Charlie Baker Challenges Governor Deval Patrick in the Governor's Race in Massachusetts

I have been disappointed with Deval Patrick as Governor. In the beginning, I had sympathy for the man. Previous Republican administrations could blame their issues on a one party lock in the legislature. As a Democrat, Patrick's strength was supposed to be his ability to unify not only the party but the state. This was supposed to create an environment that would allow reform and streamlining of state government. That was the theory of his Democratic campaign. The belief was that without obstructionist Republican governors blocking the way, real work would be done in the state.

What bothers me most is his unwillingness to acknowledge his failures. I can respect failure. We have all had them. However, acknowledging those failures is what allows us to learn and grow. His campaign website cites, "Investing in World Class Education" as one of his top achievements. This is something that just cannot go without comment. This is the administration that caved to federal pressure on giving up our state control of education and adopting the lower Common Core Standards in order to be eligible for Race to the Top funding. How can he possibly call lowering our state standards to comply with federal regulations investing in a world class education, unless he means lowering our standards to lower world standards in the future? Is that what comes after Common Core Standards?

One of the first things that drew me to Baker's campaign was his opposition to the Common Core Standards. While Patrick mistakenly claims to be investing in a world class education system for our state, Baker understood the real threat and spoke out. It is never easy to oppose federal programs, especially when federal funding is used as a bribe to accept the new federal requirements. Rejecting the Common Core Standards also means not receiving the Race to the Top funding we are now eligible for in this state. It takes courage and determination to do what is best for our students' long-term achievement and not give in to the temptation of short-term goals.

Baker has also presented his ideas for reforming government and controlling costs that he calls his "Baker's Dozen" on his campaign website. What I found interesting is that many of these issues seem very practical and likely will be very challenging to push through the legislature because they challenge long held entitlements of government officials. They of course include pension reform, which even Democrats are discussing this year, because the system is not sustainable. However, Patrick had four years to do more than discuss it and did nothing to fix the problem. As a voter, while I am not sure that Baker can solve the problem, he at least will have a fresh approach. Additional reforms include not being able to hold more than one government job or elected paid position. This ties back to the retirement reform.

The Municipal Health Reform suggestion needs more publicity. The rising costs of municipal health insurance are an issue taxpayers have learned about in the last few years. However, because of the union rules that make it a negotiated issue, little has been accomplished on reform. This bill would provide cities and towns with the power to take back fiscal control of the health insurance benefits they provide to municipal employees without it being a part of binding arbitration. Cities and towns would have more options in joining the state plan or in designing their own health insurance plans without requiring union approval. In the private sector, few of us get to control our employers' choice of plans, copayments, or coverage options. This will allow cities and towns to one more tool for making fiscally responsible choices in their municipal budgets. If we could pass his Municipal Health Reform, my city would benefit as we are already struggling with crippling rising insurance costs. This affects not only our taxes, but also our ability to make progress on other municipal priorities.

Voters have a choice to make in the November elections. Patrick promised reforms and restructuring to improve the state. He is celebrating lowering our state education standards as an accomplishment of his administration. Electing Baker is no promise that real reform will happen either. However, voting for Patrick guarantees we get more of the same.

"Baker's Dozen" Charlie Baker

"Common Core Standards Still Don't Make the Grade but Massachusetts and California do!" Education News

"Investing in World Class Education" Deval Patrick