Yesterday was a bad day for Matt Amarello, Massachusetts' Turnpike Authority Chairman. Not one, but two courts ruled against him. First, one said that the lawsuit brought by a couple of members for "freezing them out" of policy matters could continue. Then, another said that Governor Mitt Romney's hearing about firing him (called for by Romney, who will also act as judge) could also go forward.
Today was worse.
An hour before Matt was to stand before Romney (or, rather, his grotesquely expensive lawyers, paid for by the people of Massachusetts) and argue he shouldn't be fired, Matt finally read the writing on the wall (which has been spraypainted in Day-Glo colors for years now) and resigned.
He's getting a good-bye kiss of six months' severance and continued health insurance coverage, but the key point is: he's gone.
Some are unhappy with this. They wanted him kicked out on his ass, stripped of his pension, and then maybe driven through the tunnel in a convertible until something falls on him and kills him. But here are the key advantages to giving him this deal:
1) He's out of power, and can't cause any more problems.
2) The cost of buying him out will most likely be cheaper than his ongoing legal expenses plus his salary until he would be forced out.
3) He's out of power, and can't cause any more problems.
4) By sustaining the fight as long as he did, he burned a LOT of his bridges -- quite possibly all of them. This six months' pay will most likely to have to last a long, long, long time.
5) He's out of power, and can't cause any more problems.
6) With him gone, Romney is now able to appoint a new chairman and USING the entrenched bureaucracy to find and fix the problems, not fight it.
7) Finally, he's out of power, and can't cause any more problems.
Amarello was never more than an aggravating factor. He made the problems worse with his endless denials, coverups, and corruption, but he didn't create the problem and it won't go away with his departure.
But it's a hell of a good step in the right direction.
Enjoy those six months of money for nothing, Matt. You're gonna have a lot of fun finding a comparable position with THIS mess on your resume'.
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Mass. Insanity
Comments (13)
I suspect he'll find a job ... (Below threshold)1. Posted by lawhawk | July 27, 2006 9:45 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I suspect he'll find a job working for the NJ Turnpike Authority or NJ Transit. After all, it's New Jersey - corruption and you, perfect together.
1. Posted by lawhawk | July 27, 2006 9:45 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 27, 2006 09:45
2. Posted by McGehee | July 27, 2006 9:48 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Does the UN have a turnpike authority?
2. Posted by McGehee | July 27, 2006 9:48 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 27, 2006 09:48
3. Posted by flydiveski | July 27, 2006 9:54 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Rule #6: There is NO rule # 6.
3. Posted by flydiveski | July 27, 2006 9:54 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 27, 2006 09:54
4. Posted by 914 | July 27, 2006 9:54 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Yes, I think His name is Kofi something?
4. Posted by 914 | July 27, 2006 9:54 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 27, 2006 09:54
5. Posted by moseby | July 27, 2006 10:55 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Yes, here in NJ we prefer a government lousy with lyars and criminals. Send him over...he'll fit right in with corzine et al.
5. Posted by moseby | July 27, 2006 10:55 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 27, 2006 10:55
6. Posted by hermie | July 27, 2006 11:10 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The downside is that Romney will now be blamed by Dems and the MSM for every subsequent discovery of mismanagement and shoddy workmanship.
After all, he is a Republican.
6. Posted by hermie | July 27, 2006 11:10 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 27, 2006 11:10
7. Posted by Snurfle | July 27, 2006 11:40 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
New Jersey Turnpike Authority...
We're not satisfied until you're not satisfied.
7. Posted by Snurfle | July 27, 2006 11:40 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 27, 2006 11:40
8. Posted by DavidF | July 27, 2006 12:04 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
He'll replace Howie Dean at the DNC.
8. Posted by DavidF | July 27, 2006 12:04 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 27, 2006 12:04
9. Posted by Kevin | July 27, 2006 1:25 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
DavidF,
I don't see how he could replace Dean. Amorello is a Republican.
9. Posted by Kevin | July 27, 2006 1:25 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 27, 2006 13:25
10. Posted by MattP | July 27, 2006 4:02 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Point of correction. You stated that the govener's "grotesquely expensive lawyers" are being paid for by the "people of Massachusetts". Actually the lawfirm agreed to represent the state on a pro-bono basis.
CBS News: The powerful Boston law firm WilmerHale has agreed to represent the state on a pro bono basis, Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said Thursday.
Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/13/ap/national/mainD8IR9O601.shtml
10. Posted by MattP | July 27, 2006 4:02 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 27, 2006 16:02
11. Posted by ed | July 27, 2006 5:33 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Hmmm.
Are you from Joisy? I'm from Joisy. What exit?
Actually it appears that there are a few people here from New Jersey so ... I'm on exit 100, GSP.
And yeah I agree, he'd fit right in. After all the next big project for the GSP Authority is to add another fricking level to the GSP and make it a double-decker.
That ought to be fun.
11. Posted by ed | July 27, 2006 5:33 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 27, 2006 17:33
12. Posted by Bill M | July 27, 2006 9:54 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
But the best thing is:
He's out of power, and can't cause any more problems.
Or did somebody already say that?
The sad thing is that Mitt will now be blamed for everything because he's a Republican. And the peeeople of MA will buy right into it. But, likely by the time Mitt's done with it, at least the tunnels will be safe. Guess that is what really counts.
12. Posted by Bill M | July 27, 2006 9:54 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 27, 2006 21:54
13. Posted by Kevin | July 28, 2006 10:47 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Why would Mitt be blamed because he is a Republican? Amorello is a Republican and he wasn't blamed for his choice of party. Romney wants to eliminate the MTA and fold it into MassHighway, which is under autonomous state control. Romney didn't like the way Amorello operated the MTA. I don't see where partisanship plays into this.
13. Posted by Kevin | July 28, 2006 10:47 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 28, 2006 10:47