June 24, 2010: Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker

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>> Emily: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON" -- ONE-ON-ONE WITH REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE CHARLIE BAKER.

AND PLUS A WOMAN ON THE STABBING DEATH OF HER SISTER.

AND INSPIRING YOUNG AUTHORS.

>> Emily: GOOD EVENING.

LIVELY AND SPIRITED, ENERGETIC AND AGGRESSIVE, THE MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR'S RACE HAS ALREADY PROVIDED A NUMBER OF POLITICAL HIGHLIGHTS MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

TONIGHT, AS PART OF OUR CONTINUING 2010 MASS CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CANDIDATES, THE REPUBLICAN CONTENDER CHARLIE BAKER IS HERE.

WELCOME, CHARLIE BAKER.

>> THANK YOU, EMILY.

I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU'RE PROVIDING --

>> Emily: YOU KNOW WE LOVE IT, THE MORE YOU COMMUNICATE THE BETTER.

I'M CURIOUS AS A POTENTIAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE YOURSELF, HOW DID YOU THINK PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HANDLED THE SITUATION WITH GENERAL McCHRYSTAL?

>> I THOUGHT HE HANDLED IT EXACTLY RIGHT.

I THOUGHT THE SPEED HE MADE THE DECISION WAS APPROPRIATE.

I THOUGHT HIS LANGUAGE IS APPROPRIATE.

I THOUGHT HIS RATIONALE WAS APPROPRIATE AND HIS REPLACEMENT WAS SOMEBODY WHO VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY WOULD SAY IS SORT OF AN A-LIST PLAYER.

>> Emily: THAT'S INTERESTING, BECAUSE IF HE HADN'T DONE THIS IT WOULD HAVE SHOWN HE WAS WEAK, AND YOU KNOW, ON THE OTHER HAND IT COULD HAVE SHOWED HE HAD CONFIDENCE --

>> SWAYED BY THE PAY GRADE.

IT WAS A DIFFICULT AND COMPLICATED SITUATION TO BEGIN WITH.

AND IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE GENERAL PETRAEUS ON THE SIDE LINES, AND YOU CAN GET HIM TO PARTICIPATE AND TAKE OVER, IT SHOULDN'T BE HARD FOR ANYBODY TO SEE THAT WAS A BAD DECISION.

>> Emily: SPEAKING OF THE PRESIDENT --

>> HE DIDN'T ASK ME FOR MY OPINION.

>> Emily: WELL, WE WERE GIVING IT ANYWAY.

YOU REPORTED TODAY IN A COLUMN, OR THERE WERE QUOTES AROUND YOU, SAYING THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY TO THE LEFT OF BARACK OBAMA ON SEVERAL ISSUES.

LIKE WHAT, OTHER THAN PERHAPS GAY MARRIAGE?

>> THAT WAS THE ONE THAT SHEEHAN AND I TALKED ABOUT.

>> Emily: THAT'S THE BEST ONE?

>> YEAH.

>> Emily: PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE?

>> PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE.

>> Emily: BECAUSE YOU WERE SIDING ON THE SIDE OF THE CONSERVATIVES, INCLUDING SCOTT BROWN, ON TO WHETHER THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXTENDED UP EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

WHAT'S THE RATIONALE ON THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S THE SAME AS SCOTT'S, WHICH I THINK IS AT SOME POINT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY HAS TO START FIGURING OUT HOW TO PAY FOR THE DEFICIT SPENDING AND SCOTT'S POSITION ON THIS IS AS LONG AS THERE'S AN OFFSET, ON EITHER THE PAY SIDE OR THE REVENUE SIDE TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL FEDERAL SPENDING BEYOND WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY BUDGETED THAT'S SUPPORTABLE AND DOABLE.

AT THIS POINT, A LOT OF DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING THE SAME THING AS WELL.

>> Emily: ABSOLUTELY.

THEY ALREADY EXTENDED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES.

I MEAN, GREAT SYMPATHY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT OF WORK.

>> LOOK, I RUN INTO THEM AND TALK TO THEM ALL THE TIME.

AND MANY OF THEM EXPRESSED TREMENDOUS DISMAY AT THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY AND HOW LONG IT'S TAKING THEM TO GET A JOB AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY'LL HAVE ONE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR THE MONTH AFTER OR THE MONTH AFTER.

BUT WE DO HAVE A BIG ISSUE AT THIS POINT WITH BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL SPENDING.

WE HAVE A HUGE DEFICIT GOING FORWARD IN MASSACHUSETTS.

NEXT GOVERNOR IS GOING TO INHERIT PROBABLY A $2 BILLION DEFICIT FROM THE CURRENT GOVERNOR.

THE FEDERAL BUDGET HAS AS BIG AS DEFICIT AS ANY TIME THAT ANYBODY CAN REMEMBER AND PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE TRADEOFFS.

SAYING IF YOU WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON THIS, YOU HAVE TO SPEND LESS ON THIS.

>> Emily: WHAT ABOUT THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT THE GOVERNOR --

>> $24 BILLION.

>> Emily: THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT INTO THE BUDGET.

HOW WOULD YOU HAVE DEALT WITH THAT?

>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ABOUT 30 STATES PUT IN THEIR BUDGETS, 20 DIDN'T.

SO A WHOLE BUNCH OF STATES SAID I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO THEREBY OR NOT, BUT IF IT IS IT'S A BONUS.

>> Emily: THEY'RE IN DIRE FINANCIAL STRAITS THEMSELVES.

WHERE ARE WE GETTING THE MONEY?

>> MY VIEW ON THIS, I HAVE BEEN SAYING IT EVER SINCE I GOT IN THE RACE, MASSACHUSETTS, BEACON HILL, THE GOVERNOR, THE PEOPLE UP THERE HAVE NOT BEEN AS FORWARD LOOKING AND AS AGGRESSIVE ABOUT IMAGING THE STATE'S -- ABOUT MANAGING THE STATE'S BUDGET RECONCILIATION AS THEY SHOULD BE.

WE HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS THE SAME WAY THAT FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES VERY AND CITIES AND TOWNS HAVE BEEN OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

WITH OR WITHOUT THAT $600 MILLION WE HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM GOING FORWARD.

WE SHOULD HAVE BUILT THE BUDGET WITHOUT IT, AND IF IT LANDED, TERRIFIC.

>> Emily: ONE OF THINGS THAT YOU WERE DISAPPOINTED IN THE CURRENT IS THIS WHOLE THING WITH HEALTHCARE.

THAT IN THIS BUDGET, I THOUGHT IT HAD TO BE A LEGISLATIVELY APPROVED AMENDMENT THAT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR CITIES AND TOWNS TO PUT EMPLOYEES -- IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE BUDGET?

>> IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE BUDGET, YEAH.

AND LOOK --

>> Emily: WHY DIDN'T THEY DO IT?

I MEAN, IS IT A UNION THING?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT I DIDN'T DO IT.

IT'S PROBABLY A UNION THING, BUT CERTAINLY NOT A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRATIC THING BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SEEKING THE RELIEF.

AS I TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE AND I TALK TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS AND OTHERS, THEY'RE LAYING OFF DOZENS AND IN SOME CASES HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T MAKE THE MATH WORK ON THEIR BUDGET WITH THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW OF LOCAL AID CUTS AND WHICH IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE STATE -- WHAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PLANS.

>> Emily: AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT ON THE ON THE STATE HEALTH CARE PLAN.

>> I'M NOT SAYING THEY HAVE TO BE ON THE SATE HEALTHCARE PLAN, BUT I WANT TO GIVE EVERYBODY THE SAME FLEXIBILITY.

AND HOW MANY TEACHERS COULD YOU PUT BACK IN THE CLASSROOM?

>> Emily: BUT THE TEACHERS DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE GROUP, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE ON THAT PLAN.

THEY WANT TO BE UNDER THE ONE THAT THE CITY AND TOWNS ARE FOR THEM BECAUSE IT'S A BETTER DEAL.

>> I'M NOT SAYING THEY HAVE TO JOIN THE CAG, BUT GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PLANS AND MAKE IT STAY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

>> Emily: HUGE ADJUSTMENTS.

>> A DIFFERENT ISSUE.

I SAY YOU KNOW WHAT IF I HAVE A CHOICE OF LOSING 40 OR 50 TEACHERS OR MAKING MODEST ADJUSTMENTS TO HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS THAT SOUNDS SIMPLE TO ME.

>> Emily: I READ ABRAHAM TODAY, BUT MY GOODNESS, "THE BOSTON GLOBE" HAS BEEN TOUGH ON YOU, FROM McGRORY TO ABRAHAM SAYING YOU HAVEN'T -- YOU DON'T HAVE A CAMPAIGN IDENTITY, YOU'RE FORGETTABLE ABOUT HOW YOU VOTED ON THE PROP 2 OVERRIDE, YOU'RE CONVENIENTLY UNDEREDUCATED WHEN IT COMES TO GLOBAL WARMING.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> LOOK, I THINK IT'S ABOUT JOBS, SPENDING AND TAXES AND I SPENT MOST OF ANY TIME TALKING ABOUT ITS.

ON THE OTHER ISSUES, THEY'RE ALL PART OF THE CONVERSATION AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD BE.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME I EVER RAN STATEWIDE.

I PUT MY FOOT IN IT A FEW TIMES.

>> Emily: DOES IT MAKE YOU MAD?

IT'S NOT RIGHT.

>> NO, IT'S LESSONS LEARNED.

I DIDN'T EXPECT TO BE A GREAT CAMPAIGNER COMING STRAIGHT OUT OF THE GATE AND I HAVEN'T BEEN, BUT EVERY SINGLE STEP ALONG THE WAY AS I HAVE BEEN SORT OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS AND BUILD A MESSAGE IN AN ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE BEEN DOING BETTER AND BETTER.

>> Emily: THE POLLS SHOW YOU'RE DOING SLIGHTLY BETTER.

IS THAT ABOUT THE AD?

>> NO, I THINK IT'S A, OUR MESSAGE.

B, MY EXPERIENCE.

WHICH I BELIEVE IS QUITE CONSIS TENT WITH WHAT THE PEOPLE IN MASSACHUSETTS ARE LOOKING FOR AND C, WE ARE FOCUSED ON WHAT PEOPLE ARE MOSTLY CONCERNED ABOUT, WHICH IS JOBS, SPENDING AND TAXES.

>> Emily: KAREN PULITO HAS AN IDEA WHICH IS THAT NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS, DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THEPENSION.

>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

>> Emily: EVERYBODY ELSE IS GRANDFATHERED.

MAKES IT TOUGH.

>> HARD TO TREAT ANY PENSION ISSUE AS A RETRO ISSUE.

I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT ONE AND I AGREE WITH HER.

>> Emily: HOW ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL THAT CARLA HOWELL IS PUTTING FORWARD, 19,000 SIGNATURES, ROLL BACK THE STATE SALES TAX FROM 6.25% TO 3%.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?

>> I THINK WE SHOULD ROLL THE SALES TAX INCREASE BACK TO 5%.

BACK TO WHERE IT WAS AT 5%.

>> Emily: THAT'S NOT THE BALLOT QUESTION.

>> I KNOW IT'S NOT.

I MADE A COMMITMENT A LONG TIME, IT'S HARD TO SEE HOW YOU GO TO 3% WITHOUT PUTTING LOCAL AID ON THE TABLE AND I'M OPPOSED TO ROLLING ITS BACK TO 3% FOR THAT REASON.

>> Emily: DO YOU AGREE WITH HER ANALYSIS THAT THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF SPENDING IN THE STATE IS NOT $28 BILLION, THAT THE BUDGET IS, BUT IT'S $52 BILLION, THAT YOU LOOK AT SPENDING VERSUS BUDGETS.

>> WELL, IF YOU THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S CONSIDERED OFF BUDGET, I MEAN, A LOT OF STUFF IS OFF BUDGET.

OUR PENSION PAYMENTS TO FUND A MAUL PIECE OF THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY IS OFF BUDGET.

A BIG FUND FOR HEALTHCARE THAT'S OFF BUDGET, THE INTEREST PAYMENTS FOR DEBT IS OFF BUDGET.

NOT EVERYTHING IS ON BUDGET IS TRUE.

I THINK WHAT SHE'S TAKING WHEN SHE TALKS ABOUT $52 BILLION IS EVERYTHING, INDEPENDENT AUTHORITIES.

EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR SPENT BY ANY ENTITY THAT'S ORGANIZED AT THE STATE LEVEL AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY ALL ENCOMPASSING.

IT WILL INCLUDE A LOT OF STUFF THAT PEOPLE WILL SAY.

I DON'T THINK OF THAT AS BUDGET SPENDING, BUT INTEREST ON THE DEBT, PENSION PAYMENTS, HEALTH CARE TRUST THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE SHOULD BE ON BUDGET AND FRANKLY WE'RE ON BUDGET WHEN I WORKED WITH STATE BUDGET.

>> Emily: ALSO ON THE INCOME TAX, WOULD YOU SUPPORT OR ROLL BACK TO THAT TOO, 5%?

>> THE VOTERS VOTED ON.

>> Emily: I REMEMBER.

I WAS HERE.

>> I THINK WE SHOULD GET IT BACK TO 5%.

YOU CAN'T GET EVERYTHING DONE AT ONCE, BUT MY VIEW ON THIS STUFF IS THE FISCAL PIECE IS REALLY WHAT'S MOSTLY ON PEOPLE'S MINDS AND WHAT IT MEANS WITH REGARD TO OUR CAPACITY TO ACTUALLY GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS MUDDLING THROUGH THIS FISCAL CRISIS, IT WILL MAKE THE RECOVERY DRAMATICALLY HARDER TO PULL OFF AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR BUSINESSES TO INVEST IN MASSACHUSETTS WHICH WHERE OUR FOCUS NEEDS TO BE.

>> Emily: YOU OF COURSE WORKED IN THE WELDEN CONVERSATION, HE HAD AN EASY WAY WITH PEOPLE.

HE WAS FUNNY AND, YOU KNOW, CHARMING.

>> HE WAS.

>> Emily: MILT ROMNEY WAS IN HIS OWN WAY.

BUT MITT ROMNEY HAD A BUTT YOUR HEAD, BULLY APPROACH AND HOW WOULD YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A REPUBLICAN AS MORE LIKE STYLISTICALLY LIKE ONE OR THE OTHER OR SOMEBODY COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?

>> WELL, I'M A CHILD OF A MIXED MARRIAGE.

MY MOM IS A DEMOCRAT, MY DAD IS A REPUBLICAN.

YOU CAN DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE.

THAT'S MY MANTRA AND THAT'S ALWAYS MY MANTRA GOING FORWARD.

I REALLY DO BELIEVE -- MAYBE I'M TOTALLY NAIVE ABOUT THIS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND CREATE A SET OF SOLUTIONS THAT GET US OUT OF THIS JAM.

AND I THINK IN SOME WAYS WITH THE -- WHAT THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS IS A GOVERNOR WHO WILL PICK UP THE BALL AND CARRY A BIG PIECE OF THE BURDEN OR THE BLAME FOR TAKING ON SOME OF THE SACRED COWS.

I'VE GOT A PLAN WORTH A BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF SAVINGS ON THE TABLE AND IT WILL MAKE EVERYONE ON BEACON HILL MAD, BUT A LOT OF THOSE THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T SUPPORT AND I DON'T KNOW WHY.

>> Emily: WELL, GETTING ANYTHING DONE THROUGH A DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE IS TOUGH EVEN FOR A DEMOCRAT.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LEAD THE LEGISLATURE AND I THINK THE GOVERNOR -- IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ME, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAVING UP TO HALL MEETINGS ALL OVER MASSACHUSETTS FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS TO TAKE THE CASE FOR WHY IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF RESTORING FISCAL CREDIBILITY AND INTEGRITY AT THE CITY AND TOWN LEVEL AND PRESERVING JOBS AND TEACHING AND IN PUBLIC SAFETY SO THAT CLASS SIZES DON'T GO UP AND THE STREETS ARE SAFE.

I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MAKING THE CASE EVERY DAY.

>> Emily: ALL RIGHT, REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, CHARLIE BAKER.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Emily: WHEN WE CONTINUE, A WOMAN'S FRUSTRATION TO FIND HER SISTER'S KILLER LEADS TO A UNIQUE APPROACH TO HELP CRACK THE CASE.