State treasurer
Shannon O’Brien was one of the few who ever stood up to the GLOB, refusing to sign off on a financing plan until she got some answers about cost overruns. Nevertheless, in the 2002 race for governor, Mitt Romney painted her as too weak to take control of the Big Dig.
Tim Cahill (2003– )
Shannon O’Brien (1999–2003) ran against Romney 2002; husband lobbied for Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff
Joe Malone (1991–1999) ran against Cellucci 1998
State legislature
In contrast to the pro-business governors, the state legislature has been led largely by pro-labor representatives. The most important committees with Big Dig–oversight functions are Joint Transportation, Joint Post Audit and Oversight, and the Ways and Means Committees of both houses. Post Audit and Oversight, led by labor-friendly State Senator Marc Pacheco, has generated the most criticism of project management.
Joint Transportation Committee Co-Chairs
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Senator Steven A. Baddour (2003–)
Representative Joseph Wagner (2003– )
Representative Joseph Sullivan (1997–2003) friend of Andrew Paven; later became lottery commissioner
Senator Robert A. Havern (1999–2003) also on Post Audit and Oversight committee
Joint post audit and oversight committee
Senator Marc Pacheco, chair (2003– ) strong union ties
Cheryl Jacques, chair (1998–2002)
Senate Ways & Means Chairs
Senator Therese Murray (2003– )
Senator Mark Montigny (1999–2003)
Senator Stanley Rosenberg (1996–1999)
House Ways & Means Chairs
Representative Robert DeLeo (2005– )
Representative John Rogers (2001–2005)
Representative Paul Haley, chair (1996-2000)
Representative Thomas Finneran, chair (1991-1996)
US-administration officials
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of the US Department of Transportation has maintained direct oversight of the project for the federal government, primarily through its Boston-division office. Its Boston office has been criticized for becoming too close to the B/PB and MTA teams — that is, for getting sucked into the GLOB. Not listed here are the many other federal departments and agencies, including EPA, SEC, OSHA, and DOJ, that have investigated the Big Dig at one time or another.
FHWA — US
J. Richard Capka, administrator; former Big Dig project manager for MTA (2006– )
FHWA — Boston
Stanley Gee, division administrator (2000– )
US Congress
Aside from approving or refusing to approve funds and occasionally holding hearings on the project, federal lawmakers have exercised very little oversight.
Committee on Government Reform
Representative Stephen Lynch, member (2001– ); former president of Ironworkers Union local 7.
Appropriations Committee (Subcommittee on Transportation)
Senator Dianne Feinstein, member (1996–); married to Richard Blum, controlling owner of Perini Corp.
