In The News

Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, questioned plans to saddle Massport with responsibility for the Turnpike, Central Artery and harbor tunnels. "Massport has a full plate as it is," Widmer said.

Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, told me he had been expecting cuts in the range of 5 to 10 percent in fiscal 2010, which starts next July. He said those cuts are not likely to be shared equally, since some agencies cannot reduce spending dramatically. The Department of Corrections, for example, cannot just shut down prisons and release inmates.

Last year, the state's transportation finance commission recommended a gas tax increase of 11.5 cents per gallon to adjust for inflation and increases of about a penny a year to keep pace going forward. Add another 4 cents per gallon and tolls would stay where they are today, according to Mike Widmer, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation chief who was on the commission.

WIDMER: We can't pay for health care indefinitely when we're seeing 10 percent growth each year. That's simply not sustainable. So as successful as we've been here in Massachusetts, on the long term success, the jury is still out.

Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, the business-backed group that has been critical of Patrick's financing techniques, called Cohen's remarks last week "the first time I've heard them acknowledge that." "It's a good thing they're understanding it, but then it brings to the surface the reality that we have no money to pay for the project - beyond planning," he said.

Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation in Boston, said the governor's plan to eliminate the turnpike authority is full of holes. Widmer said the state Highway Department is stretched thin now trying to maintain roads. "They don't have either the money or the resources to manage the western turnpike," Widmer said.

Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said that while it is appropriate to give stipends to elected board members while they are in office, benefits should end when they leave.

While Linsky said he hopes to pass the gas tax instead of hiking tolls, Michael Widmer, who served on the Transportation Finance Committee and is of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, said both will be needed to patch the state's crumbling roads and bridges. "I think it was a constructive vote," Widmer said of the Pike board's move to hike taxes to $2 at both Allston and Weston tolls. "But I think the obvious inequity will bring a greater focus on the need for a gas tax."

"The Massachusetts Highway department is already overwhelmed with responsibilities in a managerial sense and a fiscal sense. Now, with no additional money, we're going to give them more responsibilities, which could easily make things worse," said Michael Widmer, head of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

Incentive programs aren't as effective as additional advertising, argued fiscal expert Michael Widmer. "The recession has clearly had an impact on betting, but additional advertising is clearly the way to sell more," Widmer said.