GOP attacks Gonzalez’s plans to fix MBTA, health care
But, so far, the Needham Democrat and former state budget chief has declined to say how much his plans will cost, and if he would push to raise taxes to pay for it.
"We do need more money -- I'm being honest about that," Gonzalez told reporters at a recent campaign event, when pressed about financial details of his plans. "I am going to be proposing ways to ask those who are doing well in this state to pay more so we can make some of these critical investments that will lift everybody up."
Gonzalez cruised to victory in the
On
Gonzalez, who served as former Democratic Gov.
"Our health care system is broken," Gonzalez, a former health insurance executive, wrote in a post on his campaign website. "It is too expensive, too complicated to navigate, and inadequately addresses the health care needs of our residents."
His plans for the MBTA call for making big-ticket investments such as high-speed rail to
"We desperately need new revenue for our transportation system," he writes. "The condition of our transportation infrastructure and commute times in
Gonzalez was banking on voter approval of a proposed "millionaires tax" that would have provided an estimated
Meanwhile, the state's
"How will Jay pay for his secret plans?" MassGOP chairman
Gonzalez has dismissed
Baker, who was elected four years ago on a no-new-taxes pledge and also worked as an executive in the health care industry, has defended his fiscally conservative approach to governing.
In particular, he argues that his plan to fix the MBTA, which focuses largely on using existing revenues to improve service on the buses, subway and commuter rail, is working. He's pushed back on calls from transportation advocates for more tax-created revenue to foot the bill for improvements on the transit system.
His administration plans to spend
"Anybody who says they've been slacking on this issue is misrepresenting things," he said.
Pioneer, where Baker worked in the 1980s, pushed to put the MBTA under a fiscal control board and suspend a state law that prevented privatization of its operations.
Stergios said the fact the T has balanced its books for the first time in a decade is evidence the reforms are working.
"We do think the T will need more money, but not like how
Rep.
He said service has improved since the meltdown of 2015, when a series of snowstorms hobbled the commuter rail, but there is room for improvement.
"Commuters just want to have a reliable transportation system," he said. "We owe it to them to do that."
Parisella said the court's rejection of the "millionaires tax" means the state needs to figure out how to pay for better service on the T and repair crumbling roads and bridges.
Still, he's not sure voters would be willing to support tax increases.
"People aren't all that anxious for us to raise taxes," he said. "But if we can assure them it's going to a quality transportation system, maybe they'd be more willing to do so."
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