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.
Unenrolled
Unr
Services need to be continuously improved through overall sweeping management changes, which will include consolidation and/or elimination of some services.
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?
Unenrolled
Unr
Overall health care costs need to be addressed today (limits) in order for systems of delivery to be developed for the future.
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?
Unenrolled
Unr
Increase the support for the charter system, which will compete for state and local aid dollars and the elimination of some public school system programs through increased competition between public and charter school systems.
Once that reduction of jobs and aid to the local public system is recognized, the state and local school unions will need to address or be faced with reductions in aid and workforce.
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?
Unenrolled
Unr
I am in favor of an open bid process. Quality will be assured through timely and withheld payments. The Big Dig taught us how to manage these projects.
Employee Pensions
Do you think further changes to the state employee pension system are necessary?
Unenrolled
Unr
If someone has earned a pension under the current agreements, then they should be paid in full, regardless of whether they likewise had earned SSI.
We need to overhaul the qualifications toward the pension system or convert it all over to a 401(k) system.
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.
Unenrolled
Unr
As a conservative, pro-business Democrat, I will fight to address every liberal social program that outlines an incentive that encourages any recipient to receive a benefit beyond the intended design of the program.