Senate
Republican Caucus Succeeds in Securing Transparency Amendment in Transpo Bond
Bill
Caucus
Vows to Continue to Fight for Accountability and Responsibility in State
Transportation System
Boston-
On Thursday, March 6th, the Massachusetts State Senate debated a transportation
bond bill that totaled more than $13 billion to assist in the financing of
transportation projects throughout the Commonwealth. Among the 237
amendments filed, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), Assistant
Minority Leader Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth), Senate Minority Whip Donald
Humason (R-Westfield), and Senator Richard Ross (R-Wrentham), the Ranking
Republican on the Senate Committee on Ways and Means succeeded in securing an amendment
to S.2023, An Act financing improvements to the Commonwealth’s transportation
system, that would instill needed transparency and allow for more
accountability within two of the state’s major transportation agencies.
The
amendment, which passed unanimously by a roll call vote of 38-0, requires the
Massachusetts Department of Transportation to post an annual report to the
MassDOT website of all financial activities. It also requires the MBTA to
post an annual itemized budget online, allowing anyone the opportunity to
scrutinize and examine the expenditures made by the agency.
“Our
state government spends billions of taxpayer dollars on a system of
transportation that people depend on every day, said Senator Tarr. “It
makes sense to open the doors of accountability to allow people to see how
their money is being spent, and compare those expenditures with the value they
are getting when they drive on a roadway or ride on a train.”
While
this amendment passed overwhelmingly, several other amendments aimed at
increasing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the state’s
transportation system were offered unsuccessfully by the caucus, which will
continue to pursue them in other venues. They include:
• Requiring the secretary of transportation to issue a five-year plan
prioritizing the repair and maintenance of existing transportation
infrastructure over expansion projects, also known as the Fix it First Plan;
• Prohibiting the MBTA from undertaking expansion projects without first
conducting a cost analysis and demonstrating that sufficient revenue exists or
will be generated to operate and maintain the expansion project; and
• Prohibiting the registrar from raising Registry of Motor Vehicle fees until
after the secretary of transportation has reported on the status of a mandate
requiring all state transportation employees’ salaries and benefits being
funded through the operating budget, and not with bond money.
“In
order to increase transparency within our state government and instill the
system with greater integrity, it is paramount that measures like these are
vigorously pursued at every opportunity, and the Senate Republican Caucus will
continue to fight for a more transparent and efficient state government,” said
Senator Tarr.
The
transportation bond bill was engrossed by the Senate by a unanimous vote of
38-0. The House previously passed its version of a transportation bond
bill, and now the two chambers will work together to reach an accord.
