Thursday, May 14, 2015
Senate Republican Caucus Seeks to Secure MBTA Reforms in State Budget
Boston- May 14, 2015
Massachusetts Senate Republicans today said that they will push for meaningful
reforms to the MBTA in the Senate’s version of the Fiscal Year 2016 state
budget, and are filing several amendments to provide their colleagues with the
opportunity to take action and begin the process of bringing accountability
dysfunction, that was exposed by the dramatic failures over the past winter.
“We
can’t contemplate a $38 billion state spending bill without pursuing the
reforms that are needed now to repair a broken MBTA, and to give riders,
taxpayers and the public the mass transit system they need and deserve,” said
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “The time to act is
now, and we will provide amendments for the Senate to take that action.”
Among
the amendments being filed are those which would:
- · Establish a five member control board to focus for three to five years on making the MBTA operationally sound and cost-effective,
- · Free the MBTA from prohibitive strictures that prevent innovation and private partnerships and cost savings,
- · Require rigorous performance management standards for procurement of goods and services, and
- · Release the MBTA from the requirement of the Pacheco Law in order to secure greater cost savings.
“This
is our opportunity to address the concerns that the entire Commonwealth has in
reforming the MBTA,” said Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth) the Ranking Republican on
the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “I have become convinced that the
work of the Governor’s special panel will give the MBTA board the tools
necessary to make our public transportation system world-class.”
Governor
Baker appointed a special panel to review the MBTA system following the
wide-spread interruptions and T closures during the winter.
“The
need to fix and reform the MBTA is as important to my constituents in western
Massachusetts as it is to the people who ride the T in the eastern part of the
state. The amount of money, time, and resources spent on the T has a profound
impact on the Massachusetts state budget which is, of course, a concern for the
tax-payers, constituents, and voters, across the Commonwealth,” said Donald
Humason (R-Westfield) a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
“The
failure of the MBTA to provide efficient and reliable service throughout the
winter months has brought to light years of serious mismanagement and lack of
fiscal discipline within the transit system and to not take significant action
would be a great disservice to the people of the Commonwealth,” said Assistant
Minority Leader Richard Ross (R-Wrentham). “Next week, we will be working hard
for our constituents and commuters across the state to pursue reforms necessary
to get the MBTA back in working order. It is my hope that we can put the needs
of the people we serve before those of any political party or interest
group."
Budget
debate will begin Tuesday morning when the Senate will consider more than 900
proposals to the $38 billion state budget.
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