Posted on 03/16/2005 5:49:23 AM PST by mowowie
BOSTON - Gov. Mitt Romney asked the state's highest court Tuesday if he has the power to fire the Massachusetts turnpike chairman after an engineer who led an investigation into leaks at the $14.6 billion Big Dig project says he can no longer vouch for the safety of its tunnels.
"With the Big Dig there's been a pattern of cover-up and stonewalling that has left the public with little confidence that the project is being managed well or that the road and tunnel system are safe to travel," Romney said.
But he stopped short of calling the tunnels unsafe and said he will continue to drive through them.
The governor's comments came in response to a March 9 letter written to the Turnpike Authority by engineering specialist Jack K. Lemley, who said he was "unable to express an opinion as to the safety of the I-93 portion of the Central Artery."
Romney has previously called for Turnpike chairman Matthew Amorello's resignation. In his request to the state Supreme Court, Romney wrote that Amorello has "failed to discharge the critical duties of his position competently" and is "presently threatening the public good."
Amorello defended the safety of the tunnels Tuesday and said he has no intention of resigning. "If there was ever a hint that public safety is in jeopardy, I promise you we would close the tunnels immediately," he said.
The Big Dig highway project, which buries Interstate 93 under downtown Boston and connects the turnpike to Logan International Airport, has been plagued by cost overruns and riddled by leaks and other construction flaws.
In September, water broke though a faulty wall panel and flooded one of the tunnels, backing up rush-hour traffic for miles. A subsequent investigation headed by Lemley found hundreds of smaller leaks.
Lemley told lawmakers in November that there was no risk to people driving through the tunnels. Since then, Big Dig officials have identified more than 40 sections of the tunnel with problems.
In his letter, Lemley said project officials would not provide records and data on the new problems. He said his change in position was also driven by the apparent lack of any formal plan by Big Dig officials to address the leaks.
Lemley, whose company is still owed about $800,000 by the Turnpike Authority, did not immediately return calls Tuesday.
Romney also Tuesday ordered an independent review of the Big Dig's safety by the state highway department and said he will ask the state's attorney general to immediately seize any Turnpike documents related to the safety of the tunnels.
Why does the governor of a state have to ask the court if he has the power to fire the guy? I don't get it...if he's incompetent, he's endangering the saftey of the people of Mass.. fire his ass, then let him sue...why do we let the judges run the place?
Another example of American, Union quality.
There needs to be a through investigation of this and hte appropiate charges filed.
This is Massachusetts which has had more republican governors than 'rat ones. The 'rat legislature thus has done several things to deal out the governor on transportation oversight, running the State Lottery, and appointing interim Senators.
Great minds think alike, Romney should fire him immediately!
Let the Democrats via the judges re-instate him if they think they can.
I have my own "conspiracy" theory on this. The homosexual lobby looked the other way on the Big Dig, those taking kickbacks from the Big Dig in this "Commonwealth" went along with gay marriage quid pro quo.
I think those in Iraq & Lebanon know more about Democracy than most here in Mass.
Thanks..I understand that..but still, wouldn't it make more sense for Mitt to make a pre-emtive strike, and fire him..them leave the Dems to explain why he can't..?
Well "frankly" John, you do not inspire much confidence....who cares what you think..we want you to KNOW THE TUNNEL IS SAFE.
I think Romney needs to do to Mass what Bush did to Iraq, tip over the apple cart. This state can't be fixed in small steps.
First thing he should do is request a Federal investigation under the RICO ACT concerning every penny that went into the Big Dig. This should include specifically members of the Legislature.
Then he ought to INVITE a Constitutional crisis by arresting the SJC. They stepped over their their authority on Gay Marriage citing Canadian Law and & ought to be jailed for it. He could cite some tribal law to justify his actions.
They also usurpt the will of the people who passed a death penalty Constitutional Amendment here in Mass in 1882 calling it unconstitutional, what you asked? Yep they called the Mass Constitution unconstitutional.
It should also go back to investigate how Teddy K got away with drowning a staffer.
Could all this happen without organized criminal behavior?
This is the most corrupt & morally bankrupt state in the Union.
Boy, you'd almost think was built in a Communist state.
Oh wait...
Where else can you go for a drive and go for a swim at the same time ?
Question for the MSM: Where's the coverage?
The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority is a quasi-governmental body. It reports to a board of directors, of which Fat Matt is one. It does not report to the governor of the Commonwealth.
Mitt explained that on Howie Carr's show last night: apparently, if he tried that, Fat Matt could slap some sort of injunction, preventing the firing from taking effect, and send the whole thing into court, which would take years to resolve. Mitt thinks that doing things this wall will lead to FM's ouster more quickly.
What do you expect? You give open ended government funding to a blue state inititiative.. of course its going to go over budget, be built sub standard and wind up a mess.
Romney does not care about the citizens (just like the rest of the corrupt Massachusetts Democratic-Bulgerized hive).
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