In The News: Transportation

We agree with Michael Widmer, director of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, who has recommended the governor order a complete review of the benefits packages at all independent public agencies, including Massport. Widmer is also pushing for Gov. Deval Patrick to review compensation levels.

Michael Widmer of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation calls the benefit a ''lucrative arrangement'' not found in the public or private sectors.

Michael Widmer, head of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a nonpartisan business-backed group, recommended that Governor Deval Patrick order a review of the benefits and compensation packages at Massport and other independent agencies. "This is an extremely unusual and lucrative arrangement, not found in either the public or private sectors," Widmer said. Patrick administration officials declined to comment.

"He has a combination of both policy and political savvy, which I think is exactly what the administration needs now to help navigate through the whole issue of transportation funding and reform," said Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation and, like Aloisi, a member of the Transportation Finance Commission. "His appointment is a chance for the administration to take a fresh look at all of this."

Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation and who worked with Aloisi when both served on the state's Transportation Finance Committee, said Aloisi has institutional knowledge of transportation issues and strong political skills. "I came away very impressed" with Aloisi, said Widmer.

"They're effectively headed to bankruptcy, so they're in desperate shape," said Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation and a member of that commission. "It makes no sense to deal with some major transportation reform and ignore the MBTA."

"The only way the T can afford any expansion is for the state to contribute additional revenues, and even then it depends on how much," said Michael Widmer, head of the Massachusetts Taxpayer Foundation, a nonpartisan business-backed group. "The T's structural deficit is so large and growing that even additional state assistance might not be sufficient for the T to afford any expansion."

"With all the bridges in the state in desperate need of repair, it's a legitimate question whether this is the best use of taxpayers' money," said Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. "Clearly, the Highway Department needs to set priorities on where to put limited dollars to have the greatest impact for transportation purposes, and I'm not sure about this decision."

Widmer said the commission didn't want to overstate the problem, calling the estimates conservative. He said in the time the report was issued, the situation has gotten worse. "It's a full-blown crisis, in different respects," he said.

Fiscal watchdog Michael Widmer, who earlier criticized the high number of take-home vehicles, said the reforms should bring much-needed financial relief. "I think the administration has made a serious effort to gain control over this problem," said Widmer, executive director of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. "It's especially critical at very difficult fiscal times like these."