One MORE Kerry Story - Kerry to Block Bush Pick for Highways Job [USNWR]

[demdiva]

Mar 15, 7:12 AM EST

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/K/KERRY_HIGHWAY_NOMINATION?SITE=DCUSN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Kerry to Block Bush Pick for Highways Job

By LESLIE MILLER
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former presidential candidate John Kerry said Tuesday he will prevent the former head of Boston's $14.6 billion Big Dig, Richard Capka, from becoming head of the Federal Highway Administration.

"I'm afraid Richard Capka could be the Brownie of highways," Kerry said, referring to former Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Michael Brown, who became the scapegoat for the inept federal response to Hurricane Katrina.

Capka, nominated earlier this month by President Bush for the top highway job, was chief executive officer of the Boston highway project from January 2001 to June 2002 until his position was terminated.

Though costs rose slightly during his 1 1/2-year tenure, Capka was mostly criticized for his failure to handle the political controversies surrounding the massive project. For example, he approved lucrative severance packages for several Big Dig lawyers.

Sen. Kerry, D-Mass., said he will place a hold on Capka's nomination, which would prevent the Senate from considering his nomination.

"Why on earth would he get a promotion?" Kerry said. "It looks like the administration is going to repeat a stunning pattern of rewarding people who screw up."

---- Full story at link above

[rox63]

1. Anybody who has spent time in Boston

in the last decade should be cheering this move by Kerry. The 'Big Dig' has been a fiasco and a money pit from day one. And the brand new tunnels are still leaking! Argh!!! :mad:

[_dynamicdems]

2. I love Senator's way with words. He's certainly not pulling any punches.

Bush doesn't like competent people because they show him up.