Romney Leaving Untended Mess Behind In Mass. For Nation's 2nd Ever Black Governor

[bigtree]

as he cuts-and-runs for president . . .


Romney Leaves Behind 'Parting Gifts' For Patrick
Gov.-Elect To Decide Tolls, Budget Cuts

5:10 pm EST November 17, 2006

BOSTON -- Gov. Mitt Romney is leaving Deval Patrick a few parting gifts on his way out of the Statehouse, but from the governor-elect's perspective, they could turn out to be ticking time bombs.

The outgoing Republican governor is leaving his Democratic replacement with the decision about whether to forge ahead with removing tolls on the Massachusetts Turnpike west of Route 128. He's also letting him to decide whether to retain $425 million in budget cuts made by Romney, which includes eliminating pet projects favored by a variety of House and Senate members.

In addition, he just completed a safety review of the $14.6 billion Big Dig, in which the governor pointed out everything from a corroded light fixture to a troublesome bridge component holding up 1 million pounds. He also acknowledged it will be Patrick's responsibility to implement the fixes after he leaves office in January.

And none of that is even touching the idea that Patrick - not Romney -- will be charged with implementing the state's new universal health care law. It is the first of its kind in the nation.

Of that list, the first two may be the most vexing challenges - and the most political Machiavellian. Regardless of how Patrick acts, it should serve Romney's political agenda as he marches forth on an expected course toward a 2008 presidential campaign.

Regardless, each scenario would play into Romney's pre-election warnings about the danger to taxpayers of returning to single-party rule on Beacon Hill.


report: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/10347327/detail.html



http://journals.democraticunderground.com/bigtree

[stepnw1f]

1. Romney Can Kiss His Chances for President GOODBYE!!!! (nt)

[William769]

2. He also left him Gay marriage!

:rofl:

[davidinalameda]

5. he's still working on getting gay marriage banned

how would it play out to the right wingers that gay marriage was legalized on his watch

[William769]

6. He can work all he wants it will still be there when he leaves office.

[Jim Warren]

3. It's a tradition here with pub Govs.... Weld.......Cellucci

"He also acknowledged it will be Patrick's responsibility to implement the fixes after he leaves office in January."

This is kinda like tweety harping about the dem plan in Iraq, they broke it
but you fix it.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. Mittens has been AWOL for three years. Mass. has been running on it's own

While lhe is running all over the country trying to impress the RW king-makers.

[lcordero2]

7. I hope that Deval Patrick investigates the whole infrastructure

in Mass. and puts up a high profile web page of how the departing Gov. is just another child of privilege that feels he is entitled to ruin the government.