Thursday, 4:30 PM
Travaglini says he "misspoke''
By Andrea Estes, Globe Staff
Senate president Robert Travaglini today apologized for publicly criticizing Deval Patrick, saying he "misspoke" at a breakfast a day earlier.
The East Boston Democrat appeared briefly with the governor elect at a hastily called press conference at the State House. The Globe reported in Friday's editions that Travaglini had publicly scolded Patrick and threatened to withdraw the Senate's support of the incoming governor's legislative package.
"I misspoke yesterday and I want to acknowledge that publicly to you..." Travaglini told reporters this afternoon. "The position of the Senate continues to be standing ready to partner with the new administration in its efforts to demonstrate that we can conduct the people's business in their absence in a positive way and that's the reason for the visit here this afternoon."
"The relationship between Deval and I is important not only to he and I but to everyone who resides in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to that end we thought it appropriate to demonstrate quickly that the relationship is strong, is respectful, is professoinal and is ready to engage in the issues of the day," he added.
Patrick appeared gracious in accepting the explanation.
"This is my friend and my new partner and we are looking forward to and have started on building a very strong relationship," Patrick said. "We are going to have conversations from time to time that are private and where there are differences. But I've said before and we've said to each other -- not every difference is a controversy. We don't have any significant differences today. What we've been doing is tring to work through our respective... legislative agenda and as much as possible get on the same page from the start."
