Romney proposes government reforms

BOSTON, May 15 (UPI) -- Republican Gov. Mitt Romney's proposals Thursday to restructure state government and eliminate the office of politically connected University of Massachusetts President William Bulger were given little chance of passage in the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

Both proposals, filed under a special law that requires they be accepted or rejected without change, would automatically become law unless acted upon within 60 days.

"These reforms deserve consideration," Romney told reporters at the Statehouse Wednesday on the eve of filing the two measures he insisted are necessary to help the state address its budget deficit.

"Common sense suggests that these reforms be adopted," the governor said. "The fiscal crisis demands it. They need to be accepted or rejected in a straight, up-or-down vote."

The 700-page blueprint for reorganization expands his Cabinet from 10 to 13 members. The three new Cabinet secretaries would be education, economic affairs and commonwealth development.

The plan also would reorganize other state agencies, bring some 800 state lawyers scattered around the state under a chief legal counsel, and puts homeland security and emergency preparedness under the Executive Office of Public Safety.

The most controversial proposal, however, is Romney's effort to save $14 million by eliminating the university president's office.

That higher education proposal had initially been included in the omnibus reform package, but Romney decided to file it as a separate measure to improve prospects lawmakers would view his overall overhaul plan favorably.

The House last week, through a parliamentary maneuver, avoided taking a vote on cutting Bulger's office, but Romney said he still wants lawmakers to be on record on the issue.

"The people of Massachusetts deserve the chance to see how the Legislature is going to vote on the office of the UMass president," Romney said.

"We will not allow that vote to be avoided by both houses."

Romney has said his effort to eliminate Bulger's job is not personal, but part of his attempt to fulfill a promise to cut state spending.

Some opponents, however, saw it otherwise.

"What it says to me is that this is not about reform," said Democratic state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson. "It seems to have gotten so personal that it's not even rational anymore."

Bulger, who served as president of the state Senate for 17 years before taking over as president of the state university system in 1996, expressed confidence Wednesday he would survive the ouster attempt.

Saying he "honestly cannot fathom" why Romney wants to get rid of his office, Bulger told a rare news conference he was optimistic.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said.