Politics/ State government/ Transportation

Rep. mixes it up with ‘former government official’

Straus comments about MBTA funding seem directed at Aloisi

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REP. WILLIAM STRAUS, the House chair of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee, on Monday took aim at “a former government official” who believes the best way to solve the MBTA’s problems is to give the transit authority more money.

At an oversight hearing of the Transportation Committee, Straus never identified the official but kept referring to him during the panel’s questioning of MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng and Transportation Secretary Gina Fiandaca.

“Some who are no longer in government but still have a microphone, so to speak, have expressed the view that the problem is money and resources to be provided to the MBTA,” Straus said early on in the hearing. “My own view is that these things do take money but money alone may not be the answer.”

The Mattapoisett Democrat’s comments seemed to be directed at James Aloisi, a former secretary of transportation who now serves on the TransitMatters board, writes commentaries for CommonWealth, and is often a guest commentator on GBH.

Aloisi has written several pieces for CommonWealth dating back to last fall in which he urged the Legislature and governor to address a looming shortfall in the MBTA’s operating budget by relieving the T (and the regional transit authorities) of the cost of providing paratransit service and a large chunk of their debt service costs. In a March 13 commentary spotlighting five ideas for improving the MBTA, Aloisi urged the Legislature to act on the funding issues this year.

Aloisi said he watched some of the Transportation Committee hearing and tweeted a note to Straus. “Those of us asking for more money for the T are aware of the imminent crisis of an operating budget shortfall,” he wrote. “Fare revenues no longer satisfy 1/3 of T budget needs. Riders need informed action by the Legislature & we aren’t getting any.”

Straus took note of the tweet during the hearing. “Somebody must have thought I offended them,” he said. “They already went on Twitter to question some of the comments I made earlier today – someone who once was in public service.”

During the hearing, Eng was asked if the T is receiving the money it needs. The general manager said yes, but he also said the authority needs additional, steady revenue streams. “Definitely, additional funds are needed,” he said.

Despite taking note of Aloisi’s tweet in the midst of the hearing, In a telephone interview after the hearing, Straus was coy about whether his comments about “a former government official” were directed at Aloisi. “I guess he decided he fits the bill, but I wasn’t thinking of him necessarily,” the representative said.

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Bruce Mohl is the editor of CommonWealth magazine. Bruce came to CommonWealth from the Boston Globe, where he spent nearly 30 years in a wide variety of positions covering business and politics. He covered the Massachusetts State House and served as the Globe’s State House bureau chief in the late 1980s. He also reported for the Globe’s Spotlight Team, winning a Loeb award in 1992 for coverage of conflicts of interest in the state’s pension system. He served as the Globe’s political editor in 1994 and went on to cover consumer issues for the newspaper. At CommonWealth, Bruce helped launch the magazine’s website and has written about a wide range of issues with a special focus on politics, tax policy, energy, and gambling. Bruce is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He lives in Dorchester.

About Bruce Mohl

Bruce Mohl is the editor of CommonWealth magazine. Bruce came to CommonWealth from the Boston Globe, where he spent nearly 30 years in a wide variety of positions covering business and politics. He covered the Massachusetts State House and served as the Globe’s State House bureau chief in the late 1980s. He also reported for the Globe’s Spotlight Team, winning a Loeb award in 1992 for coverage of conflicts of interest in the state’s pension system. He served as the Globe’s political editor in 1994 and went on to cover consumer issues for the newspaper. At CommonWealth, Bruce helped launch the magazine’s website and has written about a wide range of issues with a special focus on politics, tax policy, energy, and gambling. Bruce is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He lives in Dorchester.

For his part, Aloisi pointed out that his focus hasn’t been just on the funding issue. He said he has recommended a number of other reforms needed at the MBTA to get the transit authority on track.

“He is just not understanding the point,” Aloisi said, offering to join Straus on The Codcast, CommonWealth’s podcast, to discuss the issue in greater depth.