Massachusetts US Rep. Richard Neal said Tuesday on BPR that he would oppose spending federal money for Boston 2024 Olympic security if the organization's planning didn't involve the entire state.
"If you didn't get what you think is fair and equitable for Western Massachusetts, would you go so far as to oppose federal moneys in the neighborhood of a billion dollars that are expecting to be used for security for the Games?" BPR cohost Jim Braude asked.
"I could," Neal answered. "That's what happened with the Big Dig, and I think that it would be irresponsible for elected officials in Central and Western Massachusetts to embrace another Big Dig at the expense of very little to show for it across the rest of the state."
Neal also told Braude and cohost Margery Eagan he was still in the process of reviewing the newly-brokered Iran nuclear deal.
"We're looking at it right now. In fact, I can tell you literally I have it right in my hands. It's on my desk, it's about 100 pages," Neal said. "I intend to broach this with a judicious manner."
Neal noted there was pressure from higher-ups in his party to green-light the deal.
"There's no question Speaker Pelosi has been trying to shore up" support, he said. "I think that number that she's looking for would be to sustain a presidential veto, of that there is no question."
Neal had only good things to say about US Marines Gunnery Sergeant Thomas J. Sullivan, a Springfield native, who was killed last week in Chattanooga, Tennessee at a Naval Reserve center.
"They're a great family, the Sullivan family. [...] I knew them, my children went to high school with them," Neal said. "Everything that you knew about his young man would've been based on his courage and his bravery. [...] I think that the Sullivan legacy here is a rich one, and clearly the entire region is mourning his passing."
Back on the subject of the Olympics, Neal hoped to see something like state-spanning high-speed rail considered as an aspect of transportation for the Games.
"I'm headed in that direction," Neal said. "I think there's an opportunity here to leverage the Olympics, to improve transportation east to west."
He said he didn't begrudge transportation improvements in Boston.
"Based on the Governor's suggestion, substantial improvements to the MBTA" are in the works, Neal pointed out. "Out here people understand those things. It's the capital region. [...] Nobody is suggesting here that we ought not to encourage growth in the state's capitol region."
>>To hear the entire conversation with Rep. Richard Neal, click the audio above.
