Baker and DeLeo 111014
Massachusetts Governor-elect Charlie Baker, left, smiles at the Statehouse in Boston, as House Speaker Robert DeLeo speaks to reporters after they met privately last month.
(Elise Amendola / Associated Press file)
BOSTON - Republican Governor-elect Charlie Baker said he thinks it "makes some sense" for House Speaker Robert DeLeo, a Democrat, to wait to fill a budget gap until Baker takes office in January.
"It gives us a couple more weeks of visibility with respect to tax revenue and spending," Baker told reporters at the Statehouse on Tuesday. "In addition to that, it also gives him a chance to work with the team that is probably going to have to work through whatever fixes for 2015."
Outgoing Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick said the state is facing a budget gap of around $330 million. Patrick cut nearly $200 unilaterally, but some of his proposals require legislative approval.
It would be difficult for the state legislature to make spending adjustments before January since it is meeting in informal sessions, where it can only pass bills that face no opposition. DeLeo has said he will wait until Baker takes office for the House to act.
Baker said he did not ask DeLeo to wait, and it was the speaker's decision.
Baker gave little indication of where he would go to find additional money to fill the state budget gap. He reiterated promises he made during the campaign not to cut local aid and not to raise taxes. "I made pretty clear during the course of the campaign...I didn't think the state should continue to balance its budget on the back of the Commonwealth's cities and towns," Baker said.
Asked more generally about his first legislative priorities, Baker said he wants to take a "comprehensive approach" to addressing problems of heroin and opiate addiction. He will focus on implementing the law around medical marijuana dispensaries, which he said "has been a long time coming and it's something we need to get in place."
Additionally, Baker said there are still problems with the Health Connector on the back end, although it has functioned for consumers, as well as questions about what type of insurance consumers will end up with and how many people are being processed through the system.
Baker visited the Statehouse Tuesday to meet with Auditor Suzanne Bump and Secretary of State William Galvin. Baker said he talked to Bump about recent audits her office performed. He talked to Galvin about logistical issues related to his inauguration.
Baker's schedule for his inauguration, which will be Thursday, Jan. 8 is as follows: There will be an "entrance ceremony" on the front steps of the Statehouse at 10:30 a.m., followed by a citizens' welcome in the Statehouse at 11 a.m. Baker will officially be sworn in at noon in the House chamber, after which he will greet members of the public.
There will be a formal inaugural party at 8 p.m. at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Tickets cost $50.
Baker spokesman Tim Buckley said there will be other events around the state that will be announced soon. Baker is planning a series of "Spotlights On Excellence" events to highlight the accomplishments of Massachusetts citizens in areas like education and job creation.
On other issues: The U.S. Olympic Committee is considering bids for the 2024 Olympics from Boston and other potential host cities. Baker called the opportunity to host the Olympics "a pretty unique opportunity to promote Massachusetts and Boston." But he also said he needs more information. He is concerned that the bid proposes spending less than $10 billion, while other recent Olympics have cost more than $40 billion. "We would be a pretty significant departure from the way people have done this lately," Baker said.
On the high cost to the state police and Boston police of protests related to the death of black men in Missouri and New York during confrontations with police, Baker said the protests are "fundamental to what America is all about," and he has been "pleasantly surprised" that the demonstrations in Boston have remained peaceful and respectful.