July 13, 2010: Gov. Deval Patrick

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; 07/13/10 7:31 PM
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;;;;GREATER BOSTON

>> Rooney: TONIGHT ON
"GREATER BOSTON," FRESH
OFF HOSTING THE NATIONAL
GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION,
DEVAL PATRICK IS HERE.
PLUS, LOVE HIM OR LOATHE
HIM, REMEMBERING NEW YORK
YANKEES' OWNER GEORGE
STEINBRENNER.
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>> Rooney: GOOD EVENING.
THERE'S MORE RAIN IN THE
FORECAST, WHICH COULD MEAN
FOR FLASHFLOODING.
FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER
SALATOER DIMASI GOT HIS
PENSION BACK.
AND THE LEGISLATURE IS
STILL HEMMING AND HAWING
OVER EXTENDED GAMBLING,
AND THERE IS A PETITION TO
KILL THE NEW ALCOHOL TAX.
AND HERE TO ADDRESS ALL OF
THOSE BURNING ISSUES IS
GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK,
THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
FOR RE-ELECTION.
>> I DIDN'T REALIZE MY
TIME WAS UP.
>> Rooney: WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO ABOUT THE
FLASHFLOODING.
>> THAT'S SOMETHING.
ON SATURDAY, WHILE WERE WE
WE -- WE WERE IN THE
MEETINGS, WE HAD THAT
AMOUNT OF RAIN IN A TIGHT
PERIOD OF TIME.
AND WE WERE GOING OUT FOR
THE EVENING EVENT --
>> Rooney: OUT AND
CASTLE ISLAND?
>> OUT ON CASTLE ISLAND.
I WAS ON THE PHONE TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE
WERE STILL PEOPLE IN THE
CARS.
>> Rooney: THAT WAS
INCREDIBLE.
>> IT WAS REALLY SCARY.
FORTUNATELY, THAT'S OKAY.
I TALKED TO THE MAYOR
SINCE THEN, OBVIOUSLY, AND
THERE ARE STILL SOME
ISSUES WITH THE POLICE
STATION, WHICH HAS BEEN
FLOODED OUT OVER THERE.
WE'RE ROUTING 9-1-1
THROUGH THE MEMA -- THE
SUMMERVILLE 9-1-1 THROUGH
THE MEMA.
SO WE'RE COPING.
BUT WE NEED TO DO A LITTLE
MORE TO HELP IT DRY OUT.
>> Rooney: IT IS
INCREDIBLE.
>> INCREDIBLE WEATHER.
YOU REMEMBER THE FLOODS
FROM THE SPRING.
>> Rooney: WHAT WAS YOUR
REACTION FROM TODAY?
I KNOW YOU DIDN'T GET A
VOTE IN THIS, BUT THE
REINSTITUTION OF SALATOER
DIMASI'S PENSION.
IT IS AN OUTRAGE AND THE
TAXPAYERS ARE OUTRAGED.
>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE MAD.
I GET IT.
I'M A LAWYER, AND SO I
UNDERSTAND YOU'RE INNOCENT
PROVEN GUILTY.
BUT THAT'S WHAT THE COURT
SAID.
IF SOMEONE IS CONVICTED,
WE HAVE RULES RIGHT NOW
THAT SAY YOU FORFEIT YOUR
PENSION.
IN THE PENSION REFORM
BILL, NOT THE ONE THAT HAS
ALREADY BEEN PASSED, BUT
SECOND PENSION REFORM, IT
WOULD DEAL WITH A
SITUATION LIKE THIS WHERE
IF YOU HAVE BEEN INDICTED
FOR A MATTER -- UNTIL
ISSUE IS SORTED OUT.
>> Rooney: SINCE THAT
ISN'T THE RULE NOW, THE
FACT THAT HE IS GETTING IT
BACK --
>> IS INCREDIBLY
FRUSTRATING.
IF FOLKS WANT TO EXPRESS
THAT FRUSTRATION ON BEACON
HILL, INCLUDING
REPUBLICANS, THEY CAN PASS
THAT SECOND PENSION
REFORM.
>> Rooney: SO YOU FEEL
THE SAME WAY --
>> I UNDERSTAND AND
RESPECT THAT PEOPLE ARE
INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN
GUILTY, BUT I THINK ALL OF
US ARE INCREDIBLY
DISAPPOINTED AND MORE THAN
ANGRY ABOUT THESE
ALLEGATIONS AND THE NOTION
YOU WOULD REAP ANY PUBLIC
BENEFIT IN THE WAKE OF
THIS IS TROUBLESOME.
>> Rooney: TALK ABOUT
THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS'
ASSOCIATION MEETING, AND
IT RULED AROUND GOVERNOR
JAN BREWER AND THIS NEW
LAW THAT THEY CAN STOP AND
CHECK PEOPLE FOR THEIR
IMMIGRATION STATUS.
AND THIS WHOLE THING ABOUT
THE PROTEST.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE
FACT THAT THE POLICE ARE
PROTESTING OVER THE QUINN
BILL AND A COUPLE OTHER
ISSUES --
>> THE FLAGGERS.
LOOK, NOBODY WANTS TO
HAVE -- YOU KNOW, SOME OF
THE SIGNS ARE PRETTY
COARSE.
>> Rooney: I WAS.
DOWN
THERE --
>> I THINK I WORRY ABOUT
OUR GUESTS BEING
INTIMIDATED AND GETTING A
BAD IMPRESSION OF BAGHDAD.
BOSTON.
I BELIEVE THAT THE STATE
POLICE AND THOSE WHO ARE
ORGANIZING THE CONFERENCE
AND THE SECURITY AROUND
THE CONFERENCE PROVIDED AN
APPROPRIATE PLACE AND AN
APPROPRIATE LIMIT FOR THAT
SO THAT EVERYBODY HAD A
USEFUL AND PRODUCTIVE AND
FUN TIME.
WE HAD 1200 PEOPLE HERE IN
THE COMMONWEALTH HERE IN
BOSTON.
AND EVERY TIME I HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME, I
INVITED THEM TO LEAVE AS
MUCH OF THEIR MONEY BEHIND
AS POSSIBLE.
>> Rooney: AND HOPEFULLY
THEY DID.
DID YOU HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE
WITH JAN BREWER?
DID YOU TALK TO HER?
>> I TALKED TO HER A
LITTLE BIT.
>> Rooney: SOME OF THE
STATES ARE PUTTING UP FIRE
WALLS AGAINST ARIZONA AND
SPENDING MONEY --
>> A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, ON THE
POLICE PROTEST OVER THE
CIVILIAN FLAGGER POLICY,
THERE WERE A LOT OF
GOVERNORS AND OTHER GUESTS
WHO ASKED ABOUT THAT, AND
I EXPLAINED IT.
BECAUSE YOU REMEMBER,
UNTIL WE CHANGED THE
POLICY, WE WERE THE ONLY
STATE IN THE COUNTRY THAT
DIDN'T HAVE CIVILIAN FLAG
GERS.
>> Rooney: YOU THOUGHT
THEY WERE SYMPATHETIC TO
YOU?
>> I THINK SO.
MANY SAID THEY WERE.
YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THAT
THE POLICE ARE WORRIED
ABOUT THE ECONOMICS OF
THIS.
AND THIS IS A TOUGH TIME
FOR EVERYBODY.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE
ECONOMICS FOR TAXPAYERS.
AND I THINK THAT WAS THE
RIGHT DECISION.
I STAND BY THAT DECISION,
BUT I WANT TO BE SENSITIVE
TO SOME CONCERNS THEY AND
THEIR FAMILIES HAVE.
ON THE QUESTION OF THE
ARIZONA ANTI-IMMIGRANT
LAW, I'VE SAID BEFORE, AND
I SAID TO GOVERNOR BREWER
WHEN SHE WAS HERE.
LOOK, I'M NOT TRYING TO
RUN ARIZONA.
I HAVE MY HANDS FULL WITH
MY JOB HERE IN
MASSACHUSETTS.
BUT I SAID THAT KIND OF
LAW IS WRONG FOR US IN
MASSACHUSETTS BECAUSE IT
IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH OUR
VALUES AND BECAUSE WE HAVE
A LOT OF THE RIGHT RULES
AND SCREENS IN PLACE TO
MAKE SURE THAT PUBLIC
BENEFITS ONLY GO TO THOSE
WHO ARE ELIGIBLE.
>> Rooney: I'M SURE YOU
SAW THE STORY ABOUT
MILFORD.
THERE IS GREAT FRUSTRATION
OVER ALL OF THE RESOURCES
THAT ARE GOING TO SERVE, I
DON'T KNOW WHY MILFORD,
BUT A HUGE POPULATION OF
ILLEGAL OR UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS.
>> I'VE GOT A QUESTION --
WE OUT TO SEPARATE THE
PEOPLE BEING IN THEIR
COMMUNITY -- BY THE WAY,
OVERWHELMING THE
IMMIGRANTS HERE ARE HERE
LEGALLY.
FULLY DOCUMENTED.
IT IS A SMALL FRACTION OF
THE IMMIGRANTS HERE WHO
ARE UNDOCUMENTED.
BUT SEPARATE THAT FROM WHO
IS GETTING WHAT BENEFITS.
>> Rooney: PUSH BACK
WITH MORE ABOUT THE FACT
THEY WERE DIFFERENT?
>> I THINK THERE IS SOME
OF THAT.
PEOPLE ARE VERY -- AND I
THINK JUSTIFIABLE --
CONCERNED ABOUT THE
NATIONAL PROBLEM OF
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
WHICH IS WHY I AND LOTS OF
OTHERS HAVE CALLED FOR A
NATIONAL RESPONSE, WHICH
IS COMPREHENSIVE
IMMIGRATION REFORM.
THE PRESIDENT HAS TALKED
ABOUT THIS.
PRESIDENT BUSH TALKED
ABOUT THIS.
THE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH THE
HOUSE AND THE SENATE ON
THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, AND
PREVIOUSLY ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE, HAVE
TALKED ABOUT THIS.
WE JUST NEED TO GET IT
DONE.
>> Rooney: HERE IS
ANOTHER LITTLE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION FILED TODAY.
I'M CURIOUS TO GET YOUR
TAKE ON THE REPRESENTATIVE
FROM NORTH ATTLEBORO, AND
SHERIFF TOM HAWKSEN THAT
WOULD TAKE AWAY THE RIGHTS
FOR PRISONERS TO EARN ANY
STATE MONEY.
>> SOMEBODY ASKED ME ABOUT
THAT BEFORE I CAME OVER
HERE.
>> Rooney: IT WAS
$2 MILLION, $3 MILLION,
WHICH IS NOT A LOT, BUT IS
THAT SOMETHING YOU WOULD
SUPPORT?
>> ANOTHER REPORTER ASKED
ME ABOUT THAT JUST BEFORE
I CAME OVER HERE.
THAT'S THE FIRST I HEARD
ABOUT IT.
I THOUGHT THE REPORTER WAS
GOING TO ASK ME ABOUT A
PREVIOUS PROPOSAL TO
CHARGE IN MATES --
>> Rooney: THAT'S
HODGKINS OTHER THING.
>> LOOK, MY VIEW IS -- I
HATE THIS SORT OF SEAT OF
THE PANTS NATURE, IF YOU
TAKE THIS WITH A
QUALIFIER, NOT HAVING READ
THE BILL.
MY VIEW IS THAT WE HAVE TO
BE DOING THINGS THAT
ASSURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO
COME OUT OF PRISON, AND
95% OR 97% OF THOSE IN DO
COME OUT, COME OUT READY
TO REJOIN PRODUCTIVE AND
CONSTRUCTIVE LIVES.
THAT MEANS SKILLS TRAINING
AND LIFE TRAINING.
I THINK IT MEANS BECOMING
ORIENTED TO THE WORLD OF
WORK.
SO THE NOTION OF HOW TO DO
THAT IN WAYS THAT ARE
ECONOMICAL --
>> Rooney: LET THEM
WORK, BUT JUST NOT FOR
PAY.
THEY WOULD LET THEM
CONTINUE THE JOB, BUT JUST
WOULDN'T PAY THEM.
>> YEAH.
>> Rooney: THERE ARE A
COUPLE MOVEMENTS PUT HERE
TO REPEAL THE ALCOHOL TAX
ALL TOGETHER.
AND ROLL BACK THE STATE
SALES TAX.
CARLA HOWELL SAYS TO ROLL
IT BACK FROM 6.5% TO 3%.
THE UNIVERSITY POLL
CONDUCTED A LITTLE WHILE
AGO SAID 49% OF BAY
STATERS WOULD SUPPORT
THAT.
>> ON THE SURFACE, IT
SOUNDS GREAT, RIGHT?
EVERYBODY LIKES THE IDEA
OF PAYING LESS IN ATTACKS.
I -- TAXES.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS
WHY WE CUT THE CORPORATE
INCOME TAX IN THIS FIRST
TERM.
IT WAS PART OF A
COMPROMISE AND TRYING TO
GET SIMPLICITY ON THE
CORPORATE SIDE OF THE TAX
CODE.
UNTIL WE START HAVING A
SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT
WHAT WE'RE GIVING UP IN
SERVICES, WE'RE NOT HAVING
A SERIOUS DEBATE ABOUT
THAT ISSUE.
$$2.5 BILLION -- WE'VE
DEALT WITH $12 PLUS
BILLION DOLLARS IN BUDGET
GAPS.
AND ACROSS THE
COMMONWEALTH ARE PEOPLE
FEELING THE HURT FROM
THAT.
AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT
SPECIAL INTERESTS AND ALL
OF THAT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE
WITH DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES --
>> Rooney: SHE WOULD
GIVE UP ALL OF THAT,
SOCIAL SERVICES,
ESSENTIALLY.
>> IN DEALING WITH THIS
BUDGET GAP, TO GIVE YOU A
SENSE OF PROPORTION AND
YOUR VIEWERS A SENSE OF
PROPORTION -- YOU COULD
SHUT DOWN THE WHOLE OF
HUMAN SERVICES, AND NOT
CLEAR THE BUDGET.
OR LAYOFF EVE -- EVERYBODY
WHO IS ON THE STATE
PAYROLL AND NOT CLOSE THE
BUDGET GAP.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS
BEFORE.
WE'VE ELIMINATED ALMOST
3,000 POSITIONS, AND WE'VE
DONE FURLOUGHS, AND I
THINK WE'RE THE FIRST
ADMINISTRATION EVER TO DO
THAT, AND I THANK THE
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNIONS FOR
HELPING.
WE'VE DONE PAY FREEZES,
WE'VE CUT PROGRAMS.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST
RATES OF SPENDING
INCREASES IN THE
COMMONWEALTH, AND WE
RAISED SOME NEW REVENUE.
THAT BALANCE HAS HELD IT
TOGETHER IN TERMS OF BASIC
SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND LOCAL
AID.
IT ALSO HAS EARNED US THE
SUPPORT AND APPROVAL OF
ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT
RATING AGENCIES ON WALL
STREET.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING MANY
OTHER STATES CAN SAY.
>> Rooney: THIS CASINO
GAMBLING THING IS COMING
DOWN TO THE WIRE.
SOMETHING HAS GOT TO
HAPPEN BEFORE JULY 31ST.
HOUSE SPEAKER BOB IS
PUSHING BACK ON THE SLOTS
AGAIN.
HE WAS EXCITED TO SEE THE
PLAN THAT SUFFOLK DOWNS
CAME UP WITH.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY
COOL.
ARE YOU GOING TO BREAK A
LITTLE ON THE SLOT THING?
>> MY POSITION ON THE
SLOTS HASN'T CHANGED.
I'M REALLY NOT SURE WHERE
THIS IS GOING TO LAND.
I THINK UNLESS -- AND I'VE
SAID THIS PUBLICLY AND TO
THE SPEAKER IN THE
SENATE -- UNLESS PEOPLE
DIAL DOWN THE RHETORIC AND
TRY TO PROBLEM SOLVE
TOGETHER, WE MAY NOT GET A
BILL.
THERE IS ENOUGH INTEREST
IN THE THREE OF US WE
OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO GET A
BILL.
THERE ARE VERY, VERY
THOUGHTFUL IDEAS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THIS.
PEOPLE SUPPORT THE IDEA OF
A LIMITED EXPANSION OF
GAMING IN THE
COMMONWEALTH.
BUT NOT EVERYBODY DOES,
OBVIOUSLY.
I THINK WE CAN, BUT I DO
THINK IT MEANS WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO DO MORE TALKING
TO EACH OTHER THAN ABOUT
EACH OTHER, AND THAT'S A
MESSAGE I'VE BEEN TRYING
TO CONVEY TO THE LEADERS.
THEY ARE VERY FAR APART,
AND THEIR POSITIONS ARE
HARDENING, OR SEEM TO BE
HARDENING.
>> Rooney: WOULD YOU
VETO IT IF THE SLOTS WERE
IN?
>> I'M JUST NOT PERSUADED
YET.
AND THERE IS AN AWFUL LOT
OF OTHER IMPORTANT WORK
THAT IS STUCK IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
>> Rooney: YOU SHOULD
WRAP IT UP.
>> THERE IS A LOT.
THERE ARE MEASURES WE'VE
ASKED FOR FURTHERAN CES,
CONTAINING COSTS ON SMALL
BUSINESSES, OUR WIND
SITING BILL IS STUCK.
WE HAVE QUARRY REFORM
PASSED OUT OF THE SENATE
AND THE HOUSE, FROM THE
CRIMINAL RECORD SENTENCING
SYSTEM, SOMETHING
ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT TO, I
THINK, OVER A MILLION
PEOPLE IN THE
COMMONWEALTH, AND THAT'S
IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE,
BUT THEY CAN'T GET THAT
SOLVED EITHER.
IT IS A WORRY THERE IS SO
MUCH IMPORTANT BUSINESS
THAT HAS BEEN LEFT TO THE
VERY END.
>> Rooney: FINALLY ON
THE CAMPAIGN STUFF.
SOME OF IT IS GETTING A
LITTLE NASTY.
TIM CAHILL WAS HERE AND HE
SAID HE'S DONE A TERRIBLE
JOB.
CHARLIE BAKER HAS AN AD ON
THE WEB -- I'LL PLAY A 8
SECONDS --
>> IS THIS WITH THE
HEARING --
>> Rooney: EIGHT SECOND.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE LOCAL
BUSINESSMAN WHO WANTS TO
SEE TAXES CUT.
WOULD YOU CUT TAXES TO
HELP THEM OUT?
>> MARK, I WANT TO REPLY.
BUT I JUST CAN'T GET IT.
>> Rooney: THEY SHOULD
HAVE PULLED THE PLUG ON
THE INTERVIEW.
>> THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I
ACTUALLY HEARD THE
QUESTION.
>> Rooney: REALLY?
>> YEAH.
IT IS A GREAT QUESTION
BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY DID
CUT TAXES.
>> Rooney: YOU DIDN'T GO
ON THE LINE AND LOOK AT
THE AD?
>> NO, MY GOODNESS.
>> Rooney: HE SAID HE'S
GOING TO USE IT AGAIN FOR
OTHER --
>> THERE HAS BEEN SO
LITTLE SERIOUSNESS OUT OF
THE BAKER CAMPAIGN, THAT
IT'S SURPRISING.
BECAUSE I BELIEVE OF -- OR
I THOUGHT OF CHARLIE BAKER
AS A SERIOUS PERSON.
AND THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS
TIMES, AND VERY SERIOUS
CHALLENGES WE'RE FACING AS
A COMMONWEALTH.
THAT KIND OF NONSENSE
IS -- LOOK, HE KNOWS, AND
I HOPE THE REST OF THE
COMMONWEALTH DOES, THAT WE
HAVE CUT TAXES ON
BUSINESSES.
AND THAT HAS BENEFITED, IN
PARTICULAR, SMALL
BUSINESSES.
I'LL TELL YOU THE THING
THAT SMALL BUSINESSES ARE
MOST CONCERNED ABOUT?
IS THEIR HEALTH CARE GOING
UP AT DOUBLE DIGITS EVERY
YEAR.
WE HAVE DONE SOMETHING
ABOUT IT --
>> Rooney: WAS THAT AN
ARBITRARY THING ON YOUR
REPORT.
THE SENSE OF PUSHBACK FROM
THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY,
SAYING THAT THE CAPS CAN'T
BE ARBITRARY AT DOUBLE
DIGITS --
>> YOU MEAN THE SINGLE
DIGITS?
>> Rooney: THE SINGLE
DIGITS.
>> THERE IS NOTHING
ARBITRARY ABOUT IT.
THE COMMISSIONER HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO APPROVE
EXCESSIVE PREMIUMS.
AND THE INSURANCE CARRIER
SAYS THEIR PREMIUMS GO UP
BECAUSE THE COST OF HEALTH
CARE GOES UP.
WHAT IS CHARGED TO THEM BY
HOSPITALS AND OTHER
PROVIDERS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE MEDICAL
INFLATION RATE, NATIONALLY
IT IS 3.4%, AND IN THIS
HIGH-COST REGION, IT IS
4.5%.
ONE I HEARD WENT UP 70% IN
ONE YEAR.
IT MAKES NO SENSE.
WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT 85%
OF OUR BUSINESSES ARE
SMALL BUSINESSES, AND IF
THEY AREN'T ABLE TO
HIRE -- THEY'RE GETTING
THE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY
NOW TO JUSTIFY HIRING, BUT
IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO
HIRE BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH
CARE PREMIUMS, WE DON'T
GET A RECOVERY.
I ASKED, WHEN I MADE THE
ANNOUNCEMENT, THAT I WAS
AUTHORIZING THE
COMMISSIONER TO TAKE THIS
ACTION.
I ASKED EVERYBODY,
INSURERS, PROVIDERS,
BUSINESS COMMUNITIES IN
GENERAL -- IF SOMEBODY HAD
A BETTER IDEA, LET'S HEAR
IT.
BUT ENOUGH SITTING AROUND
AN SAYING IT IS
COMPLICATED.
WE'RE THE VICTIM OF THIS
COMPLEXITY.
NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE
THE VICTIM OF THAT
COMPLEXITY ANYMORE.
>> Rooney: GOVERNOR
DEVAL PATRICK, GOOD TO
HAVE YOU.
>> GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> Rooney: WHEN WE
CONTINUE, REMEMBERING
BASEBALL GIANT GEORGE
STEINBRENNER.