Lamb Criticizes Incumbent for MBTA Fare Hikes

Submitted by the Campaing to Elect Marty Lamb

Today Marty Lamb, Republican candidate for State Representative in the Eighth Middlesex District, expressed deep disappointment in the MBTA fare hikes and service cuts. He criticized incumbent Carolyn Dykema for failing to protect the interests of consumers.

"It has been no secret that the MBTA has been in deep fiscal crisis. Last summer the General Manager warned about the transit system going broke. Yet, this quasi-public agency, passed out pay raises. Why didn't our State Representative stand up for the commuters? Why didn't she protest these pay hikes?" questioned Lamb. 

The MBTA claimed that pay raises were due to the Governor passing out 3000 raises to executive branch managers.

"We are in a recession. Most private sector people have not seen a pay raise in years, but the MBTA that is now taking more money out of consumers' wallets got pay raises last year. It is disappointing," said Lamb.

Lamb is also disappointed that Rep. Dykema voted against posting MBTA pensions online. During the recent MBTA bailout debate, the amendment to require the transit system to post their pension payments on line, like the state government does, was ruled out of order by the Speaker. Dykema supported the ruling and thus supported stopping the information being released publicly.

"If the taxpayers are bailing out this quasi-public authority and the riders are paying more, then shouldn't people have a right to know about the pensions? All other pensions via state government are public information," said Lamb. "There should be transparency and accountability not fare hikes and bailout.”