Governor Patrick Proposes New Hack Job

Deval Patrick wants to create a job…unfortunately, it’s one that is not at all needed, and is only open to current hacks.

Gov. Deval Patrick – who just days ago insisted his plan to install electronic tolling on the Pike was preliminary – has hit the gas on the proposal and is conducting an under-the-radar search for a big wheel to steer the high-speed drive-through system.

The new internal position – posted two days ago – is open only to state employees and could pay up to $102,000 a year to implement “the planning, design, and construction of the future electronic toll system for (the Massachusetts Department of Transportation),” according to a job posting obtained by the Herald.

“I’m sure they already have somebody in mind,” said House Minority Leader Bradley Jones (R-North Reading), who was surprised how quickly Patrick’s election-year push was fast-tracked. “It’s just consistent with him saying one thing and doing another.”

Isn’t there someone already on the payroll of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation who, as part of their regular stated duties, could do exactly what this job entails at no additional cost to the taxpayers?

The new “deputy director of statewide tolling” would study several electronic systems that would get rid of toll plazas and install sensors to toll motorists as they drive at highway speeds. They’ll also explore other changes such as getting rid of the paper tickets used on the Pike.

“This is an internal job search that will identify existing talent to help the Highway Division explore efficiencies in tolling that would make things easier for drivers and more cost-effective for MassDOT,” Durrant said.

The job description, however, said the employee will “transition . . . existing toll collection operations to Open Road Tolling or All Electronic Tolling.”

The tolling deputy director would also assess installation costs, savings from axing toll takers, and traffic improvements, according to the job posting.

The position would “appropriate outreach and communication effort for the project, designed to ensure awareness and understanding of (electronic tolling) for customers, media, elected officials, and key stakeholders.”

Are we to believe that once a “Toll Czar” position is filled, said “Toll Czar” won’t need a staff of underlings to do the work of the “Toll Czar” in his or her stead? I believe it’s safe to say that this is not merely a $102,000/year commitment to the taxpayers; expect a full staff of people to handle the job that should be the responsibility of the current staff of the Department of Transportation.

Side note: does the Commonwealth know how to create jobs that are under $100,000/year?

The Maine Reason

Last week, Maine became the 31st state to reject a referendum that would have legalized gay marriage.

With 87 percent of precincts reporting, gay-marriage foes had 53 percent of the vote in a referendum that asked Maine voters whether they wanted to repeal a law allowing same-sex marriage that had passed the Legislature and was signed by Democratic Gov. John Baldacci.

“The institution of marriage has been preserved in Maine and across the nation,” said Frank Schubert, the chief organizer for Stand for Marriage Maine, which lobbied for the repeal.

For the gay rights movement, which has gained a foothold in New England, it was a stinging defeat. Gay marriage has now lost in every state — 31 in all — in which it has been put to a popular vote. Gay-rights activists had hoped to buck that trend in Maine, framing same-sex marriage as a matter of equality for all families in a campaign that used 8,000 volunteers to get out the message.

Five states have legalized gay marriage — Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut — but all did so through legislation or court rulings, not by popular vote.

Portland resident Sarah Holman said she was torn, but decided — despite her conservative upbringing — to vote in favor of letting gays marry.

“They love and they have the right to love. And we can’t tell somebody how to love,” said Holman, 26.

Hold on a minute here…let’s get the record straight. This vote did not outlaw homosexuality, it only outlawed gay marriage. They are still free to love to each other.

While the gay marriage opponents claimed victory, Jesse Connolly, campaign manager for No on 1/Protect Maine Equality, held off conceding until early Wednesday, when he issued a statement vowing to continue to press the issue.

The fight for marriage equality will continue, he told supporters at the Holiday Inn ballroom, where a buffet table included a three-tiered wedding cake — with two grooms standing side by side, two brides standing side by side and the inscription: “We all do!”

And this is why you will never, ever, ever see gay marriage be voted on by the people, and not ushered in by a small handful of judges. The pro-gay marriage movement knows that gay marriage will not survive a vote by the people…and they will stop at nothing to keep you from voting on it.

But hey, if you want to keep electing people that choose to effectively put duct tape over your mouths, by all means…

Boston City Hall: Productivity FAIL

So much for productivity in the workplace….employees of the City of Boston are being paid with tax dollars to go on Facebook, Twitter and admittedly, do nothing.

Bored Boston government workers are goofing off on Facebook and other popular social networking sites on taxpayer time, boasting of napping during meetings, playing “Mafia Wars,” creating anagrams of their names and planning Halloween costumes.

The poster girl for the on-the-clock cyber-slacking is Amy Derjue, who earns $39,000 a year as Boston City Council President Michael Ross’ communications director.

The former Boston magazine blogger regularly updates her personal status on Facebook and Twitter throughout the work day, brazenly joking to her online pals about snoozing at a hearing, writing snarky comments about the reality TV show “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” opining on an article about Boston being one of the best cities to meet guys and babbling about her Halloween wig.

“Amy Derjue is going to sit in the Council meeting and nap,” she wrote on Facebook at 11:49 a.m. last Wednesday. The next day, she spent the morning complaining about her chilly City Hall cubicle on Twitter. “Somebody bring me a hot coffee and fluffy sweater, please,” she wrote at 9:32 a.m.

Another workday posting was a link to a cartoon “menstrual flow chart,” to which she commented, “Look at the uterus. It is so cute.” And she was apparently eager to punch out that day, writing at 4:40 p.m.: “20 minutes and I am OUT. Gone. No longer present. Do not contact unless you want to drink, shop, or watch sporting events.”

Really? Must be nice to be communications director at Boston City Hall…goof off all day, and leave early.

Ross said one of the reasons he hired Derjue was to “broaden” his social networking and develop a personality for his office.

“I like what Amy’s doing,” said Ross, adding he encourages Derjue to use Facebook and Twitter to spread his message to constituents. “It’s not so that she’s fritting away her time. . . . She doesn’t have time to waste.”

It think Mr. Ross has a bit of disconnect here. Do you want constituents to know that their tax dollars are being wasted on employees like Ms. Derjue to leave work and go shopping or hit the bars? I certainly wouldn’t. If you want her to use Facebook and Twitter, and other social networking sites to connect with constituents, then Facebook status updates and Twitter tweets would perhaps look like, “City Council President Michael Ross is in a meeting,” or “Boston City Council wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving,” or “We launched our official iPhone app, Citizen Connect,” not links to xkcd, failblog, Texts From Last Night or Graph Jam (to name a few).

In an economic climate that has resulted in fewer services and higher taxes, how can you justify this poor use of tax dollars? You can’t.

This kind of behavior would be completely unacceptable in the private sector, and would be grounds for being dismissed.

Remembering 9/11

On this eighth Anniversary of the 9/11, our thoughts and prayers are still with the victims and their families. Of the three thousand people who lost their lives, over 200 people had ties to Massachusetts. The following is that list: (more…)

Tax Dodge-rigues

A Democratic legislator goes up to New Hampshire to score some tax free booze, and it’s the Republican’s fault?

A Westport lawmaker who voted to hike the state sales and alcohol taxes was spotted brazenly piling booze in his car – adorned with his State House license plate – in the parking lot of a tax-free New Hampshire liquor store, the Herald has learned.

Michael J. Rodrigues’ blue Ford Crown Victoria, emblazoned with his “House 29” Massachusetts license plate, was parked outside a Granite State liquor store on Interstate-95 South over the weekend, according to a witness who provided pictures to the Herald.

The witness, who requested anonymity, claimed he approached Rodrigues, noted his State House plate, and asked if he was on personal or official business. Rodrigues, who was loading booze into his car, snapped “mind your own business,” the witness said.

The witness’ account was also posted yesterday on Citizens for Limited Taxation’s Web site.

A member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, Rodrigues did not return several phone calls yesterday. But in an online interview with The Standard-Times in New Bedford, he acknowledged buying the booze during a bathroom stop while he and his wife were on a weekend getaway in New Hampshire.

He also blamed the brouhaha on “Republican demagoguery.”

“Unfortunately, I think that’s why the Republican Party is in such bad shape in Massachusetts,” Rodrigues is quoted as saying. “The electorate here is smart enough to figure out what they’re up to.”

The Westport Democrat, whose family owns a rug business, was among the lawmakers who voted in an unpopular 25 percent sales tax hike for Bay Staters. The increase pushed the sales tax to 6.25 percent and slapped that same levy on booze – the first time alcohol has been subject to retail sales tax.

Yeah, you know what Republicans are up to? Making sure the Democrats on Beacon Hill are held accountable for their actions.

The sad and unfortunate thing is that the “electorate here,” as Mr. Rodrigues puts it, is actually not smart enough to remember on Election Day that the same piece of garbage that voted for taxing booze and raising the sales tax is the same guy who went up to New Hampshire to avoid those taxes, and is the same guy who they are going to vote for.

That’s what’s going to happen, unfortunately. It’s because the electorate is not smart enough.