In what would be an unprecedented power grab, Governor Deval Patrick is looking to take control of the state's sprawling quasi-public agencies and authorities, including the Massachusetts Port Authority and the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority.
Patrick, appearing at the State House for his first full day of work yesterday, signaled that he is taking a serious look at how to implement a sweeping overhaul of the way Massachusetts has organized some of its quasi-independent authorities. The newly sworn-in chief executive said control of the agencies would be key to having an effective and streamlined administration.
"I want to make sure that the government is organized in a way that enables us to drive the agenda we were elected to drive," Patrick said as he prepared to hold his first Cabinet meeting yesterday. "I don't want to have to wait for control of this or that quasi-independent. I just want it to be simpler and more straight forward."
Without putting the agencies under the governor's control, Patrick would have to wait until the last year or two in his term before he gains a majority on the boards that control the agencies, which operate some of the most important projects and operations in Massachusetts, from Logan International Airport to the Big Dig...... .......The governor's clearest path to taking over the authorities is getting House and Senate leaders to agree to rewrite the legislation that created each of the agencies and purposely insulated them from political currents.
Already, lawmakers are raising issues of legality, including the effect on bonds approved under the current state authorities. Bondholders, along with many companies that deal with the agencies, value stability in their operations. Also, by opening up the enabling legislation for the authorities for debate, lawmakers could create a firestorm among interest groups wanting to influence how the authority boards are constituted
4 comments:
Now that Patrick is governor and Murray is Lt. Governor, do you think that helps out Worcester with our MassPort situation? Murray seemed to be interested in the airport more than most (ie. When the Big Dig disaster happened, Murray requested that some BOS flights would be diverted to ORH to save congestion for travelers).
Dave, he has worked more toward train service than advocating for the airport, if the press in past months is any indication. I sincerely wish the two services could realize some mutual benefit, but it will take some serious and energetic championing on his part to promote the airport as is.
Thank you for not being anonymous and contributing a useful question.
If Patrick gets control of any of these qausi-public entities, we will then have even more political hacks in charge instead of people who are competent and technical; e.g. Amorello.
But on the other hand just look at Masspike. These entities as they are now set up can virtually snub their noses at teh states CEO, untill such time as he can gets his own people on the boards of directors and that can take at least 2 terms.
Gues I am not sure which way to go, but i think the cureent set up is better than what Patrick proposes.
Peter Blute was on his radio talk show this morning saying how bad it would become if Deval got his way b/c then politics, rather thhan merit would determine who runs these entities. Can you believe he'd make thsi statement, given that he was CEO at massport before 9-11 !
Correct that.....he was ceo there at some point before 9-11 but not when it occured. He got tossed after a Mid August Boston Harbor booze cruise on the taxpayers dime??? Virginia Buckingham was CEO at 9-11??
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