The MBTA
The MBTA is in crisis. This year, we saw both a fare increase and a reduction in service as a result of the agency’s fiscal problems. By common agreement, either the T’s debt obligations will have to be reduced – perhaps by having the state or another agency assume some of them – or its funding will have to increase. Please describe your favored approach to putting this vital transportation agency back on stable footing. If you favor more funding, please specify where it would come from, and what taxes or fees you would support for that purpose.
Republican
Republican
The MBTA is a poorly administrated, government-protected entity that appears to be accountable to no one.
People use public transportation when it is convenient, reliable, safe, and affordable.
The MBTA serves primarily the Boston area, and that is where the burden of maintaining the system should lie.
The Massachusetts highways are not subsidized by the city of Boston. The rest of the state should not be expected to constantly subsidize their transportation system.
Healthcare
Massachusetts’s new healthcare cost containment law limits the growth of healthcare spending to the growth in the state’s economy and shifts from fee-for-service care to global payment models. Do you believe these measures will protect healthcare choices while preventing rapid increases in costs?
Education
Many parents are looking for educational options for their children. It’s very hard to get expanded day programs in districts like Boston because the teachers’ union believes its members should be paid for the extra time they work. Charter schools offer longer days and longer school years at the same per-pupil cost, and there are more than 35,000 children on waiting lists statewide. Do you support raising the cap on charter schools? If yes, under what conditions?
Republican
Republican
Yes; as long as there is a demand for an alternative to failing public schools, the demand should be met.
Project Labor Agreements
The Patrick administration has imposed so-called Project Labor Agreements on three large construction projects that require that anyone working on them must be members of a labor union and firms must abide by union work rules. Non-union shops say those requirements effectively exclude them from bidding. Several studies show that projects done under PLAs or with only a small number of bidders cost more than projects that have more bidders. Unions, however, say the PLAs insure higher-quality work and offer a guarantee against strikes or other labor strife. Do you favor or oppose PLAs? Why?
Republican
Republican
I oppose PLAs. PLAs force many competitive companies out of the bidding process.
There are many skilled laborers who have chosen not to join a union, and the prevailing wage law will attract those skilled workers to the project.
Employee Pensions
Do you think further changes to the state employee pension system are necessary?
Republican
Republican
Yes. The state pension system was originally set up to mirror the private sector to attract skilled people to government.
It should still more closely mirror the private sector to avoid the creation of a privileged government class.
Legislative leadership
Cite any votes (if an incumbent) or positions (if a challenger or newcomer) you have taken that disagree with the stance taken by your party’s legislative leadership.
Republican
Republican
I think the bottle deposits should be all or nothing.
The whole carbonated vs. non-carbonated argument hails from back when Veryfine and Ocean Spray were still locally owned corporations. Now that they are part of major food conglomerates, the impact of a change would be minimal.