Aug. 2, 2010: Gov. Deval Patrick

>> Emily: I'M EMILY ROONEY, TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON" THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE LOCK HORNS OFFER GAMBLING IN MASSACHUSETTS.

GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK IS HERE COMING UP NEXT.

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>> Emily: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," THE HIGH STAKES OF CASINO GAMBLING PITS THE GOVERNOR AGAINST THE LEAJS LATE  -- LEGISLATURE.

GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK JOINS ME FOR THE VERY LATEST.

>> Emily: GOOD EVENING!

IT SURE LOOKS LIKE A SURE THING THIS PAST APRIL, YOU'VE GOT THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND A DEMOCRATIC HOUSE AND DEMOCRATIC SENATE LEADERSHIP ALL ON BOARD FOR EXPANDED GAMBLING THAT PROMISES JOBS AND PROJECTIONS OF $100 MILLION A YEAR FOR LOCAL AID TO CITIES AND TOWNS.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THAT CASINO BILL IS ON THE ROUTE TO NOWHERE.

JOINING ME IS GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED.

>> THAT'S TO DRAMATIC.

>> Emily: WHAT HAPPENED?

THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS, THE TALKING HEADS, "ROAD TO NOWHERE."

>> ROAD TO NOWHERE THERE'S ALSO A SONG "WHAT HAPPENED?"

>> Emily: WHAT HAPPENED?

>> GOING BACK 2 1/2 YEARS, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, A LIMITED EXPANSION IN THE FORM OF DESTINATION RESORT-STYLE FACILITIES SPREAD OUT AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH SO WE TAKE ADVANTAGES OF DIFFERENCES IN THE TOURIST TRADE.

AND I'VE BEEN CONSISTENT ABOUT THAT.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SLOT P PARLOR GIVE US THE -- .

>> Emily: LOOK ME IN THE EYE.

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?

IT'S THE CAMEL'S NOSE.

>> HAVE YOU EVER BEEN?

>> Emily: OH YES.

IN FOR A DIME.

IN FOR A DOLLAR.

IT WON'T AFFECT ME.

I'M NEVER GOING.

THIS WHOLE THING ABOUT THE $100 MILLION, YOU'RE TAKING IT FROM THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T -- EVERYONE ACTS LIKE IT'S A NEW $100 MILLION.

IT'S FOR PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THEY'LL GIVE IT BACK TO PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME.

>> THAT'S THE DEBATE YOU AND I AND I AND OTHERS HAVE HAD.

I'M NOT MORALLY OPPOSED TO THE -- .

>> Emily: I'M NOT EITHER.

>>  -- OF GAMING BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE DONE IN A WAY THAT'S MOST APPROPRIATE FOR US THAT'S TASTEFUL AND HAS A MINIMUM INVESTMENT AND ALL THE EXPERIENCE AND THE STUDIES SHOW YOU GET MORE JOBS AT HIGHER WAGES AND BENEFITS IN THE DESTINATION RESORT-STYLE SETTING THAN IN THE SLOT PARLORS BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE JUST GAMBLING.

YOU HAVE DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPING AND RECREATION AND HOTELS AND THE WHOLE BIT.

I TRIED TO PROPOSE A COMPROMISE BEFORE THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

>> Emily: WHICH INCLUDED THE SLOTS.

>> WHICH INCLUDED THE SLOTS.

THAT'S A BIG STEP FOR ME.

>> Emily: LET ME ASK YOU WITH WHAT YOU JUST SAID, ONCE YOU COMPROMISE, WHY NOT GO FOR IT?

>> YOU DON'T COMPROMISE EVERYTHING.

YOU DON'T SAY, "WELL, I'M GOING JUST THROW UP MY HANDS."

THERE WAS SO MUCH IMPORTANT BUSINESS STUCK BEHIND THE GAME DAG BATE.

IN ORDER TO UNSTICK IT I OFFERED THAT COMPROMISE BUT THERE WAS AN IMPORTANT CONDITION AND THAT IS THAT THAT ONE SLOT LICENSE BE OPENLY AND TRANSPARENTLY COMPETED FOR.

INSTEAD WHAT I GOT WAS A BILL THAT IGNORED WHAT I HAD SAID I WOULD DO AND WHAT I WOULD ACCEPT AND HAD TWO LICENSES IN IT THAT ARE ESSENTIALLY NO-BID CONTRACTS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FOUR TRACKS, TWO OF THEM SAID THAT THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED.

>> Emily: ONE IS OWNED BY THE SAME COMPANY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT LEAVES TWO TRACKS COMPETING FOR TWO LICENSES.

THERE'S NOT -- THERE'S NOTHING -- HERE IS THE OTHER THING IF I MAY -- I'M SORRY I INTERRUPTED.

>> Emily: YOU'VE YET TO INTERRUPT ME.

GO AHEAD.

A DEMOCRATIC AS YOU SAID FROM THE BEGINNING -- JUST ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, NOT JUST FOR SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, BUT MOST PEOPLE SAY, "I DON'T GET THIS!"

THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE STATE.

EVERYONE AGREED THEY WANT THIS THING.

IT SEEMS LIKE ARGUING WHETHER WHETHER OR NOT YOU'LL HAVE SLOTS.

MAYBE THE HOUSE SPEAKER NEEDED TO GIVE IT.

YOU'LL HAVE IT EVENTUALLY.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> LET ME TELL YOU, THE DECISIONS WE MAKE AROUND THIS WE'RE GOING TO LIVE WITH DECADES.

>> Emily: IT'LL CHANGE.

IT'LL CHANGE.

ONCE YOU GET CASINOS, YOU KNOW IT.

YOU'LL GET SLOTS.

>> MY POINT IS IF WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN THIS PATH, WE HAVE TO GET THIS RIGHT.

AND I THINK THERE'S A RIGHT WAY AND A WRONG WAY TO DO IT AND EVEN THE COMPROMISE I OFFERED AS I SAID WAS A BIG STEP.

BUT I'VE BEEN CLEAR FROM THE OUTSET.

I DIDN'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.

I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT IT IS I WOULD ACCEPT AND A DIFFERENCE I'VE BEEN TRYING TO BRING, NOT JUST IN THIS DEBATE BUT TO ALL OF OUR WORK UP ON BEACON HILL IS TO TRY TO MAKE OUR DECISIONS THAT 7 BEST THE -- THAT SERVE BEST THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INTERESTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND NOT JUST THE SHORT-TERM SELF-INTERESTS OF A FEW POWERFUL PEOPLE.

>> Emily: SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

>> THAT'S WHAT THIS WAS ALL OVER AGAIN.

I WON'T ACCEPT IT!

>> Emily: WHAT ARE YOU GOING DO?

DO YOU CARE IF IT DOESN'T GO THROUGH THE SESSION?

IT'S GONE DOWN TWICE UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP IT COULD COME UP AGAIN IN JANUARY.

ARE YOU WILLING TO WAIT FOR THAT?

>> NO, I'VE PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT RIGHT NOW AND, UM, ESSENTIALLY SAYS LET'S ENACT WHAT WE ALL AGREE ON.

WE ALL AGREE ON THREE DESTINATION RESORT CASINOS.

LET'S DO THAT.

I SENT THAT AMENDMENT BACK T TODAY.

>> Emily: YOU CAN?

>> I -- YOU DID?

>> I HOPE VERY MUCH THE LEGISLATURE WILL COME IN AND DEAL WITH IT THEY CAN DEAL WITH IT QUICKLY.

AS I SAID, WE'RE ALL ON RECORD.

THEY HAVE THE VOTES.

THEY VOTED ON IT BEFORE.

VOTE ON THAT.

WE CAN GET TO WORK.

WE CAN GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AND START -- .

>> Emily: BECAUSE THE SLOTS WERE COMING AT SOME POINT ANY WAY.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'LL COME AT SOME POINT.

WE CAN GET INTO THAT DEBATE ANOTHER TIME.

>> Emily: DO YOU THINK THIS'LL WORK?

>> I HOPE SO IT'S REALLY IN THE LEGISLATURE'S HANDS RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS, UM, THE END OF SESSION IS THEIR SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINE.

THEIR STAFF ARE STILL THERE.

MANY OF THEM MEMBERS ARE STILL THERE.

I'M STILL AROUND.

IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL.

WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS DONE, IF THEY WANT TO GET IT DONE.

>> Emily: THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE LAST MINUTE.

WAS THAT A FRUSTRATION TO YOU THAT -- I KNOW -- WELL, THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.

I WAS TALKING TO RUTH TODAY.

SHE'S A STAUNCH OPPONENT OF CASINO GAMBLING AND ALL.

JUST THE FRUSTRATION, SHE'S THE ONE THAT STOOD UP AND SHOUTED AT THE LAST MINUTE, "CAN'T WE VOTE ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE CRITICAL THAT THE SENATE HAS ALREADY PASSED AND THAT ARE CRITICAL TO THE CITIZENS HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS?"

THEY'RE RUSHING THROUGH ALL OF THESE THINGS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS THEY DIDN'T PASS YOUR GUN BILL -- THAT WAS A FRUSTRATION TO YOU?

>> IT CERTAINLY IS.

THE FACT THERE WAS SO MUCH THAT WAS STUCK BEHIND THE GAMING BILL IS THE REASON I OFFERED THE COMPROMISE THAT I DID.

NOW TO THE LEGISLATURE'S GREAT CREDIT, THE SPEAKER AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND ALL THE MEMBERS, THIS WAS A VERY, VERY PRODUCTIVE SESSION AND NOT JUST IN THE LAST FEW HOURS.

YOU REMEMBER, THIS IS THE SESSION THAT BROUGHT US EDUCATION REFORM AND PENSION AND LOBBYING AND ETHICS AND TRANSPORTATION REFORM.

IT'S THE SAME SESSION THAT DELIVERED ON THE ANTI-BULLYING BILL AND THE SCHOOL NUTRITION BILL, THE SAFE DRIVING BILL, THE NO TEXTING AND SO FORTH.

IN THE LAST FEW HOURS, ONE OF THE THINGS -- A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DID WHICH I THINK ARE ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT TO OUR ECONOMIC CONTINUING ECONOMIC RECOVERY ARE SOME TOOLS TO MANAGE DOWN THE HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND TO GET ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR SMALL BUSINESSS WHICH -- BUSINESSES WHICH ARE THE TWO ISSUES THAT I HEAR MOST OFTEN FROM THEM ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED.

WE HAVE A QUARRY REFORM 68 SALES TAX HOLIDAY TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> Emily: LAST YEAR YOU WERE AGAINST IT.

THIS YEAR IT'S AUGUST 15 OR 16 TAX EXEMPTION DAY IS THAT WHAT YOU CALL IT?

>> WE COULDN'T AFFORD IT LAST YEAR.

>> Emily: HOW CAN WE AFFORD IT THIS YEAR?

>> BECAUSE OUR REVENUES ARE IS COMING BACK AND COMING BACK VERY STRONG THIS ECONOMY IN MASSACHUSETTS IS REALLY RECOVERING.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

JUST LAST WEEK, IT WAS REPORTED THAT WE ARE OUTPERFORM MANING 48 OTHER STATES -- OUTPERFORMING 48 OTHER STATES AND GROWING TWICE THE RATE OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY WHICH IS GREAT, GREAT NEWS.

WE HAD SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS OF VERY, VERY STRONG JOB GAINS.

APRIL WAS THE LARGEST GAIN IN 17 YEARS.

YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES ARE MOVING INTO THE COMMONWEALTH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS RATHER THAN MOVING OUT.

WE MOVED UP TO FIFTH BEST PLACE IN THE NATION TO DO BUSINESS IN THE CNBC SURVEY FROM 15TH A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD HAPPENING.

I WILL SAY THE STATISTICS DON'T MEAN A THING TO SOMEONE OUT OF WORK WHICH IS WHY WE NEED TO KEEP GOING.

>> Emily: THE OPPONENTS IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY QUIET UNDER THE CASINO ISSUE, GOING BACK TO THAT TIM CAHILL SAID THE CONTINUING RECESSION WILL BE ON YOUR BACK IF THIS THING DOESN'T GET PUSHED THROUGH.

CHARLEY BAKER HAS SAID, I OH, ALL THE UNIONS CONTROL BEACON HILL BECAUSE IT'S REALLY THE UNIONS THAT ARE BEHIND THIS!"

AND UM, DO YOU THINK THEY'RE JUST -- THEY HAVEN'T SAID MUCH IS MY POINT AND -- ARE THEY NERVOUS YOU MAY GET SOMETHING THROUGH?

>> TIM CAHILL OPPOSED THE IDEA OF EXPANDED GAMING UNTIL I CAME OUT IN FAVOR OF IT.

NOW HE'S ON THE.

>> Emily: HE CLAIMS HE'S BEEN FOR IT.

>> ANYONE WHO THINKS AN EXPANDED GAMING BILL IS GOING TO MEAN THE SOLUTION TO THE RECESSION IN THE COMMON SWAELTH JUST, YOU KNOW, NOT -- COMMONWEALTH IS JUST, YOU KNOW, NOT DEALING WITH REALITY.

IT'S AN ELEMENT OF OUR GROWTH.

THAT'S WHY I PROPOSE -- LOOK IF THE LEGISLATURE HAD DEALT WITH THIS 2 1/2 YEARS AGO, WE'D HAVE THESE JOBS RIGHT NOW.

REMEMBER THAT I'M NOT NEW TO THIS DEBATE.

IN CHARLEY'S CASE, HE'S OPPOSED TO THIS BILL.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CRITICISM WOULD BE IF THERE -- .

>> Emily: HE'S A LITTLE WISHY-WASHY.

HE SUPPORTS ONE CASINO.

HE COULD HAVE WAFFLED ON THE SLOTS A LITTLE BIT.

HE HAS SAID WOE SUPPORT ONE CASINO.

>> YOU CAN DO ONE UNDER THE BILL I PROPOSED.

THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT IT BE THRILL -- IT'D BE THREE.

THERE ARE MINIMUM INVESTMENTS REQUIRED AND LOCAL APPROVAL THAT HAS TO GO INTO THEM AND SO FORTH.

I THINK THE NOTION OF GOING FROM 0 TO 5 FACILITIES IS TOO MUCH, TOO FAR.

>> Emily: HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO HIS CRITICISM ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE AND THE UNIONS?

I MEAN, YOU'VE ACTUALLY BUCKED THE UNIONS ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.

THE POLICE UNION, ON THE CIVILIAN FLAG WAIVERS AND ON THE QUINN BILL, ON A COUPLE OTHER ISSUES.

YOU'VE ACTUALLY SAID CITIES AND TOWNS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO, YOU KNOW, REORCHESTRATE THEIR CONTRACTS.

SO THAT UM, YOU KNOW SO UNIONS DON'T NECESSARILY CONTROL HOW THE HEALTH CARE CONTRACTS GO.

>> CORRECT.

>> Emily: BUT YOU'VE BEEN ENDORSED BY THE TEACHERS' UNION.

THERE WAS PUSH GLACK SAYING, "WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE HE'S IN THEIR POCKET AND HE WANTS TO APPEASE THEM WITH THIS EDUCATION REFORM THING.

".

>> WELL, LOOK, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE IN A POLITICS THAT SAYS YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE ON EVERYTHING BEFORE YOU WORK TOGETHER ON ANYTHING.

I'VE BEEN CLEAR WITH LABOR LEADERS FROM THE BEGINNING THAT THERE'S SOME THINGS WE'RE GOING TO AGREE ON AND WORK TOGETHER ON AND SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT.

WHAT MY GUIDING COMPASS IS ABOUT IS MAKING THE JUDGMENT THAT WILL SERVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMONWEALTH OVERTIME LEAVING THE COMMONWEALTH BETTER THAN WHAT WE FOUND.

IT'S AN OLD IDEA.

IT'S GENERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, IT LEAKED OUT OF THE WAY BUSINESS IS DONE UP ON BEACON HILL.

WE'RE TRYING TO PUT IT BACK.

I'M WILLING TO TAKE WHATEVER CONSEQUENCES COME FROM THAT, BECAUSE THAT IS THE CHANGE THAT I PROPOSED FOUR YEARS AGO AND WE'RE PROPOSING IN THIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN AS WELL.

>> I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR 10 DAYS AND YOU WERE IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN RIGHT BEFORE I WENT -- TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THAT TRIP CAME ABOUT AND --

>> THEIR DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TRIPS, THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZES THEM.

THERE WERE FOUR OTHER GOVERNORS WHO TRAVELED AS WELL.

YOU GO AND WHEN THEY SAY "GO.

" THEY'VE BEEN -- THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OFF OPPORTUNITIES TO GO -- .

>> Emily: YOU PUT YOUR NAME ON A LIST?

>> THEY INVITE YOU.

HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE NUMBERS OF NATIONAL -- OF OUR OWN NATIONAL GUARDS.

EACH GOVERNOR IS THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL GUARD IN HIS OR HER STATE.

IT'S AS MUCH ABOUT LIFTING MORALE AS ANYTHING.

WE HAVE THE LARGEST DEPLOYMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS NATIONAL GUARD HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

>> Emily: THERE'S A BIG ONE RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW A COUPLE PEOPLE GOING.

>> SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THERE WERE 1,200 ACTIVE NATIONAL GUARDS IN THEATER OVERSEAS RIGHT NOW.

SO THEY ORGANIZE IT IN A WAY THAT WE CAN ENCOUNTER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITH OUR OWN GUARDSMEN AND WOMEN AND IT WAS AN AMAZING TRIP.

WE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO BE BRIEFED ON THE MISSION ITSELF AND TO VISIT, AS I I, WITH OUR SOLDIERS AND AIR MEN AND WOMEN -- .

>> Emily: DID YOU GET A REALISTIC SENSE?

THERE WAS CRITICISM?

DID SOME PEOPLE SAY STANLEY MCKRYSTAL HAD IT RIGHT?

THE WHOLE -- SOME OF THE STUFF PEOPLE WERE -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO WIN THIS WAR OR IS IT SO ORCHESTRATED YOU'RE ONLY REALLY GETTING THE MILITARY VERSION?

>> LET ME SAY FIRST OF ALL YOU GET A WHOLE RANGE OF EXPOSURE FROM GENERAL PETRAEUS -- .

>> Emily: DID YOU MEET HIM?

>> I DID.

WE HAD A MEETING WITH GENERAL PETRAEUS AND AMBASSADOR IKENBURY IN KABUL WITH ONE-ON-ONE OVER A MEAL WITH A SOLDIER.

AND, UM, I WILL TELL YOU THAT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE -- AND MOSTLY YOUNG -- YOU KNOW, THEY'RE MY KIDS' AGE IN THEIR 20'S MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THEY'RE VERY FOCUSED.

THEY'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY'RE VERY PROFESSIONAL ABOUT IT.

THEY MISS THEIR FAMILIES AND SO ON, BUT, OF COURSE, THEY ALSO HAVE SKYPE AND E-MAIL AND SO FORTH.

AND THEY ARE VERY, VERY CLEAR ABOUT IT -- AND THIS IS THE OTHER THING -- VERY, VERY CLEAR ABOUT, UM, THE ELEMENT OF THIS MISSION, PARTICULARLY IN AFGHANISTAN WHICH IS NOT TRADITIONAL MILITARY IN THE SENSE THAT MANY OF THEM ARE BUILDING SCHOOLS AND BUILDING ROADS AND HAVING TEA WITH LOCAL LEADERSHIP AND SO ON BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO WIN HEARTS AND MINDS AS WELL 'EM SEMITHERE ANY SENSE OF HOPELESSNESS?

THERE WAS AN INCIDENT YESTERDAY WITH CHRISTIANE AM PAN PORE PUSHING THE PHOTOGRAPH IN FRONT OF NANCI PELOSI'S FACE SHOWING THIS AFGHANI WOMAN WHO HAD HER NOSE CUT OFF BY THE TALIBAN.

I MEAN, THEY'RE GOING TO EXIST NO MATTER WHAT WE DO.

>> SOMEONE USED THE TERM, I DON'T KNOW WHO IT WAS, THERE WERE THE TRUE BELIEVER TALIBAN AND THE DOLLAR A DAY TALIBAN .

THE DOLLAR A DAY TALIBAN ARE THE NEECKS GET PAID IN ORDER TO SUPPORT -- IN ORDER TO DO SOME OF THE DEEDS THAT THE TALIBAN WANT DONE.

AND THE SENSE YOU HAVE IS THAT THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF DOLLAR A DAY TALIBAN LOOKING FOR SOME ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVE TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

I HAVE TO TELL THAT YOU WE WEREN'T THERE TO EITHER SUPPORT OR COMMENT ON THE MISSION.

IT WAS REALLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE, ABOUT THE SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN AND TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THEM AND BRING THEM SOME CONNECTION TO HOME.

I THINK I DIDN'T FULLY APPRECIATE UNTIL I GOT THERE JUST HOW MUCH THEY VALUED THAT CONTACT FROM HOME, AND THE RESPECT SHONCH YOUR COMING TO THEM HALF -- RESPECT SHOWN OF YOUR COMING TO THEM HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD.

>> Emily: TELL ME THE STORY ABOUT MEETING THE MAN OVER THERE THAT HAD A FIVE-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER.

>> I MET A NUMBER OF SOLDIERS WHOSE SENDOFF CEREMONIES I CONDUCTED.

I ENCOUNTERED A YOUNG MAN FROM WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS WHO TOLD ME THAT SINCE HE HAD BEEN DEPLOYED IN FEBRUARY, HIS WIFE HAD DELIVERED THEIR BABY AND SHE WAS FIVE MONTHS OLD AND HE'D NEVER MET HER.

HE WAS TELLING ME WHAT THAT WAS LIKE AND HAVING A RELATIONSHIP, YOU KNOW, THROUGH E-MAIL AND PHOTOGRAPHS AND SO FORTH IS JUST NOT THE SAME.

AND I PROMISED HIM AS I DID EVERYBODY I MET THAT I WOULD WRITE TO THEIR FAMILIES WHEN I GOT BACK.

IN FACT, WE INVITED A NUMBER OF FAMILIES TO COME INTO THE STATEHOUSE AND JUST SEE THE PICTURES WHEN I GOT BACK.

AND WHO SHOULD COME THROUGH THE DOOR BUT THIS CHARMING YOUNG WOMAN HOLDING THIS 5-MONTH-OLD BABY.

SHE SAID, THIS IS THE BABY WHOSE DAD YOU MET OVER THERE AND I WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE BABY SO THAT I CAN SEND HIM THE PICTURE IN EXCHANGE FOR THE ONE HE SENT ME OF AND YOU HIM HAVING THE PICTURE OVER IN AFGHANISTAN.

IT WAS REALLY BEAUTIFUL.

>> Emily: THERE WAS THOUGHT YOUR VISIT WAS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU LAND AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE UP ON THE SATELLITE ON TV AND FOX --

>> THAT WAS TWO DAYS IN THE WHOLE THING IS THROUDED IN SECRECY.

YOU CAN'T --  -- THE WHOLE THING IS SHROUDED IN SECRECY.

YOU CAN'T -- YOU KNOW WE LEFT ON TUESDAY AND STARTED IN WALTER REID IN D.C. VISITING SOME OF THE MORE PROFOUNDLY INJURED SOLDIERS IT NOW TAKES ON AVERAGE THREE DAYS TO BE EVACUATED FROM THE BATTLEFRONT TO A HOSPITAL BACK IN THE UNITED STATES.

EXTRAORDINARY.

AND THE SURVIVAL RATE IS 98%, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT.

AND THEN WE FLEW OVERNIGHT FROM ANDREWS TO KUWAIT AND THEN SPENT THAT FULL DAY UP IN IRAQ.

THAT NIGHT, WE WERE AT THE -- WE STAYED OVERNIGHT IN THE EMBASSY COMPOUND.

THAT'S WHEN THEY ORGANIZED THE MEDIA STUFF SO WE CAN SAY WHERE WE WERE AND WHAT WE HAD DONE.

>> Emily: SO SO THEY -- IT -- IT WAS ACTUALLY THEM WHO TOOK CARE OF IT.

IT WASN'T LIKE, I HAVE TO GET BACK ON TV AND -- EVERYBODY WAS MYSTERIOUS.

EVERYONE THOUGHT YOU'D GONE TO WASHINGTON BUT DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE MISSION WAS.

>> THEY WERE VERY KEEN.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAD -- THEY UNDERSTOOD WE NEEDED TO BE IN TOUCH AT HOME AND SO THEY MADE TIME FOR EVERYBODY, ALL FIVE OF THE GOVERNORS AND THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT WE HAD SEEN, WHERE WE HAD BEEN BUT NOT WHERE WE WERE AT THAT MOMENT AND WHERE WE WERE GOING IN THE INTEREST OF THE SAFETY OF THE TROOPS WE WERE VISITING.

>> Emily: ONLY GOT A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT.

I DON'T MEAN TO TURN THE TOPIC TO QUICKLY BUT I WAS TALKING TO THE TWO GUYS ON COMMONWEALTH MAGAZINE WHO DID TERRIFIC REPORTING ABOUT GREEN ENERGY.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN IT YET.

>> I'VE NOT SEEN IT.

>> Emily: ABOUT THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SUBSIDIES WE ALL PAY -- TAKE A LOOK AT IT -- HIDDEN IN THE UTILITY BILLS AND SO FOR.

THEIR QUESTION WAS MASSACHUSETTS WILL IT BECOME THE HUB FOR CLEAN ENERGY MUCH TO THE HOPE THAT BIOSCIENTISTS SAY.

I THINK THERE'S A BIG QUESTION MARK ON IT.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT THIS VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT IS REALLY GOING TO CHANNEL INTO JOBS AND BE PRODUCTIVE AND MEAN THAT MASSACHUSETTS IS A HUB FOR THAT KIND OF STUFF AS OPPOSED TO JUST BEING THE IDEA PLACE.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

FIRST OF ALL, IT'S HAPPENING.

WE'VE HAD A QUADRUPLING IN THE NUMBER OF SOLAR INSTALLATION AND MANUFACTURING COMPANIES IN THIS TERM, NEARLY TRIPLING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THAT FIELD.

WE'VE HAD A TENFOLD INCREASE IN WIND GENERATION AND 20FOLD INCREASE IN SOLAR GENERATIONS.

>>.

>> Emily: DOES TRANSLATE INTO JOBS?

>> THAT, I.T. AND BIO-TECH AND RELATED MANUFACTURING, THAT'S THE OTHER NEWS HERE.

THIS IS THE REASON -- THESE ARE THE SECTORS THAT ARE LEADING US OUT OF RECESSION FASTER.

>> Emily: IT'S SAID A LOT OF THE JOBS ARE FOR THE HIGHER-MINDED ENGINEERS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

THE QUESTION IS, WILL THERE BE MANUFACTURING JOBS?

>> MANUFACTURING HAPPENS PARTICULARLY IN THE SOLAR SPACE.

WE'LL BE TESTING THE WIND BLADES FOR MUCH OF THE COUNTRY IN CHARLESTOWN.

WE'RE TRYING TO SET UP THE CONDITIONS TO ASURE THE JOBS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CAPE WIND PROJECT ARE DOWN IN THE SOUTH COAST.

THERE'S A LOT OF THIS HAPPENING, A LOT -- YOU KNOW, BATTERYMAKERS AND BUILDING IT SO IT'S A LOT OF GOOD STUFF.

>> Emily: ALL RIGHTY, GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK.

>> NICE SEE YOU.

>> Emily: NICE TO SEE YOU.

WE'LL BE BACK AFTER THIS MESSAGE FROM WGBH.

>> Emily: THAT'S IT FOR "GREATER BOSTON."

JOIN ME TOMORROW AT NOON AT 89.7 WGBH RADIO FOLLOWED BY CALLIE CROSLEY AT 1:00.

ED WILL BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT B.P. AND THEIR RESPONSE TO THE OIL SPILL IN THE GULF.

THAT'S ALL FOR ME AT 7:00.

I'M EMILY ROONEY.

GOOD NIGHT.

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