John Pourbaix, executive director of the Construction Industriesof Massachusetts, a trade group representing contractors tellsGlobest.com that the lack of payment approval for work alreadycompleted has had a ripple effect on the construction economy, withcontractors lacking the funds to pay suppliers. "Firms have fullyextended their lines of credit and can no longer finance theproject," says Pourbaix. Pourbaix goes on to point out that many ofthe contractors on the project are "small family- andminority-owned firms" some of whom have taken out second mortgagesto continue their businesses. Many small contractors feel that ifthey are not going to get paid then they should cease work on theproject.

The trade group is waiting on the Governor's response to itsletter but do not expect that with such a complicated issue onewill be forthcoming. The Supreme Judicial Court of the State ofMassachusetts has taken up the issue of the dismissal of theTurnpike Authority board members. Yesterday the court heardarguments from the Attorney Generals office representing theGovernor as well as from the two board members.