Easter Tolls

" And."

" And now there's time. Norma -- cars show want to take a moment to say how pleased I have. About the rescue captain Phillips and his safe return. An American now."

" The best of times hopefully. Everybody in America can latch on to this may be -- Use it as a sign of hope you love."

" We."

" Okay. Okay."

" I'm very proud. The efforts of the US military in many other departments and agencies that worked tirelessly to resolve this situation. I share our nation's admiration for captain -- courage and leadership of selfless concern for his crew. I'll lead guitar and there -- no piracy. Of US forces would not live. Things are being that I want to be very clear there we are resolved to halt the rise of privacy. That region now how long -- Cobb it was a bloody sirens anyway. Obama powered card WRKO. Radio network. One."

" 877469432218774694322. As the toll free number. Of the Howie -- show. Beat color number five right now at 6179311680. That's 6179311680. And won a fifty dollar gift card -- allows those features thin crust pizzas with homemade red sauce Cassidy is steak tips and the more. KB caller number five or six whatever I said that's that's what you should be all right. 18774694322. You know felon Finneran the former house speaker now convicted felon. Convicted of obstruction of justice after you have a memory failure. In the US appeals court first circuit few years back when he was answering questions seek partly hidden que ha it -- it. Was indicted for perjury and he reduced to two way. 22 a obstruction of justice plea bargain. I regret to inform you that -- veteran's memory has failed him again. He doesn't remember getting a sleazy pensions. For a sleazy. What state rep named Jim Bassett who has never been known as the sharpest knife in the drawer of the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree but yet. Somehow. -- Bassett despite being I think we would all agree below average at best. Has a 41000. Dollar a year state pension plus. He is the chairman of the executive director of the Essex regional retirement board. He gets his full state pension as a stayed rap and he has this other job that pays him deep into the six figures. Oddly enough. This is -- The doing of felon Finneran. A Manso court -- he needs a corkscrew to get into his pants in the morning. They were just 84 words of dense technical language buried deep in a 556. Page budget bill. But each -- challenge provided was pure gold for former state representative Jim Bassett face to foul on the federal and who's been disbarred by the way. The obscure provision -- passed by the legislature in 1999. And -- Bassett to accept the high paying job as chairman. And executive director of the Essex would regional retirement board without giving up but nine of his 41000 dollar a year state pension from a previous job. In effect lawmakers decreed Bassett could receiver retirees pension without being retired. State law generally prohibits such practices for the vast majority of state retirees were required to accept reductions in their retirement benefits. If they take new jobs. But the pension laws are frequently poked and tweaked by legislators for individual cases demonstrating how the clubby politics. Of Beacon Hill frequently trumps attempts at reform. In -- cases gift came directly from one of the most powerful politicians of the time former house speaker and speaker felon Finneran. Felon -- as we know was succeeded. Good time Charlie Flaherty who was convicted of a felony in US district court as well income tax invasion. He was succeeded by sell the Macy was currently in a photo finish with a federal grand jury. According to a lawmaker involved in crafting -- amendment bass it's secured felon Finneran handwritten support for the provision giving him the kiss in the mail on a piece of yellow legal paper which she then presented to representative Harriett Stanley for inclusion in a package of budget amendments. Stanley in an interview and her Statehouse office last week -- called the children's note said something to this effect we are doing this for ten imported in the budget. -- Sharon recently expressed surprise about the provision which is thus far enabled Bassett 61 of Marblehead. Oh he doesn't women lend anymore. Gee I wonder why you moved out -- end to Marblehead. To earn about 328000. Dollars in retirement compensation he otherwise would not have received. I have absolutely no memory of that since Finneran who was not under oath by the way when he said this. But while that's a lot of money not a bad outcome for Timmy -- not bad at all just a bad outcome for the taxpayers felon -- just does it say justice for law abiding citizens it's a very bad outcome and that -- not in the president. You should still be -- you should be imprisoned for that alone forget about lying under oath to the federal appeals court. Forget all your other sleazy deals. Put your friends on the bench in the in them getting arrested for drunk driving polished -- just. This terrible terrible hack or am I mean you don't Finneran. Finneran is at the root. Of so much of the the the fast during a lesion. That he is the -- Coram. Of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. There have -- thank god he's been disbarred he should but he should be imprisoned he should be doing a good long stretch in prison. And I say that as someone who was a witness the felonies that he committed I was sitting court that day. I thought everything was on the level up until that moment."

" Okay now. Last night. I'm I'm comin' back for my family we wanted to -- dinner at this nice restaurant where there weren't. We're coming back and we crossed the Mass Pike thank god we crossed that thing go to war on it. And I see this the traffic is is stopped dead stopped east bound. What the hell is this a figure that must be a big like Jack knifed. Tractor trailer something like that he -- turns out. All black sticky fingered -- toll takers called in sick last night. In they didn't bring in anybody else to fill in for them because they want to punish us just like they cut off speech. The the lights at night on the as they can bridge to save 5000 to. A month when the the quickest way to save 5000 a month they actually save a thousand months would be don't have fire Cheryl Jakes rhymes with fakes his brother Steve -- you -- about a way that the architect of the thick -- it -- pay for the life yes I like that that's good. That's that I still prefer my solution kind of start firing hacks. Take away bass its pension. Put -- in jail. These are some of my other solutions."

" Expect more holiday killing traffic backups like the one that hit this past weekend unless motorists get transponders -- chief Alamo Bowl rich. And hastily arranged press conference this afternoon local richness of from The Herald website. Said the cash -- Mass Turnpike can't afford to add extra Stafford told boots on holidays. And call for drivers to get fast lane transponders."

" not everybody needs a fast lane transponder. You understand that it's like a hallway today -- Easter Sunday people goes sometimes go to visit their -- employees. And they go want to the turnpike -- want to spend the extra go. To get a transponder to have to worry about being charged every month for it."

" Thousands of motorists were stuck in miles long traffic backups on Easter weekend because Mass Pike toll takers called out sick on the holiday at one point leaving one busy plaza with just one working can actually. I wonder if they were really sick isn't that funny that they would get sick the day after did the day of a major holiday. Christian religious Soledad. Under penny pinching policy put in place the last two months the Mass Turnpike authority no longer calls in employees to work overtime one other workers -- sect. Gee that's why they're vols some days have only been tool lanes open might go in the Boston. That does 6:30 AM on Sunday morning to pick up my mail -- Using there's three booths open funny how they don't call in sick for the overnight duty on Saturday night. Hmmm wonder why that this. But -- called in sick. On Sunday Easter Sunday. We are trying that that policy. Coupled with holiday traffic caused massive backups Friday night Saturday afternoon in all day and night yesterday. Pike officials and drivers said. We're trying to conserve money is best we can all they're trying to conserve money is best they can. We're right they're trying to punish us is what they're trying to do the pike is under financial stress and will do when he thing we can to save money no Boller is an important."

" How are you say there's with a straight no dollar -- Big Brother what do Halloween she came over they brought -- all of his -- Big guy prayer room making a 123000. Dollars a year name Morrone. He's dared to war to figure out the best ways to what I -- to take down the toll boost in the western part of the state even though they've announced -- going to do that. They got Cheryl -- and brother. We -- does they represented a result was a brother and his sister."

" The audacity of these people joining us now is -- may host a former member of the Mass Turnpike board of directors. Christie thanks for joining us."

" I -- they are just what I can target does that when I was on the board the policy applies. Specter and holiday weekends away there were massive backups. On the pipes at that point yet. So it's not too inconvenient. They're driving public and I customers that we would wave through. What would there would be no -- it."

" I remember that. -- Jersey Otis came on the show and announced that."

" Absolutely and you know what it was a wonderful policy. I but now that this -- for -- But that's also say that they have no money they have 500. 71 million dollars in money markets and government securities that are readily available to them -- Last year they made a hundred million dollars a hybrid million dollars after paying all their expenses. If it's so they have plenty of money bet that. That is it's just about foolish foolish reason -- they have no money to make peace. -- edited you know."

" You know caucus was -- with Dukakis was governor and he ended king was running against him they have a guy named Angela -- former state -- And ends it -- and used to put these trucks on the -- southeast expressway going to miles an hour to just to pissed pissed people off about Dukakis in that have signs -- to blame Dukakis for this traffic mask but I know at least at least that was an -- dirty -- by somebody else. The new Mike Dukakis Deval Patrick is committing the dirty tricks against himself he's yeah he's. They -- irritated and and destroy his chances for being reelected. This isn't the right."

" Monday labor is short money waving people through patrols and not back I understand that there were a -- I've. True love backups are on some issues and the people who didn't have a good fast lane transponder. Couldn't get to the LA because everybody else was blocked."

" Knowing exactly -- I was just reading on the on the both both newspapers message boards on this story boy -- there there are people say I have the transponder or I couldn't get throw I couldn't I couldn't break into the lanes."

" And how crazy if you remember back a few years ago. I -- of motion that the turnpike troops -- out transponders. For free site. I couldn't even get a perspective on that because of -- I think it folks but now they're giving them away for free and people should take them. Because it's a great way to save time at all but it that way they're running its authority right now. I I'm not surprised that people won't take them but -- that's that wave to issue that we had years ago was a wonderful oh you know customer convenience. But they don't think that -- and that I just -- and other."

" Nobody trying to touch this -- to torture people let's Albany it's it's so why it's so self destructive to there are to their masters. Attempts to be reelected next year. People remember things like this."

" The good thing question wandered past our. Yeah."

" Right thanks Christiane -- one mates I voted -- may I voted for question one. I want to abolish the state income tax. But if you -- will be they'll be chaos. They'll be raising all the other taxes if you vote for question one. Well guess what I voted for question one there is chaos and they are trying to raise all the other taxes. 18774694322. Dan you're next with Howie -- go ahead Dan."

" How we elect Springfield met yesterday at noon we're going along -- got -- Mass Pike five miles away from 128. Become a complete stop. And it was back -- For five mile all the way to control Portnoy an hour 45 minutes took three hours and thirty minutes to get -- Lynn Matt Springfield polling yesterday. It was absolutely ridiculous. Did. You -- is Irish people haven't should be dealt with things on the car they couldn't it was you couldn't get to -- needed to get through. Self. I had a lot more money anyway because a lot of people what they -- catching on the book you people just went through the other guy would help the pattern that when this started to do that anyway."

" you have Richard to those people going to get you know fifty dollar tickets in the mail."

" Yeah I would almost say it all the work that I -- myself just to get there but at that point -- it's close -- and -- one personal work and we got got to the toll in the -- it was like. I like that backup you can -- he basically city can thank you governor for less."

" you also think that hacks in the in the union that they have the toll takers union too damn I mean it's this is dishonest play of blame to go around on this one you know I mean talk about irresponsibility. Mean these are guys who supporting some comedian was in at the other night. How George have a job where you get 7080000. A year plus full pension for help all this stuff. And if you don't show up you can be replaced by a basket."

" It's great how you particularly if they're meeting in. We keep -- voting people its new time after time after time."

" You think the toll pagers would be grateful that they usually this is a job that in a supermarket pays 850 an hour. There may get some what there was one poll taken last -- 98000 box. When we you'd think they would be like clamoring to get to work they want to keep the gravy train go on for as long as possible audience. Give us all the finger."

" Yeah yeah I would I -- or did. I thought that they only had one person not because that compete these these people double time we got famous golden --"

" Yes they called insect. -- does that mean that make you even more angry I'm guessing."

" Yeah I call -- that god idea like that or artwork or maybe you know red flag over the --"

" But you remember they report that the Romney people issued in their final days in office about all the the fake disabilities so worldly the allegedly fakes injuries that these guys were going -- You -- claim they dropped cash registers on their feet -- that I claimed he fell over a barrel. And large barrel. And are they just let me just all -- all of them like they claim that he is he dislocated his arm because somebody grabbed that is he was grabbed as he was taken the change. They they all these get these excuses I mean there were there as bad as the Boston fire department thanks for the call them. 18774694. And every two to. 18774694322. On the oligarchs. I will be in New Orleans at the book Smith music Smith. Right off of -- six from eleven to one signing copies of might walk. The Brothers Bulger will have hard covers -- available at a reduced price. We'll stuff to give away come on down here on Cape Cod -- president Perry won't be signing copies of his book might GOP. I'll be there -- eleven the one at the box with music Smith and Orleans. Joining us now on the line is -- he's the program director for our Springfield affiliate WH YNAM 560. Perhaps another victim of the Mass Turnpike madness yesterday."

" Yes yes another victim mentality it was unbelievable I've never seen anything like kids we we're taking an -- trip to visit my wife's father who is in the hospital -- Took the western -- and there was a five mile delay and they have to both booths open air so that was a good -- I think again."

" Shouldn't no they call that the golden age you -- good part of that that -- that."

" After waiting an hour we finally get up there. Standardized gotta look on his face who says I'll put a long way to Barney -- and yeah you are trying to be nice about a gave my ticket gave my money -- by the way. Take out this one person you can call and file a complaint that we need more toll collectors. Am of course would develop normally called the that's what we we thought that was just left the governor a nice little -- who could take the toll -- doubt."

" It isn't that they simplest solution pat."

" I do believe it is from what's worse is coming back we have the same thing and you know the western expert on web that's so horrible exit when you're going left because you want 28 -- five he admitted to it. They only have one move open there and I got so Fed up -- wait an -- we do swept through the easy pass from now I'll just wait for my ticket in the mail I don't care."

" Exactly people who care -- I told my wife Laura listened -- here that have to be a capable affordable and you don't you don't think they all just came down some and."

" yellow -- you know anything's possible how are you how go things things travel around."

" Hi this is -- they're just you know again -- pat when you look at the problems in the economy you see in every day I see it every day. These told pagers and all know how good they haven't and yet they're going out of their way to give everybody in the stated was on the pipe guest today a big finger."

" Absolutely and hey if I could give up my job and never be a 98000 dollar cashier I think I'd do it doesn't --"

" Well pat I'm sorry you had to go through it but you know that's the way it goes indict any any update on the on the mayor."

" Well I think somebody's gotten -- and told her that she needs to the kind of cool her jets and keep quiet and keep a low profile and I don't think we've heard the last of this."

" I -- she's not dropping the complaint all right."

" I haven't heard this year notorious and so I I suspect not but who knows maybe cooler minds will prevail."

" I would think so -- K thanks from me -- sorry had to go through that yesterday."

" Well it was funded the w.s were great I'm anti Catholic."

" Remember in November even if you November a year from now. Thanks in part -- later path publishing pat on the may ninth at the Barnes & Noble in Holyoke I'll be there from I think one of the three. -- who might want time is when the 311 the one on Saturday at the book Smith music Smith come on down we'll have lots of stuff to give away. Merry could not gonna join us about five minutes OK that's -- great this is from Kevin who's one of our around one of one of our. Posts here -- the radio station. Spent the weekend in New Jersey was driving home on the Mass Pike yesterday. The pike had one toll -- working the booths at the 128 exit off the mast pike east this was 3:30 PM on Easter Sunday. It took me -- warned twenty minutes to get off the pike solutions worked like -- set. -- around the exit -- and approach to -- even if I had an easy pass it wouldn't of mattered because -- lying caused by -- poll taker was was back three miles on the pike three -- set on used on one of the busiest travel days of the year. What do -- due to the taxpayers having one told take a working on Easter Sunday there are probably three out there right now with a fraction of the traffic. Faith they're usually three. It's 6:30 on Sunday morning have told you that a million times to. -- while yesterday. What a joke needless to say I was beyond belief I've never so considered seriously. Getting the hell out of this bleep bleep bleep state thanks for letting me vent. And what fools they are if they think that this is going to this is this is somehow going to help their cause. By smirking. If people and telling them call here's the governor's number -- column -- we need more toll takers. It's like I'm Sherman I'm sure everybody called this -- did. Instead it just said nothing about hiring more poll takers he once they didn't want to these these moves toward torn down. Everybody who was caught their head over and power to think about the fact that these bulls should have come down in the 1980s. After the that built the turnpike and the turnpike extension -- paid off Joe on your next with Howie Carr go ahead John."

" I was wondering if it actually part of the governor at 188 bidders seems. I was Massachusetts except business story. The -- attract a lot of companies pick up. You need strong armed people let you know what an opposite."

" I can't tell you know everybody knows job what's what's going on here."

" I hope so but you know a lot. And it it is going to take the governor it's like to the other how to -- someone of importance quote unquote. And the ambulance can't make it down the highway what's gonna take. Because you know -- we come up to he is in moon bats in this state you know what and I know what we're outnumbered."

" Even moon bats have to be -- about what happened yesterday Johnson."

" Highly nicotine -- and still scroll moan don't vote for drinks tonight and smoke -- bones in the forget about it the morning --"

" I don't -- beats it it's one thing too because the -- even even Jack -- big scary truck you -- nobody we need big scary tracks right job you don't need it is these old bulls to be happier they should they should've come down it's another broken promise that they're still up our. -- later they're charging five. -- what they used so when they were actually paying off the bonds they were intended to pay off."

" How many hairs have you locked in how many pounds have you gained."

" While screaming that's fine how many years --"

" But a long time job a long time. Thanks for the call 18774694322. Joining us now is Mary -- and the member current member of the Mass Turnpike board of directors Mary this is this what happened yesterday is inexcusable. You know it -- I don't have to tell you that but I just I put my two cents and."

" Yes apparently they're trying to say they're overly aggressive and cost savings. And they as a result they've they had like a dared dared to recruit toll collectors it's down to wonder at some point. So that traffic just backed up from my own models who else. You know looking at trying to save pennies but losing sight of the big."

" I look at I -- it's not just -- witch's fault it's it's also the fault of the toll takers -- coming -- with the -- was as -- from -- and said that's what that's all this was was blue --"

" Can't worry about the holiday you know how things -- on holidays so but I think -- eight in the future in the future. Fact that they should be provisions -- know that there's a policy they don't want to pay overtime as a result of people calling and text but sometimes the policy Caspian Barnes. Since the pet therapy it's dark here."

" How much how much the old policy went heresy -- was in there which is if it really starts back him up like on Thanksgiving eve I know we did a couple years on Thanksgiving eve you just are wave when people throw."

" And that's something you can do we definitely -- that they did all the time wanted to win it when it's. --"

" I think they did about Latinos typically. Out of date before its enormous accept backup you still need to -- garden is -- Collins. He's going. Fact unfortunately our decisions."

" Right now the EU -- a chance just to have more prepared collectors and -- And yeah we're gonna pay a bit more in OT cost perspective you know traffic -- to keep drawing."

" It's certainly you know how we're doing. You know the board -- instructive to look for efficiencies and to reduce overtime for toll collectors."

" But you know mission to get have to be -- for our judgment and not to Barbara policy strictly into income."

" How much I mean this follows I mean this is just a couple of days after they turn off the lights on the as they come bridge to -- A thousand bucks a month -- me why don't you get you don't you nine know that there's at least a score of people who can just give me a payroll and I'll come up with ten names stuff like can cut right now or connected politically. I mean that the probably never should have a job there in the first place immediate cut them don't don't one though the one aesthetic triumph of the Big Dig. "

" I totally agree I mean there that they're racist given -- last fall to management activities than most -- lights go back on that's the chairman of the city it's ritual. And it's something that because that's become a landmark cure this is a timer a lot of people that are tied down and out. And I had that dampens the public's spirit enormously and I'm hoping that the governor turned sensational --"

" You heard today that the designer for via the the architect of the bridge some would send a check for 50000 dollars today."

" Christian men are terrific actually yeah actually -- doesn't just -- announce -- your colleagues say his name is Christian man."

" I think this guy's name was battered old maybe this guy is somebody else this guy's name is Miguel solace or something like that are not -- What is I don't know I know he's he's connected with the bridge if he just said look you look put the lights back on this'll take care of it for three months. It. I wonder if but I mean that don't Julie you know I again I don't know. For a fact but it seems to me that did that the global -- in his masters are trying to make a statement here that it's not about it's not about the 5000 a month it's about telling us how dire their needs are for more money to keep this this this silliness going on."

" Well you see that the team with this far as they're they're route that will be cut and that's very. Round destruction that are going to occur as a result of limited funding if they can bridge here and over time on -- toll collectors bring it down to. That's single lane that certainly is making a public statement he knows that -- legislature so we'll be debating against tax. And certainly makes it easier to pay to debate -- gas tax tickets they need is much more on it people continue to -- into them. Now here are we not only look at the video there's cost savings that can occur. -- before the external cost savings -- Kirk. Should also be privy to what's going on internally -- internal savings are. Yes they're reducing costs extra if you look -- what they're doing on the -- are reducing costs. And then then maybe I'd -- other cost reductions won't won't make much sense as part of the bigger picture -- things for you just see them video. Instead I -- incidents. And then it certainly does have raised some eyebrows across the question how are."

" 1877469432. Do you have time to figure to more questions meridor. Because from people pretty angry about this and in this largest and in the in the eastern part of the state and in this this everybody tried to get around yesterday got that the guiding convenience -- I'm just I'm like -- I'm just happy I drove over the pike there wasn't on the pike when that the problems started Mike you're next with Howie Carr and -- continent. Who was a member of the Massachusetts turnpike board of directors go ahead Mike."

" Really what the difference between the pirates since Somalia so it would definitely on the left quite get it all about -- being held up a -- Only one person collected it. And all of it is a safety issue if there was a heart attack if he was somebody's somebody's sick. Okay they couldn't get up I would like I've bought a blog world for the state seminoles have a transponder. On to rob people forget to Boleyn. But the transponder. Oh I'm not."

" Please see you show me years to speak for a lot of people and then people are justifiably upset it's a bad policy initiative and or they sit there is an exception made their policy is just these. People don't expect these sitting in traffic for an hour and a half. We can't let alone -- holiday Easter Sunday."

" I'm wearing my I'm what you might these are pipe you were held up by pirates yesterday."

" I don't tropic ware will always sort of eased a bit out of -- all they got these people. Just totally disrespected the entire population and that's due to anybody at them and unfortunately all the -- Was totally given the finger and making -- about the board should be drawn. Both Obama should -- on this you know. There's no reason for -- often it's."

" I don't know the union members who called in sick Mike how much -- I mean let the good old."