*** CLT&G Update ***
Friday, March 14, 1997
Yesterday the Massachusetts Legislature reminded us why we don't like or trust it. The subject was the new Metropolitan Highway System, the extension of the Mass. Turnpike Authority, which required a vote of both the House and Senate for its creation and its power to raise tolls on the Tobin Bridge to help fund the Big Dig.
The House and Senate met on the same afternoon, which is unusual; usually one branch passes a bill and sends it to the other, with time to study any amendments. They apparently knew that in the Senate, there would be no amendments. The Senate rushed the bill through quickly, with no rolls calls until the final vote. The House took longer to do the same thing; there were only two roll calls before the final vote.
Those who would like to read the House debate from the State House News Service can find it on our web page, courtesy of activists Bob & Karen Powell, at:
http://pages.map.com/bkpowell/cprpage.html
You might be impressed by the passionate rhetoric of legislators from the North Shore, who can now go home and tell their constituent-commuters that they fought the good fight. However, legislators who are intent on winning the good fight attempt to identify their fellow-legislators by forcing roll call votes. Calling for a roll call and losing it on a voice vote doesn't count; a serious bill-fighter will demand a recorded (roll call) vote.
There were none of these called for in the Senate. In the House [see State House News Service report for details] there were numerous amendments offered: Two couldn't get support for even a voice vote; 17 were rejected by voice vote. Only one important roll call on an amendment was permitted: an amendment by Rep. Slattery (D-Peabody) to sunset the authority when the project is done. That amendment lost 33-177. It was not a partisan vote; seven Republicans voted to sunset, 17 not to sunset.
One of the R's, Rep. Stoddart of Natick, tried to remove the language giving the Highway System attorney the power to unilaterally create criminal statutes and penalties—a violation of which will be tried in a new Highway System court! He was the only one to support a roll call on that!
Legislative sponsors insisted that they were not raising tolls, which is technically correct. They were just creating the entity that is going to raise tolls, though, as Gov. Weld says, no more than necessary. How reassuring.
A comprehensive metro highway system is probably a good idea. But it should be state-controlled, not a continuation of the Mass. Turnpike Authority, which would have rolled in its grave by now if the state had kept its word.
There should be a clear sunset date.
It should not have the ability to pass criminal laws and penalties, then play judge and jury in its own courtroom.
It should not be funded by increased revenues—new tolls--when the state has a surplus that could be used.
We wish Free the Pike well as it considers another petition drive. This time we bet they'll get the signatures.
One more point: the final vote in the Senate was 28-5. There are forty Senators. This was a major bill and the only thing they've had to do since last August. Where were the other highly-paid seven Senators? And the nine absent House members?
As Chip Ford likes to say, this is the best Legislature money can buy!
Barbara Anderson—
Barbara and Chip Ford will be guests on New England Cable News tomorrow (Saturday), appearing on Talk of New England hosted by Jim Braude (formerly executive director of the Tax Equity Alliance of Massachusetts) and Boston Herald columnist Margery Eagan. The topics will include the Weld - Joe Kennedy debate, campaign finance reform, and the merger that has become CLT&G. Talk of New England airs from 5:00 - 6:00 PM on Saturdays.