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Let's Lose the Fast Lane Gates on the Tobin

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On Jan.1, MassDOT took over the Tobin Bridge from MassPort. Sadly, my Boston MPO monthly TransReport informs me that: Drivers who pay tolls in cash or by using Fast Lane or E-ZPass transponders will not experience any changes when they travel over the Tobin Bridge. That’s too bad, because I’ve always been perplexed by the Tobin’s insistence on using gates in conjunction with their Fast Lane electronic tolling system, slowing down throughput. None of the many Turnpike Fast Lane stations use gates. Are Tobin users less trustworthy than Turnpike users? Let’s take them down and get traffic moving.

The Secret Weapon in the Auditor's Race

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I blogged a few days ago about the crowded field for the Auditor’s race and the relatively lonely Treasurer’s race. And now our crack Pioneer field research team has discovered one candidate with a crucial edge in the Auditor’s competition. Behold: Sorry, Suzanne, Mary, Mike, Earl, and Kamal. You can’t hope to match this.

Opportunity for Coakley in March

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While the Democratic party “commentariat” has had afield day with the AG’s campaign for US Senate, a funny thing happened. Ten days after the election, her office released an intriguing Investigation that showed nuance well beyond the campaign talking points on why health care is so expensive. A. Prices paid by health insurance companies to hospitals and physician groups vary significantly within the same geographic area and amongst providers offering similar levels of service. B. Price variations are not correlated to (1) quality of care, (2) the sickness or complexity of the population being served, (3) the extent to which a provider is responsible for caring for a large portion of patients on Medicare or Medicaid, or (4) whether a […]

Secretary Reville does Mel Gibson

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At the January 26 Board of Education meeting that dealt primarily with the Gloucester charter school mess, Secretary Reville does his best imitation of Gibson in Conspiracy Theory. He notes “a number of attempts to distract us from the focus that we ought to have,” people who “[cloak] themselves in talk about de-politicizing the process,” “the well-worn tools of political assassination, innuendos, and threats of various kinds.” There are those who seek to “diminish the courage” and perseverance he has to do what’s in the best interests of children and to maintain the “integrity of the board.” It’s bizarre, then, to watch a Republican Senator (Bruce Tarr), a Democratic Representative (Anne-Marie Ferrante), and the Inspector General Gregory Sullivan, who comes […]

Ugh…

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Well, the Board of Higher Ed approved the acquisition of the Southern New England Schools of Law. Budget crisis + new way to expend $50 M over five years + uncertain outcome + cuts in other core services + lots of other bad stuff = good policy idea Man, that’s new math. Video here.