When Gov. Deval Patrick brings home billions in federal stimulus bacon, two Republican lawmakers will be counting on government-fatigued taxpayers to be “pork busters,” dropping dimes on napping hacks and boondoggles run amok.

“Let’s face it, people don’t like us (politicians), and we give them a lot of reasons to not like us. Let’s not use this as an excuse for an orgy of spending,” said Sen. Michael Knapik, 46, of Westfield.

Cities and towns are already lining up for the anticipated $6 billion to $9 billion in recovery and reinvestment dollars at the Golden Dome trough for everything from sidewalks to synthetic-turf fields.

Tomorrow at the State House, Knapik and Republican Rep. Vinny deMacedo, 43, of Plymouth will be putting would-be stimulus money pigs on notice by announcing an e-mail “hotline” for the public to report to them - by word or photograph - any perceived abuses or wasting of the funds. Such as: workers sleeping on the job, projects dragging out for no good reason, or expenditures that seem plain absurd.

“This is the call to arms to 6.4 million pork-busters and watchdogs,” Knapik said of the state’s population. “Questionable spending is in the eye of the beholder, but you will know the boondoggle when you see it. You will know the pork when you see it.”

Knapik said tips received, anonymous or not, will be passed along to the proper authorities, including the inspector general’s office.

“I hope we get no input, quite frankly,” he said. “I hope the streets are paved with gold - or maybe just paved.”

Paving is what some communities have in mind, along with new senior centers, parking garages and modern sewers. But Boston also wants $3.85 million to forge a path for bicyclists and walkers between Roxbury and South Boston. And while Falmouth is holding out its hand for $1.5 million for the “nourishment” of Chapoquoit Beach, Mashpee requests $120,000 to replace school carpeting being held together with duct tape.

Patrick’s spokesman Kyle Sullivan said the governor’s got taxpayers’ backs with his Web site, www.mass.gov/recovery, which in due time will enable them to track online how the stimulus dough is being put to work.

“The governor has been a national leader in preparing for increased transparency and oversight of the recovery funds,” Sullivan said.

Both Knapik and deMacedo noted that because the feds are mortgaging the country’s future by spending money they don’t have, not one penny can afford to slip down the drain.

“We’re talking billions of dollars. The sheer numbers are crazy,” deMacedo said. “I’m not diminishing at all the (Patrick) administration. We want to make sure this money is spent efficiently.”

March 2, 2009
The Boston Herald
by Laurel J. Sweet

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