Monday, May 18, 2015
Senate Republicans Call for MBTA Reforms
I released the following press release today following regarding the changes needed for MBTA reform.
BOSTON-
May 18, 2015 Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), flanked by
members of the Senate Republican Caucus, called for strong reforms of the
ailing MBTA transit system at a State House press conference today.
Citing
years of troubles stemming from lax fiscal controls and poor management
practices, the entire membership of the State Senate Republican Caucus called
on the Senate to adopt a package of reform measures in the budget debate which
begins Tuesday.
“For
years we have been calling for reform of the MBTA and now millions of T riders
who were bitterly disappointed by a failing transit system know why,” said
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “The many problems at the
MBTA have been well documented by Governor Baker’s task force and others and
they are well understood. The time is now for the Senate to take definitive
action to address the dysfunction of the MBTA.”
The
public’s unrest and anger with the MBTA accelerated as the tough winter exposed
multiple failures within the beleaguered transit system. Assistant
Minority Leader Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth) a member of the Transportation
Committee for more than two decades said, “We have seen many task forces and
commissions formed to look at the finances and operation of the T, and this is
the best chance to secure reform. I have not seen a greater push from the
public, they want to see change.”
“This
winter was an incredibly difficult one for commuters all across Massachusetts.
The people of the Commonwealth have spoken and after all they have recently
endured, what they need from their legislature is a constructive fix to the
MBTA,” said Senator Richard Ross. “Another hard winter is just around the
corner, and with it will come another nightmare for our commuters if we do not
take real action and address systemic problems. The amendments filed to
the FY16 budget by the Senate Republican Caucus aim to finally provide the
public with solutions to these problems. Our constituents deserve no less. The
time to act is now.”
“There
are 351 towns in the Commonwealth, 14 of which I represent. This year the town
of Douglas is giving out 16 pink slips, and the town of Oxford is giving out
50,” said Ryan Fattman, Assistant Minority Whip (R Webster).
“By creating a fiscal control board, the MBTA would become subject to more
fiscal accountability and transparency. I see this as a great opportunity to
identify and stop unnecessary spending, by the MBTA, and return those tax-payer
funds back to our cities and towns, allowing our local municipalities to regain
much needed resources and invest in typically underfunded groups like teachers
and police officers.”
Among
the amendments being filed are those which would:
- · Establish a fiscal 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,
- · Engage the Inspector General in an MBTA audit,
- · Subject the MBTA Retirement Fund to the public records laws, and
- · Release the MBTA from the requirement of the Pacheco Law in order to secure greater cost savings.
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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