Congressman Michael Capuano is a Democrat representing the 7th congressional district. He joined Jim Braude and Margery Eagan for Boston Public Radio. Highlights from the interview include:
On the Green Line transportation extension
There are people here who want to stop every major project. To that I ask— which major project should we have never have done? The Mass Pike? The Tobin Bridge? To get to the future it’s going to cost money, and to say that we should never do another big project, in my opinion, is to condemn us to third-world status. Big projects are part of a progressive society, the question is how much can we afford, and which ones should take priority.
On getting back to the congressional to-do list
This too shall pass. It has to be done. You don’t have to like government to be involved in it, just the opposite. Somebody has to do these things, and I prefer it be people with good will… I wouldn’t say I’m the sunshine and roses guy, but at the same time I believe there’s a place in the world for people who think it can and will be better.
On Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump
I think there’s a little bit of an overlap, in the sense that people are tired of Washington. Bernie represents those people who want to kind of blow up the system from the outside. Trump taps into anger and frustration, and I get it… but at the same time, what do you do about it?
On agreeing with, but not endorsing Sanders:
More important to me to have somebody that can win a final election than to have somebody I may agree with all of the time. Winning a primary is not sufficient. We need to have somebody in the white house that we can work with… hopefully a democrat.
On Joe Biden’s possible presidential run:
I like Joe Biden, who doesn’t? Everybody likes Joe Biden, don’t they?
On the Everett Casino
Is the casino going to be the sole problem over there? No, I don’t think anybody believes that. The casino could be a great catalyst to finally get some traffic improvements that have been needed for a long time.
On Tom Brady/Deflategate:
Everyone is a natural patriots fan, or they’re evil.
On his cable box privacy bill:
Its still pending, I can’t seem to get much traction on it. It’s very simple. I’m a big privacy advocate; I don’t think peoples privacy should be invaded by the government or by private companies without our approval or acknowledgement.
I have nothing to hide, I have a very public life… but nonetheless, it’s still very disconcerting that private companies and the government know more about me than my mother ever knew.
To hear more from Congressman Capuano, tune in to Boston Public Radio above.
