Governor Patrick: Do as I Say, Not as I do

BOSTON—House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. issued the following statement today after hearing Governor Patrick is looking to hire Parsons Brinckerhoff for the Green Line extension project, a project that has nearly doubled in cost since only 2007.

Governor Patrick’s hypocrisy is laughable at this point. His ability to talk out of both sides of his mouth on any number of issues proves only one thing: he’s great at campaigning but when it comes to actually governing his efforts are dismal at best.

“Candidate Patrick” campaigned against the “Big Dig Culture” but Governor Patrick is not only embracing that culture he railed against, he’s waist deep in it.

“Candidate Patrick’s” campaign slogan was “Together we can,” his governing motto should be “Do as I say, not as I do.”

*Quotes from Governor Patrick to refresh your memory on his campaign against the “Big Dig Culture.”

Boston Herald, “Pol wants big dig firm ban”
1/31/09
“Patrick recently blasted Massport officials for hiring Parsons Brinckerhoff even though MassHighway has paid the controversial firm more than $300,000 for engineering work since the governor took office, the Herald disclosed yesterday. However, the department has rejected or frozen bids from the contractor issued in fiscal 2008 for four state projects, including a bridge project in Amesbury.”

Boston Herald, “Dig ‘culprits’ still making Mass. Cash”
1/30/2009
Patrick tore into Massport on WTKK-FM last November after officials hired Parsons Brinckerhoff for $30 million to construct a parking complex at Logan International Airport, saying, ``You did not want to be on the other end of the phone when I heard that.''

The Daily News of Newburyport, “Governor provides answers”
7/22/09
Asked why the state would employ Parsons Brinckerhoff, the firm behind the problem-plagued Big Dig, to work on the massive Whittier Bridge replacement project, the governor acknowledged he doesn't like the situation.
"I have a lot of heartburn about them still doing business in the commonwealth," Patrick said.
The firm wasn't disbarred as part of the attorney general's case, he said.
"I wish they had been," he said.
In some instances, the state will still have to use them when the proposal comes in at the lowest cost, Patrick said.

The Associated Press “Patrick admits state budget leaner than he thought”
12/4/08
He was incensed when he learned that Parsons Brinckerhoff Americas, part of the consortium that built the problem-plagued $15 billion Big Dig, had been hired by the Massachusetts Port Authority to design and manage construction of a $377 million parking garage at Logan International Airport.
The firm, which earlier this year joined in a $458 million settlement with the family of a woman killed in a Central Artery tunnel ceiling collapse, will be paid $37 million for its work. Massport officials say the project will be led by a different team of engineers.
"You did not want to be on the other end of the phone when I heard that," the governor said. Patrick refused to reveal with whom he spoke, but he labeled the news "enormously disappointing" and said despite the explanation, "the optics are terrible."