And because of such disagreements, he gets this front page treatment (guaranteed to rile up the populace against him):
"Treasurer wants limit to designs for schools; Cahill seeks to pare rising building costs" by James Vaznis and Rachana Rathi, Globe Staff | July 18, 2008
State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill, trying to head off what he calls "Taj Mahal" high schools, said yesterday that he wants cities and towns to begin using off-the-shelf building designs that could cut school-project costs by 30 percent.
The goal, Cahill said, is to shave tens of millions of dollars from the cost of building new schools. Building prototype schools is popular in other parts of the country, particularly in fast-growing Florida and the Southwest. It is viewed as a quick, less expensive way to put up schools, while providing reassurance that the design has been well tested.
Cahill said that towns that have suitable sites and refuse to use the cheaper designs might not receive state funding or would be told they can renovate their school but not build a new one.
The designs would be based on high schools built over the last 10 years. The buildings would be between 170,000 and 240,000 square feet, depending on enrollment, and would include a gymnasium, an auditorium, science labs, and energy-efficient systems. No field houses or swimming pools would be allowed. If communities want those things, Cahill said, they would have to be built as separate buildings that would not qualify for state reimbursement.
Roughly four designs would be chosen, and the architects of the winning designs would automatically work with any school district that selects the design. That could be a financial windfall for those architects, while leaving other firms with little work.
Cahill said his agency will provide districts with slightly more reimbursement money if they opt to build a model school. Reimbursement ranges between 40 to 80 percent, depending upon a community's wealth. If the model school program proves successful, Cahill said, he intends to expand it to middle schools and elementary schools.
Cahill said his job is to hold the line but not shortchange the students.
Cahill said of not giving communities everything they want:"That's just life, and you have to adjust to it. We don't have the money. We are living within our budget and giving people options."
But we can toss it away to rich Hollywood studios.
After a while, the whole thing makes you want to puke.
Here's why the Globe is peeved at the treasurer.
"Cahill calls for turnpike overhaul; Says bailout plan must include changes" by Eric Moskowitz, Globe Staff | July 18, 2008
State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill continued to clash publicly with officials of Governor Deval Patrick's administration yesterday over the administration's proposal to throw the troubled Massachusetts Turnpike Authority a financial lifeline by guaranteeing the authority's debt.
Cahill, who has objected to the plan all week, said during a State House hearing that he believes the administration is acting recklessly. He called for unspecified changes to be imposed on Turnpike Authority operations if the deal moves forward.
Cahill, after the hearing:
"To bail out the Turnpike and not change anything about the operation, not put any reforms, I don't think the public - and rightfully so - would stand for that."
The Patrick administration and the Turnpike Authority continued to call the plan a relatively risk-free move for the state, as well as the only option on the table to save an agency that is on the brink of insolvency.
Cahill appeared to pick up an ally yesterday in state Senator Mark C. Montigny, the New Bedford Democrat and cochairman of the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures, and State Assets:
"It is the worst of both worlds for the taxpayer and the tollpayer."
Budget watchdog Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation (whose organization is backed by business), also blasted the administration's plan:
"This is one of the most irresponsible proposals I have seen seriously considered by the Legislature in my 16 years. We are just heading off a cliff, Thelma and Louise, with a smile on our face."
Widmer called for a gas-tax increase and new tolls to help the Turnpike Authority meet the terms of its Big Dig-related debts."
That's why the Globe likes him!!! He's a pro-business, pro-taxer!
Here is why they don't like Cahill.
You would like to think that the political differences wouldn't affect their coverage, but alas:
"State to Pike: Don't drop dead July 19, 2008
THE PATRICK administration is seeking the power to help out the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority by co-signing for some of its debt. Unfortunately, the Legislature has no good choice but to adopt the proposal before adjourning later this month.
The authority's plight shows once again that transportation financing is a mess in Massachusetts. And a hike in the unpopular gas tax has to be a part of the solution....
Opponents of the rescue plan, most notably state treasurer Tim Cahill, have raised legitimate objections. Co-signing for the authority's debt could harm the state's credit rating, and won't fix the authority's long-term fiscal woes. Transportation agencies need to be streamlined, and their finances reformed so that turnpike commuters aren't stuck paying for the Central Artery.
All true, but these objections don't add up to a plan to avoid a financial catastrophe at the authority. If the authority's problems spark a broad debate over how to save the state's creaking transportation system, so much the better. But for now, the state will still have to step in."
Yeah, that's what I'd expect from the Globe these days.
