The subsequent governor of Massachusetts will probably be elected on Tuesday.
The Herald has posed a sequence of questions on in the present day’s huge points to the nominees, Democrat Maura Healey and Republican Geoff Diehl. Here are their responses.
The response order has been alternated for equity.
Q: The winter is arising and costs are excessive. What will be performed to deliver down the price of heating a house in Massachusetts?
HEALEY: I perceive how devastating these charge hikes will probably be, particularly as so many are already combating excessive prices. My Office urged the Department of Public Utilities to seek out methods to reduce the influence on power payments and discover long-term options to forestall clients from seeing charges like these ever once more. We’ve been in fixed contact with the utilities, DOER, DPU and different stakeholders to debate ways in which we are able to alleviate this burden and assist clients pay their payments this winter. This is figure that I’ll proceed to do as Governor. I additionally help efforts to extend federal heating help for shoppers, waiving the Jones Act to permit fuel deliveries in winter and reducing taxes to make life extra inexpensive for individuals. In the long run, bolstering our transition to wash power will assist shield us towards these worth fluctuations.
DIEHL: My opponent, Maura Healey, blocked two pure fuel pipelines from coming into into this state. Now, suppliers are warning that New England is in peril of working out of pure fuel this winter, and costs are hovering. This is the unsuitable strategy. While our state works on growing a strong provide of renewable power — a laudable objective we must always work in direction of with credible intent — we have to facilitate the provision of power sources and thereby hold costs down.
Q: What are you going to do to repair the T?
DIEHL: What’s clear is that we’ve got plenty of work to do to repair the MBTA, and it’s a problem I’m able to tackle. We want to ensure our public transportation programs are protected, dependable, and economical. One of the issues I wish to do most is to cease relying a lot on high-priced consultants who lead us within the unsuitable route, and to start out listening extra to the women and men who work on the entrance strains of the MBTA. They are those who can inform us greatest what the actual issues are and the way they suppose they need to be solved. By combining this with a stem-to-stern audit of the system, we are able to determine issues and suggest significant options rapidly and successfully.
HEALEY: We gained’t have a functioning economic system and not using a functioning transportation system. As Governor, I’ll work to deal with pressing structural, fiscal and workforce challenges on the MBTA, and that features appointing a brand new General Manager whose prime job will probably be to make sure security, reliability and accessibility throughout the system. I may also appoint a Transportation Safety Chief to audit and oversee security protocols on the MBTA and throughout the Department of Transportation, and require common public reporting so there may be accountability for sustaining a protected system. We’ll be centered on recruiting and retaining the very best expertise — working with our excessive colleges, vocational technical colleges and group faculties to create a pipeline for the subsequent technology of transportation staff. I additionally help implementing low-income fares and limitless bus transfers.
Q: Gov. Ron DeSantis’ flight of migrants onto Martha’s Vineyard has been dismissed by many as a stunt, and but, Gov. Charlie Baker has written to the Biden administration to clarify issues in regards to the rising variety of migrants coming to the state. How will you deal with an inflow of immigrants sooner or later?
HEALEY: I’m proud to be from Massachusetts, the place we welcome individuals with care, help, and companies. I believe Governor Baker has performed a great job working with native officers and group organizations to help those that arrive right here, and I help his efforts to request extra federal help. This scenario underscores the pressing have to go complete immigration reform on the federal stage, and I’ll proceed to advocate for that.
DIEHL: One of the largest failures of the Biden Administration apart from our economic system is the failure to safe our nation’s borders. The ensuing inflow of unlawful immigrants into our nation has turn into a problem even on the native stage, as busloads of households are dropped off in communities with out discover and with none plan to take care of them. I consider the one option to successfully cease this downside is to chop off the circulation of unlawful immigration by sealing our nation’s borders. Meanwhile, on the state stage, we have to take away incentives for unlawful immigration (i.e. voters have to oppose Question 4 and reject giving driver’s licenses to unlawful immigrants), whereas we additionally pursue alternatives to streamline the method for many who enter our nation legally to turn into residents.
Q: So much has been mentioned about what your first day or days in workplace will appear to be, however what would be the impact of 4 years of your management? How will Massachusetts be completely different on the finish of your time period in workplace?
DIEHL: I’m working for Governor to make Massachusetts a greater place to reside and work. To me, that signifies that we have to guarantee prosperity, security, and freedom for each Bay State resident. We have to decrease the price of residing in our state, in addition to the big value of doing enterprise right here. We have to empower mother and father of their youngsters’ schooling and medical choices. We want to revive confidence in particular person initiative and place confidence in the individuals of this state to maneuver us ahead. I’ll present a state authorities individuals can belief and that they’re pleased with by being totally accountable to the individuals of this state.
HEALEY: I consider in Massachusetts. We have the best assortment of individuals, innovation and know-how on the planet. I do know so many in our state are hurting proper now, and I wish to be a Governor who harnesses Massachusetts’ large sources to drive our competitiveness, develop our economic system and make life extra inexpensive. I need Massachusetts to be a spot of optimism, a spot the place we reject partisanship and division, and the place we come collectively to get issues performed that make an actual distinction for individuals. I do know that we are able to accomplish this and a lot extra, collectively.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”