fooled.
I am disappointed. The facts about the Massachusetts workplace is not being accurately reported. The facts are Massachusetts working children, men, women, and the legitimate businesses and industries that employ them are being forced to compete against those employers who do not pay taxes, benefits, and maintain proper labor workplace standards. One only has to ask to see documentation on how many workplace inspections, prosecutions, and number of inspectors and needed support staff are assigned in those agencies under the Attorney General and Governor.
The Massachusetts workplace is now that of a Cheaters Paradise in regard to employment, wage enforcement, and accident investigations and is no longer a national leader in honest employer and employee rights and obligations.
The breakup of the Secretariat of Labor in 1993 instigated by labor bosses and labor attorney then Senate Ways and Means Chair Tom Birmingham has been the deep root cause. Since then several labor bosses, those in charge of the labor movement, and politically appointed managers now on the state payroll continue to cover up their failure by sporadic public relations initiatives.
Citizens and the Media-Don’t be fooled.
Reopen Guanatanamo Now….Immediately….Imprisonment First….Trials Maybe…Or None
Guanatanamo which is closing must stay open and expanded to insure all needing to go having no waiting period. No trials, judges, juries, prosecutors, or lawyers are needed. There are so many real people that must directly go there and should not be left out for lack of room. I believe that all pollsters from Gallup to Zogby will attest to this position of national necessity without the requirement to do the expense of accurate sampling.
The need is so immense and no Wall Streeter, Insurer, Banker, Democrat or Republican Political Congress Person, Past and Present President or Vice President, Fund Raiser, Security Exchange or Federal Reserve Chair, or Treasury Secretary should be required to wait for room. Also, no Lobbyist known or unknown, Guilty, Enabler, or Profiteer should be left behind. The US Chamber of Commerce, Business Round Table, and non vigilant Labor Bosses who did know or sound the alarm should also be included. The Attorney General, FBI, and Justice Department have failed to monitor, prosecute or inform, expose, and prosecute. Guilt and Incarceration first must be the first means of due process for those responsible for the almost demise of America’s economic treasure.
The whole gang must be kept together and in one place to write their memoirs and have hourly games to blame others with a process of elimination refereed by a Pinocchio character as moderator. A ball field or stadium could be built with continued partisanship for these self serving interest games operating not for the common good. The players could compete for trophies and determine who the true American Idol to be admired and winner determined as by who did the most to steal, plunder, cheat, misinform, cover up, or engineer the highest level of greed for misdirecting which caused almost our country’s financial downfall. That person, persons, or entity would then have the highest monument erected to be paid for with a pain and anxiety American citizens have to endure with their economic fears. They include losing homes, I.R.A.’s, social security, healthcare, and a way of life,
Plush Hotels could be built and named at these facilities in order to insure those who want to continue the tradition of bait and switch, golden parachute pensions, stock options, helium financial reports, and high executive salaries could always be immortalized. The failed 21st century robber barons responsible for not accomplishing the final goal of raping and privatizing the Social Security System must be named and given a separate monument marked failed.
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG, Bear Stern, Lehman Brothers, Washington Mutual, Wachovia Buildings could be built with sand, smoke, and mirrors with plenty room for new arrivals could become part of the indelible Guanatanamo landscape. In the middle, a Democratic Party and separate Republican Party Headquarters Buildings could be the focal points with those elected officials and fund raising friends continuing to bring $$$$$ and goodies even if the only available funds for these bunkers is of the monopoly variety. Model private jet planes could be everywhere as a reminder of first class plane trips to be plied for potential influence. Lobster shells could be sent with empty champagne bottles as a reminder of the good old days. AIG labeled back scratchers will be given out as a reminder of the millions given to bail out AIG and that immediate big celebration party given costing a half million with those massages and gourmet meals paid with taxpayer monies.
Our beloved America is racing to the economic bottom by the dastardly deeds forced on its citizens. Those responsible include a so called free market, congress, and presidency that did not institute accountability, and oversight to insure a check and balance to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of the financial system for the survival and benefit of a trusting citizenry. The average American should not bear any brunt or suffering for the results of the financial disaster that should have never taken place and been prevented,
Guanatanamo which is closing must stay open and expanded to insure all needing to go having no waiting period. No trials, judges, juries, prosecutors, or lawyers are needed. There are so many real people that must directly go there and should not be left out for lack of room. I believe that all pollsters from Gallup to Zogby will attest to this position of national necessity without the requirement to do the expense of accurate sampling.
The need is so immense and no Wall Streeter, Insurer, Banker, Democrat or Republican Political Congress Person, Past and Present President or Vice President, Fund Raiser, Security Exchange or Federal Reserve Chair, or Treasury Secretary should be required to wait for room. Also, no Lobbyist known or unknown, Guilty, Enabler, or Profiteer should be left behind. The US Chamber of Commerce, Business Round Table, and non vigilant Labor Bosses who did know or sound the alarm should also be included. The Attorney General, FBI, and Justice Department have failed to monitor, prosecute or inform, expose, and prosecute. Guilt and Incarceration first must be the first means of due process for those responsible for the almost demise of America’s economic treasure.
The whole gang must be kept together and in one place to write their memoirs and have hourly games to blame others with a process of elimination refereed by a Pinocchio character as moderator. A ball field or stadium could be built with continued partisanship for these self serving interest games operating not for the common good. The players could compete for trophies and determine who the true American Idol to be admired and winner determined as by who did the most to steal, plunder, cheat, misinform, cover up, or engineer the highest level of greed for misdirecting which caused almost our country’s financial downfall. That person, persons, or entity would then have the highest monument erected to be paid for with a pain and anxiety American citizens have to endure with their economic fears. They include losing homes, I.R.A.’s, social security, healthcare, and a way of life,
Plush Hotels could be built and named at these facilities in order to insure those who want to continue the tradition of bait and switch, golden parachute pensions, stock options, helium financial reports, and high executive salaries could always be immortalized. The failed 21st century robber barons responsible for not accomplishing the final goal of raping and privatizing the Social Security System must be named and given a separate monument marked failed.
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG, Bear Stern, Lehman Brothers, Washington Mutual, Wachovia Buildings could be built with sand, smoke, and mirrors with plenty room for new arrivals could become part of the indelible Guanatanamo landscape. In the middle, a Democratic Party and separate Republican Party Headquarters Buildings could be the focal points with those elected officials and fund raising friends continuing to bring $$$$$ and goodies even if the only available funds for these bunkers is of the monopoly variety. Model private jet planes could be everywhere as a reminder of first class plane trips to be plied for potential influence. Lobster shells could be sent with empty champagne bottles as a reminder of the good old days. AIG labeled back scratchers will be given out as a reminder of the millions given to bail out AIG and that immediate big celebration party given costing a half million with those massages and gourmet meals paid with taxpayer monies.
Our beloved America is racing to the economic bottom by the dastardly deeds forced on its citizens. Those responsible include a so called free market, congress, and presidency that did not institute accountability, and oversight to insure a check and balance to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of the financial system for the survival and benefit of a trusting citizenry. The average American should not bear any brunt or suffering for the results of the financial disaster that should have never taken place and been prevented,
$8 Billion Massachusetts Pension Loss Begs for True Oversight and Accountability Reform.
When will the time come for the pension fund be run for those receiving pensions with strict oversight and accountability?
The fact be known for several years the pension plan is being funded completely by employee contributions ranging from nine to twelve percent plus cent of their wages and not a burden on taxpayers. The problem stems from unlistened calls by those who have called for a transparent, informative, and most strict investment strategies.
Prior and continued investment strategies in out of state and country including shopping centers, housing, and real estate have been bad. When you look at the politically appointed investment board members and contracted firms, you identify and wonder whose benefit agenda being taken care of the employee, taxpayer or others? It is sad to witness losing eight billion dollars as good. Soon it will be real monsy and not chomp change.
Treasurers Cahill should immediately and other previous treasurers before him identify all contributions from investment, insurance companies, their employees, and lobbyists,as and return those perceived tainted monies. Additionally, true no bid contracts anywhere in the pension system be stopped whether for analysis or investment selection. The pension system needs its own analysts who come under the state ethics commission, open meeting laws, and freedom of Information act as not to become too dependent on outside sources with their companies profit agenda.
Again, those who called for reforms have not been listened to. This will continue not to be listened to as the opium of patronage and campaign donations appear to rule that seems to contaminate our government at all levels.
When will the time come for the pension fund be run for those receiving pensions with strict oversight and accountability?
The fact be known for several years the pension plan is being funded completely by employee contributions ranging from nine to twelve percent plus cent of their wages and not a burden on taxpayers. The problem stems from unlistened calls by those who have called for a transparent, informative, and most strict investment strategies.
Prior and continued investment strategies in out of state and country including shopping centers, housing, and real estate have been bad. When you look at the politically appointed investment board members and contracted firms, you identify and wonder whose benefit agenda being taken care of the employee, taxpayer or others? It is sad to witness losing eight billion dollars as good. Soon it will be real monsy and not chomp change.
Treasurers Cahill should immediately and other previous treasurers before him identify all contributions from investment, insurance companies, their employees, and lobbyists,as and return those perceived tainted monies. Additionally, true no bid contracts anywhere in the pension system be stopped whether for analysis or investment selection. The pension system needs its own analysts who come under the state ethics commission, open meeting laws, and freedom of Information act as not to become too dependent on outside sources with their companies profit agenda.
Again, those who called for reforms have not been listened to. This will continue not to be listened to as the opium of patronage and campaign donations appear to rule that seems to contaminate our government at all levels.
The Battle to eliminate the Massachusetts State Income goes on the November 2008 Ballot as referendum Question 1.
The proponents are led by perennial libertarian Carla Howell along with the usual tear down government crowd cohorts of Barbara Anderson and her Citizens for Limited Taxation Group
On the other side are the usual people and groups that always ban together and can always be counted on to fight the anti tax initiatives of Howell and Anderson. They include the public employee and teacher unions, contractors, vendors, consultants, and so called questionable unmonitored Human Service Agencies who get Billions in State Contracts. Joining in the effort is Michael Widmer from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation misnamed because they are solely a business lobbying group whose many members profit in business dealings receiving state tax dollars. Others are expected to be allies to defeat the measure are members of a failed to take action to instill confidence group. They include local officials along with the Legislature and Governor who have failed to provide stability in accountability of government expenditures.
If the voters approve the measure after millions are spent by both sides, the legislature and governor will not be expected to abide by the voted referendum.
Widmer and the allies are stating to the voters to find another way to send a message to the out of tune reality of a legislature and governor who appear not to be listening to the cries and frustration of a most depressed frustrated citizenry.
The citizens are living in fear of the current economic realities affecting their lives with foreclosures and economic uncertainty from an asleep Boston Statehouse, Washington Congress, and Presidency. The out of control costs of gasoline, food, education, healthcare, utility expenses are coupled with mortgage or rent payments, job uncertainty and retirement fund losses. A winter heating season is approaching with the potential highest heating costs even seen in the northeast adds more fuel to voter fears.
Widmer is predicting a budget shortfall of $1.5 Billion already in the 2008 to 2009 state budget this year of $28 Billion that should have been addressed before the election and not delayed?
The repeal crowd of Howell and Anderson appears to have a most certain winner in their proposal as the time appears ripe to tear down government and not sensibly attempt to lower taxes and provide needed expected services.
The voters intense frustration is there with the $23Billion shoddy Big Dig project that was originally was to cost $2.3Billion and was mostly to be paid by the federal government that did not. The Massachusetts Turnpike constantly having daily headlines of mismanagement. The office curtains of the Governor , Cadillac Suv, police details, legislators friends profiteering from state contracts and deals, bloated pensions of some selected politicians, and vacation junkets that only adds fuels to the bitterness of voter anxiety.
The forthcoming vote will be a battle of needless rhetoric and wasted energy from both sides. Irregardless of whom wins will only spur on continual mean spirits until the next battle occurs with those who profit by doing Public relations and media receiving big dollars from each side. This should not have happened if all parties had conducted themselves for the common good over the years. Both sides did not and only show selfishness of their own greed.
Those who have watched each side of the Special Interest Debacle feeding frenzy have witnessed self interest first and not making government what should be for all citizens. These actions have allowed Massachusetts Government to be at this juncture of chaos and despair.
The Howell and Anderson group continued advocacy of so called limited taxation and government has been a failure that allows state and local government to be in the current continual lack of oversight and structural mess. They never advocated sustainable checks, balance, and accountability mechanisms of expenditures.
Similarly, the public employee and teacher union bosses did not do more for their membership to insure public employment as an honorable profession and merit employment practices. Several public employee unions abandoned their own membership resulting in the state becoming an expensive purchaser instead of a provider of traditional services. Those bosses failed to insure and monitor the state delivery system of what their members struggled to valiantly provide resulting in a shadow unaccountable runaway wasteful private system of providing those traditional services. Now these very same union bosses as organizing the very same vendors and providers to make up for loss dues their terminated state worker members whom little was done to save once provided. Widmer and his so called business taxpayer group contributed to the current lack of faith in state government by sanitize pointed attacks on government budget expenditures as long as they did not affect his dues paying members who do business with state government receiving taxpayer dollars.
Those over the years wanting and advocating proper government state services in contracting, budgets with proper oversight, and measured with accountability were continuously drown out and not listen to. These include the State Auditor, former House and Senate Ways Post Audit and Oversight Committees, Crusading Legislators, former Inspector Generals, Reporters, and Citizen Advocates. Thus assurances to taxpayers by having taxes and fees spent judiciously and prudent continuously eroded over the years to the current state of special self interest of government abuse we are now witnessing.
There can be no respect for state government until Massachusetts Citizens know there are no waste, fraud, and abuse of their tax dollars guaranteed by having a working system of accountability and oversight.
Citizen Statesmen and Stateswomen from both sides are desperately needed now to make Massachusetts Government better as well as standing up to special self interest when their groups and people go astray who do not advocate for the common good of all.
Note: Also posted on the New England News Forum
Both sides of Ballot Question 1 to eliminate the Massachusetts Income Tax have track records of failing and Selfish Self Special Interest.
Shame on All Who Opposed the Bailout (+)
The Real Profiles in Courage, Heroes, and Truly Needy Who Were Saved
I cannot understand why there was the magnitude panic of phone calls, faxes, and emails from American Citizens to the President, United States Senators, and Congressman. Those who did this action just do not get the immediate crisis of need for the government financial bailout. There was an urgent need to further stop other Wall Street companies from failing. Other businesses being overlooked in the disaster did require a rescue from insolvency.
President Bush, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell, John Boerner, Barack Obama, and John McCain, as well as Democratic and Republican party bigwigs explained the calamity in depth without the tedious need for open public hearings and discussions. Unfortunately, the American citizenry did not listen or understand why there was this rush. Contributions and the need to provide fuel to those who govern our nation were on the verge of extinction.
Billions of Dollars in Campaign Cash had already been lost in the current and future needs for our elected Washington leaders. This was exemplified by the failure of Wachovia, AIG, Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae, and Freddy Mac, Washington Mutual and others on the brink of going down. This would cut down on the number in the pool of those with dollars to spend for our elected leaders personal so called campaign accounts and needs. The Washington elected leaders had to act quickly and decisively before the well ran dry and most would be left out.
There was another segment of the economy that has been overlooked that was approaching a similar disaster and in need of rescue. The average American Citizen did not realize or show any compassion as not being in Washington. It should be reported these business and industries have been also rescued and should be recognized.
They include the companies that provide private jet planes that will again be available for personal use to those doing business or seeking influence from our elected leaders. There are many resorts, hotels, and golf courses that the influence peddlers do provide free of charge to our elected officials. Those expensive Washington caterers and restaurants hired for fund raisers have been saved. Those tuxedo rental, florists, and expensive clothing tailors will continue to provide their wares for the elected officials and influence people for all those lavish Washington parties and dinners.
Those right wing conservative and left wing talk show people and agitators such as Lou Dobbs and Ralph Nader should stop trying to incite the American Citizenry into action against any Wall Street Bailout or Washington Industries serving our elected officials, and mocking deep pocket lobbyist campaign contribution providers.
The American Economy and Standard of Living for the current America Citizenry and future generations is spiraling downward and will continue. Our Washington elected leaders have instituted this vision by their actions. Citizens are expected to support those results and expected to do more with less. Less healthcare, less financial security, less affordable food purchases and eating, less automobile use, less utility use, less home heating, less affordable educational prospects, and a lesser standard of living.
Our elected Washington Leaders are to be congratulated not only by the praise they constantly give themselves for their actions; they should also receive tribute from all American Citizens for the real Bailout they have accomplished for themselves personally and their allies future.
Shame on All Who Opposed the Bailout | 0 comments | Post A Comment
The Real Profiles in Courage, Heroes, and Truly Needy Who Were Saved
I cannot understand why there was the magnitude panic of phone calls, faxes, and emails from American Citizens to the President, United States Senators, and Congressman. Those who did this action just do not get the immediate crisis of need for the government financial bailout. There was an urgent need to further stop other Wall Street companies from failing. Other businesses being overlooked in the disaster did require a rescue from insolvency.
President Bush, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell, John Boerner, Barack Obama, and John McCain, as well as Democratic and Republican party bigwigs explained the calamity in depth without the tedious need for open public hearings and discussions. Unfortunately, the American citizenry did not listen or understand why there was this rush. Contributions and the need to provide fuel to those who govern our nation were on the verge of extinction.
Billions of Dollars in Campaign Cash had already been lost in the current and future needs for our elected Washington leaders. This was exemplified by the failure of Wachovia, AIG, Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae, and Freddy Mac, Washington Mutual and others on the brink of going down. This would cut down on the number in the pool of those with dollars to spend for our elected leaders personal so called campaign accounts and needs. The Washington elected leaders had to act quickly and decisively before the well ran dry and most would be left out.
There was another segment of the economy that has been overlooked that was approaching a similar disaster and in need of rescue. The average American Citizen did not realize or show any compassion as not being in Washington. It should be reported these business and industries have been also rescued and should be recognized.
They include the companies that provide private jet planes that will again be available for personal use to those doing business or seeking influence from our elected leaders. There are many resorts, hotels, and golf courses that the influence peddlers do provide free of charge to our elected officials. Those expensive Washington caterers and restaurants hired for fund raisers have been saved. Those tuxedo rental, florists, and expensive clothing tailors will continue to provide their wares for the elected officials and influence people for all those lavish Washington parties and dinners.
Those right wing conservative and left wing talk show people and agitators such as Lou Dobbs and Ralph Nader should stop trying to incite the American Citizenry into action against any Wall Street Bailout or Washington Industries serving our elected officials, and mocking deep pocket lobbyist campaign contribution providers.
The American Economy and Standard of Living for the current America Citizenry and future generations is spiraling downward and will continue. Our Washington elected leaders have instituted this vision by their actions. Citizens are expected to support those results and expected to do more with less. Less healthcare, less financial security, less affordable food purchases and eating, less automobile use, less utility use, less home heating, less affordable educational prospects, and a lesser standard of living.
Our elected Washington Leaders are to be congratulated not only by the praise they constantly give themselves for their actions; they should also receive tribute from all American Citizens for the real Bailout they have accomplished for themselves personally and their allies future.
Shame on All Who Opposed the Bailout | 0 comments | Post A Comment
The Boston Globe Continues to Lag Behind in News Leadership, Reporting, Oversight, and Commenting Blogs
The largest, leading daily newspaper in Massachusetts and region Boston Globe needs to provide answers to questions being avoided in order to dispel the obvious on two issues affecting the paper’s credibility.
Globe Issue #1-Why has the position of ombudsperson not been filled, languished, or discarded for so long? This position for credibility purposes is needed now more than ever with the increasing newsroom downsizing going on. A criticism in the past has been a reporter on a tight rope usually assigned to be ombudsperson that reports to and is evaluated by management. The person serves a term either goes back to some news beat or leaves. That person becomes isolated from other reporters who fear criticism or oversight in reporting. Thus, the advocacy and correct path for Boston Globe management is to appoint a truly independent person paid or unpaid to the position.
#Globe Issue#2-This issue is a perceived double standard by the New York Times Massachusetts owned Boston Globe and Worcester Telegram. The Telegram allows readers to blog all news, editorial, and business articles while the Boston Globe does not. The Telegram even allows bloggers to the extreme to criticize the news articles, reporters, or even the newspaper itself without censorship. What the Boston Globe does allow is a not posted open published comment to the reporter’s writing that neither the readers nor even the bloggers can read, openly reply, or blog.
Even the other most struggling Boston daily, The Herald, allows uncensored open posted blogging as well as so many other Massachusetts dailies, weeklies, and monthly publications.
Unless the Boston Globe takes immediate action, [I would list] the publication . . . with those partners who advocate against Open Meeting, public records, shield and whistleblower laws.
The Boston Globe should be leader for Massachusetts 21st-century journalism to safeguard our press freedoms and reporting enjoyed and expected by readers and citize
Source URL:
http://www.newenglandnews.org/
(NOTE:HIS BLOG POSTING WAS FIRST POSTED ON THE NEW ENGLAND NEWS FORUM IN WHICH THE AUTHOR IS A MEMBER/BLOGGER AND MAINTAINS A BLOG)
The largest, leading daily newspaper in Massachusetts and region Boston Globe needs to provide answers to questions being avoided in order to dispel the obvious on two issues affecting the paper’s credibility.
Globe Issue #1-Why has the position of ombudsperson not been filled, languished, or discarded for so long? This position for credibility purposes is needed now more than ever with the increasing newsroom downsizing going on. A criticism in the past has been a reporter on a tight rope usually assigned to be ombudsperson that reports to and is evaluated by management. The person serves a term either goes back to some news beat or leaves. That person becomes isolated from other reporters who fear criticism or oversight in reporting. Thus, the advocacy and correct path for Boston Globe management is to appoint a truly independent person paid or unpaid to the position.
#Globe Issue#2-This issue is a perceived double standard by the New York Times Massachusetts owned Boston Globe and Worcester Telegram. The Telegram allows readers to blog all news, editorial, and business articles while the Boston Globe does not. The Telegram even allows bloggers to the extreme to criticize the news articles, reporters, or even the newspaper itself without censorship. What the Boston Globe does allow is a not posted open published comment to the reporter’s writing that neither the readers nor even the bloggers can read, openly reply, or blog.
Even the other most struggling Boston daily, The Herald, allows uncensored open posted blogging as well as so many other Massachusetts dailies, weeklies, and monthly publications.
Unless the Boston Globe takes immediate action, [I would list] the publication . . . with those partners who advocate against Open Meeting, public records, shield and whistleblower laws.
The Boston Globe should be leader for Massachusetts 21st-century journalism to safeguard our press freedoms and reporting enjoyed and expected by readers and citize
Source URL:
http://www.newenglandnews.org/
(NOTE:HIS BLOG POSTING WAS FIRST POSTED ON THE NEW ENGLAND NEWS FORUM IN WHICH THE AUTHOR IS A MEMBER/BLOGGER AND MAINTAINS A BLOG)
Massachusetts Needs Meaningful Shield, Public Record, Open Meeting, Whistleblower Laws
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
The government will always cover up its mistakes if it operates in secret and that it was up to journalists to expose the truth…..Robert Schieffer, CBS News Reporter.
News Reporters and Their Sources Deserve Protections Mandated by Law
An editorial in the Boston Globe in the last days of the formal 2006 Massachusetts legislative session this past July stated what laws should be passed before adjournment. There was a statehouse legislative committee hearing at the same time relative to a proposed new law to protect news reporters from disclosing their sources. This should have been included in The Globe editorial of must laws to be passed especially with the current revelations coming forward on persons not reporting improprieties on one of our nation's grandiose scandals, Boston's Big Dig.
Governor Deval Patrick is now telling publishers and reporters that he supports a shield law adding weight for passage while criticizing the media industry for the manner of reporting on his campaign for the office.
Trial lawyers, legislators, and others wanting to patronage the media are at the forefront to promote new Shield Laws. Unless done right, we will only have special legislation passed for a special interest group that will have no affect to deal with waste, fraud, and abuse on behalf of citizens and taxpayers in Massachusetts. Sincere sources and whistleblowers often stand alone doing the public well being by reporting improprieties by coming forward must not be left behind. They must same or stronger protections from intimidation and harassment.
Sincere News Reporters Should Never Be Threatened With Jail for Refusing To Disclose Sources
Local examples of the threat of jail time could have been given were to Boston WCVB Channel 5 reporter Susan Wornick and Providence WJAR Channel 10 reporter Jim Taricani. They testified at the legislative hearing about not disclosing sources in corruption and scandal trials. State or federal government should not be allowed to file charges against honest reporters and their sources. Governments should be doing their own investigations and not intimidating the press from reporting the news and protecting sources.
State Employees and Legislators Personal Assets Should Not be Threatened by Lawsuits From Companies Doing Business with State Government who are being Investigated-Protections Are Needed
The State Public Employee Whistle Blower law, MGL C149s185 should be further enhanced. Several years ago, two conscientious state engineers Paul E. Constantino and Steven Quinlan I had asked to come forward and testify at a sanctioned legislative hearing about the Massachusetts Highway Department purchasing more outdated dysfunctional equipment being sold by a former head of the Federal Highway Administration, Raymond Barnhart. The Massachusetts Inspector General even issued a report stating buying more of the outdated technology and poorly maintained equipment if purchased was not in the state's best interests. However, the Massachusetts Highway Department went along and made more purchases. The two engineers along with then Northampton Chair of the House Committee on Post Audit Representative William P. Nagle were sued personally placing their own assets at great risk for testifying before the committee about allegations of impropriety and dysfunction relative to purchasing more of the failed archaic "Call Boxes" that lined interstate highways. Shocking to witness was the company Signal Corporation hiring a high profile former State Attorney General, Francis X. Bellotti to be part of the legal proceedings. Signal Corporation also hired Democratic public relations political consultant Michael Goldman. News articles began to appear in the legislator's hometown newspapers Northampton Gazette and Springfield Republican. The suit halted some of the activities the committee was also doing relative to investigating the Big Dig Juggernaut. The call box company instituted a so called harassment "slap suit" to personally sue the individuals that could have taken their personal assets. This diverted attention from the impropriety of the original contract purchase that took 3 court decisions to remove against the legislator and the two state engineers. This action enabled me with the assistance of several co-sponsors and others to craft state legislation calling for a Whistle Blower Law. Unfortunately, the law was unsuccessfully opposed by the worker advocate Massachusetts State Labor Council AfL-CIO who wanted different legislation that they were doing little to seek passage. However, several co sponsors and public employee unions broke with the Labor Federation, along with Democrat and Republican legislators, and good government advocates to strongly advocate passage and enact the law.
Next, I unsuccessfully filed legislation which attempted to obtain legislation to prevent legislators and conscientious public employees to be victimized by frivolous law suits for bringing allegations of wrong doing and testifying before a duly sanctioned legislative committee. A shield that legislators, government employees, private citizens and reporters reporting wrongdoing must have. However, there are still no protections for legislators, public employees, reporters, and citizens that speak or report about waste, fraud, and abuse at duly called legislative hearings or provide information. This is the reason I advise conscientious employees who want to report government improprieties to seek their own counsel or free assistance on how to proceed to report wrongdoing from the Washington based watchdog group Project on Government Oversight. I give as a reason the " motorist call box" case as an example stating even legislators have no protections from harassment personal suits against their own assets in carrying out investigations and testifying at their own legislative hearings. This issue must be addressed in any potential proposed Shield Law to have any real meaning.
Whistle Blowers must be Careful in Disclosing Government wrongdoing to Law Enforcement. The Wrongdoers get protected and their legal fees and Judgments are paid by Taxpayers while Whistle Blowers can be abused by their Disclosures.
There is an inherent conflict that now exists and is becoming a problem with the enforcement of The Whistle Blower Law. This results in great risk to both public employees and reporters. Government employees and others cannot bring allegations of wrongdoing or impropriety to the State Police or Office of Attorney General. The Attorney General is the lawyer for any and all lawsuits brought against the commonwealth. Therefore, the government employee after presenting information to the Attorney General's Office next goes back to his/her agency....progressive discipline ensues. The employee next is terminated or unfairly disciplined and is forced to file a Whistle Blower lawsuit. The Attorney General comes in and defends the wrong doer agency and perpetrator political appointee (I made note of this in a past Globe guest editorial). In addition, in the case of the "Saltonstall Whistle Blower suit", the state legislature, without objection from the Attorney General passes legislation and the Governor signs into law state tax monies to be given for a personal court judgment made against the perpetrator who was accused of allowing state employees and the general public to be exposed to asbestos contamination that the Whistle Blower attempted to bring to his attention and other high government officials. These shameful actions by both the highest ranking elected Republican and Democrat officials exemplifies a new era in public mistrust in state government accountability and oversight.
Another example is the special interest protection law under MGL C258 passed to protect without certainty constitutional officers and not other public employees or investigating legislators by option as a result of the former turnpike member lawsuit against former Governor Jane Swift on his infamous turnpike board dismissal. A special interest law passed to protect liability for guilty constitutional officers, defended free for wrongdoing by the Attorney General, and especially the governor facing a suit for alleged impropriety or because of acting improperly is wrong. The new law passed because of former Governor Jane Swift now gives all constitutional officers the ability to harass, intimidate, and potentially stop government employees not agreeing with them or exposing their own wrongdoing and face no financial liability. If they are found wrong such as former Governor Swift, the taxpayers will pick up the bills. Yet, legislators and all other government employees have no such protections under this new special interest law. This issue must be addressed in any potential Shield Law proposal
Attorney Generals Do Not Enforce Public Records Law Decisions under State Law made by The Secretary of State
There is also another component to keep in perspective as we process in gaining a Shield Law. There is a vicious battle that has gone on with the previous Attorney General L. Scott Harshbarger and then Secretary of State Michael J. Connolly that has carried on with the current incumbents Attorney General Tom Reilly and State secretary William Galvin. The Secretary of State makes decision on what is a public record and what is not a public record. The Attorney general is obligated by state law to enforce the decisions which are not done. The current public records supervisor Alan Cote made note of this in a public records article which appeared in the Quincy Patriot Leger newspaper that the current Attorney General Tom Reilly will not enforce the public record law against violators. The Boston Phoenix under the former Attorney General Harshbarger noted the conflict and lack of action to no avail. I again attempted to resolve this bitter conflict by having legislation filed through the leading accountability in government advocate State Representative Marie J. Parente, of Milford supported by both the press and publishers associations proposing a Freedom of Information Commission to determine swiftly what public government records are public. News editors and citizens should not have to use expensive court action on their own to force disclosure of any public record already paid for by tax dollars.
Code of Conduct Needed to Insure Protection from Reporters False Reporting
Additionally, a new code of conduct for reporters and media owners is needed. The recent Boston Globe safety memo story on Big Dig Tunnel inspections and dysfunction in reporting is a reason and justification. There should be no zealous witch hunts or inaccurate reporting by reporters. Media groups, Press and broadcast associations need to police and punish their own. The code is required especially with all the downsizing and multiple monopolistic style ownership in media markets due to severe advertising deficiencies causing a lack of proper revenues giving undue pressures on reporting and editorial integrity. It is sad to witness reporters reporting when their resumes are out to government officials or businesses they are reporting seeking employment due to a lack of employment openings and career advancement in their own chosen profession of journalism.
News Coverage and investigative reporting lacking
We should note that with the lack of syndicated reporters stationed at the statehouse and lack of designated personnel by media owners. Statehouse coverage of hearings and investigative journalism is at an all time low. The multi ownership of radio stations and news outlets coupled with unheard of until recent years of news rooms downsizing throughout Massachusetts newspapers, media layoffs, and corporate raiders such as Jack Welch and high priced public relations pen for hire wanting to buy the Globe is causing a serious challenge to integrity in journalism. The survival peril of The Herald mode may cause Boston and the region to be a one newspaper town.
Shield Law Must be Done Correctly
I would request that any proposed shield law be done right to contain an updated whistle blower component, sunshine, freedom of Information for public records disclosure and disclosure laws and not do it piece meal. Failure to do so, will only fragment good intentions and become special legislation for a special interest group, lawyers courting favor with the media, and legislators pontificating to enhance their own self serving attention from the media. The failure of shield law advocates to not be inclusive and solve long standing difficulties is giving the appearance of journalist elitism and is self serving that will not protect Massachusetts Citizens and Taxpayers.
The government will always cover up its mistakes if it operates in secret and that it was up to journalists to expose the truth…..Robert Schieffer, CBS News Reporter.
News Reporters and Their Sources Deserve Protections Mandated by Law
An editorial in the Boston Globe in the last days of the formal 2006 Massachusetts legislative session this past July stated what laws should be passed before adjournment. There was a statehouse legislative committee hearing at the same time relative to a proposed new law to protect news reporters from disclosing their sources. This should have been included in The Globe editorial of must laws to be passed especially with the current revelations coming forward on persons not reporting improprieties on one of our nation's grandiose scandals, Boston's Big Dig.
Governor Deval Patrick is now telling publishers and reporters that he supports a shield law adding weight for passage while criticizing the media industry for the manner of reporting on his campaign for the office.
Trial lawyers, legislators, and others wanting to patronage the media are at the forefront to promote new Shield Laws. Unless done right, we will only have special legislation passed for a special interest group that will have no affect to deal with waste, fraud, and abuse on behalf of citizens and taxpayers in Massachusetts. Sincere sources and whistleblowers often stand alone doing the public well being by reporting improprieties by coming forward must not be left behind. They must same or stronger protections from intimidation and harassment.
Sincere News Reporters Should Never Be Threatened With Jail for Refusing To Disclose Sources
Local examples of the threat of jail time could have been given were to Boston WCVB Channel 5 reporter Susan Wornick and Providence WJAR Channel 10 reporter Jim Taricani. They testified at the legislative hearing about not disclosing sources in corruption and scandal trials. State or federal government should not be allowed to file charges against honest reporters and their sources. Governments should be doing their own investigations and not intimidating the press from reporting the news and protecting sources.
State Employees and Legislators Personal Assets Should Not be Threatened by Lawsuits From Companies Doing Business with State Government who are being Investigated-Protections Are Needed
The State Public Employee Whistle Blower law, MGL C149s185 should be further enhanced. Several years ago, two conscientious state engineers Paul E. Constantino and Steven Quinlan I had asked to come forward and testify at a sanctioned legislative hearing about the Massachusetts Highway Department purchasing more outdated dysfunctional equipment being sold by a former head of the Federal Highway Administration, Raymond Barnhart. The Massachusetts Inspector General even issued a report stating buying more of the outdated technology and poorly maintained equipment if purchased was not in the state's best interests. However, the Massachusetts Highway Department went along and made more purchases. The two engineers along with then Northampton Chair of the House Committee on Post Audit Representative William P. Nagle were sued personally placing their own assets at great risk for testifying before the committee about allegations of impropriety and dysfunction relative to purchasing more of the failed archaic "Call Boxes" that lined interstate highways. Shocking to witness was the company Signal Corporation hiring a high profile former State Attorney General, Francis X. Bellotti to be part of the legal proceedings. Signal Corporation also hired Democratic public relations political consultant Michael Goldman. News articles began to appear in the legislator's hometown newspapers Northampton Gazette and Springfield Republican. The suit halted some of the activities the committee was also doing relative to investigating the Big Dig Juggernaut. The call box company instituted a so called harassment "slap suit" to personally sue the individuals that could have taken their personal assets. This diverted attention from the impropriety of the original contract purchase that took 3 court decisions to remove against the legislator and the two state engineers. This action enabled me with the assistance of several co-sponsors and others to craft state legislation calling for a Whistle Blower Law. Unfortunately, the law was unsuccessfully opposed by the worker advocate Massachusetts State Labor Council AfL-CIO who wanted different legislation that they were doing little to seek passage. However, several co sponsors and public employee unions broke with the Labor Federation, along with Democrat and Republican legislators, and good government advocates to strongly advocate passage and enact the law.
Next, I unsuccessfully filed legislation which attempted to obtain legislation to prevent legislators and conscientious public employees to be victimized by frivolous law suits for bringing allegations of wrong doing and testifying before a duly sanctioned legislative committee. A shield that legislators, government employees, private citizens and reporters reporting wrongdoing must have. However, there are still no protections for legislators, public employees, reporters, and citizens that speak or report about waste, fraud, and abuse at duly called legislative hearings or provide information. This is the reason I advise conscientious employees who want to report government improprieties to seek their own counsel or free assistance on how to proceed to report wrongdoing from the Washington based watchdog group Project on Government Oversight. I give as a reason the " motorist call box" case as an example stating even legislators have no protections from harassment personal suits against their own assets in carrying out investigations and testifying at their own legislative hearings. This issue must be addressed in any potential proposed Shield Law to have any real meaning.
Whistle Blowers must be Careful in Disclosing Government wrongdoing to Law Enforcement. The Wrongdoers get protected and their legal fees and Judgments are paid by Taxpayers while Whistle Blowers can be abused by their Disclosures.
There is an inherent conflict that now exists and is becoming a problem with the enforcement of The Whistle Blower Law. This results in great risk to both public employees and reporters. Government employees and others cannot bring allegations of wrongdoing or impropriety to the State Police or Office of Attorney General. The Attorney General is the lawyer for any and all lawsuits brought against the commonwealth. Therefore, the government employee after presenting information to the Attorney General's Office next goes back to his/her agency....progressive discipline ensues. The employee next is terminated or unfairly disciplined and is forced to file a Whistle Blower lawsuit. The Attorney General comes in and defends the wrong doer agency and perpetrator political appointee (I made note of this in a past Globe guest editorial). In addition, in the case of the "Saltonstall Whistle Blower suit", the state legislature, without objection from the Attorney General passes legislation and the Governor signs into law state tax monies to be given for a personal court judgment made against the perpetrator who was accused of allowing state employees and the general public to be exposed to asbestos contamination that the Whistle Blower attempted to bring to his attention and other high government officials. These shameful actions by both the highest ranking elected Republican and Democrat officials exemplifies a new era in public mistrust in state government accountability and oversight.
Another example is the special interest protection law under MGL C258 passed to protect without certainty constitutional officers and not other public employees or investigating legislators by option as a result of the former turnpike member lawsuit against former Governor Jane Swift on his infamous turnpike board dismissal. A special interest law passed to protect liability for guilty constitutional officers, defended free for wrongdoing by the Attorney General, and especially the governor facing a suit for alleged impropriety or because of acting improperly is wrong. The new law passed because of former Governor Jane Swift now gives all constitutional officers the ability to harass, intimidate, and potentially stop government employees not agreeing with them or exposing their own wrongdoing and face no financial liability. If they are found wrong such as former Governor Swift, the taxpayers will pick up the bills. Yet, legislators and all other government employees have no such protections under this new special interest law. This issue must be addressed in any potential Shield Law proposal
Attorney Generals Do Not Enforce Public Records Law Decisions under State Law made by The Secretary of State
There is also another component to keep in perspective as we process in gaining a Shield Law. There is a vicious battle that has gone on with the previous Attorney General L. Scott Harshbarger and then Secretary of State Michael J. Connolly that has carried on with the current incumbents Attorney General Tom Reilly and State secretary William Galvin. The Secretary of State makes decision on what is a public record and what is not a public record. The Attorney general is obligated by state law to enforce the decisions which are not done. The current public records supervisor Alan Cote made note of this in a public records article which appeared in the Quincy Patriot Leger newspaper that the current Attorney General Tom Reilly will not enforce the public record law against violators. The Boston Phoenix under the former Attorney General Harshbarger noted the conflict and lack of action to no avail. I again attempted to resolve this bitter conflict by having legislation filed through the leading accountability in government advocate State Representative Marie J. Parente, of Milford supported by both the press and publishers associations proposing a Freedom of Information Commission to determine swiftly what public government records are public. News editors and citizens should not have to use expensive court action on their own to force disclosure of any public record already paid for by tax dollars.
Code of Conduct Needed to Insure Protection from Reporters False Reporting
Additionally, a new code of conduct for reporters and media owners is needed. The recent Boston Globe safety memo story on Big Dig Tunnel inspections and dysfunction in reporting is a reason and justification. There should be no zealous witch hunts or inaccurate reporting by reporters. Media groups, Press and broadcast associations need to police and punish their own. The code is required especially with all the downsizing and multiple monopolistic style ownership in media markets due to severe advertising deficiencies causing a lack of proper revenues giving undue pressures on reporting and editorial integrity. It is sad to witness reporters reporting when their resumes are out to government officials or businesses they are reporting seeking employment due to a lack of employment openings and career advancement in their own chosen profession of journalism.
News Coverage and investigative reporting lacking
We should note that with the lack of syndicated reporters stationed at the statehouse and lack of designated personnel by media owners. Statehouse coverage of hearings and investigative journalism is at an all time low. The multi ownership of radio stations and news outlets coupled with unheard of until recent years of news rooms downsizing throughout Massachusetts newspapers, media layoffs, and corporate raiders such as Jack Welch and high priced public relations pen for hire wanting to buy the Globe is causing a serious challenge to integrity in journalism. The survival peril of The Herald mode may cause Boston and the region to be a one newspaper town.
Shield Law Must be Done Correctly
I would request that any proposed shield law be done right to contain an updated whistle blower component, sunshine, freedom of Information for public records disclosure and disclosure laws and not do it piece meal. Failure to do so, will only fragment good intentions and become special legislation for a special interest group, lawyers courting favor with the media, and legislators pontificating to enhance their own self serving attention from the media. The failure of shield law advocates to not be inclusive and solve long standing difficulties is giving the appearance of journalist elitism and is self serving that will not protect Massachusetts Citizens and Taxpayers.
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