>> TONIGHT ON "TALKING POLITICS ," FROM HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION TO LITERACY IN EARLY EDUCATION, GOVERNOR HALEY LAID OUT HER PLANS IN HER FIRST STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH SPEECH THIS WEEK.

WE WILL WALK THROUGH THE KEY MOMENTS IN A FEW MINUTES.

FIRST, THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY IS DAYS AWAY AND OUR COVERAGE IS ALREADY UNDERWAY.

BOSTON PUBLIC RADIO COHOSTS JOIN ME NOW FROM BEAUTIFUL MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE WITH WHAT THEY’VE BEEN SEEING AND HEARING.

GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE.

WHEN WE WERE THERE FOUR YEARS AGO, IT WAS A WIDE-OPEN DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY STARRING ELIZABETH WARREN, TONS OF ENERGY.

WHAT IS THE MOOD LIKE IN THE DOUBLETREE HOTEL AT THE CENTER OF TOWN RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL AS EVEN THE MANAGER OF THE HOTEL SAID THIS MORNING, IT WASN’T THE SAME AS FOUR YEARS AGO.

THE DEMOCRATS AREN’T REALLY HERE.

IT’S BASICALLY DOWN TO TRUMP AND NIKKI HALEY AT THIS POINT.

YOU SEE FAR FEWER NATIONAL OUTLETS UP HERE.

A LOT OF LOCAL OUTLETS, NEW ENGLAND OUTLETS.

BUT YOU DON’T SEE THE BIG NATIONAL PEOPLE LIKE FOUR YEARS AGO.

>> I’M NOT SURE IT’S NOT JUST A RACE ON THE OTHER SIDE, IT’S ALSO THE POLLS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE NOT CRAZY ABOUT THE TWO LIKELY CHOICES, BIDEN AND TRUMP.

WE INTERVIEWED REPORTERS TODAY AND AVERAGE PEOPLE WHO SAID I’M VOTING FOR TRUMP BUT I’M NOT CRAZY ABOUT HIM, I’M VOTING FOR NIKKI HALEY BUT NOT CRAZY ABOUT HER.

IT’S THE ABSENCE OF EXCITING CHALLENGES THAT HAVE TAMPED DOWN EXCITEMENT.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE TEXTED US AND SAID THEY HAD ON ENROLLED --UNENROLLED FROM THEIR PARTY SO THEY COULD HELP NIKKI HALEY WIN.

>> WE GOT QUITE A FEW TEXT MESSAGES ABOUT THAT.

>> IN A YEAR THAT THERE AREN’T A LOT OF SUBPLOTS, THAT IS AN INTERESTING ONE.

AS YOU KNOW, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TRIED TO GIVE THE FIRST IN THE NATION PRIMARY TO SOUTH CAROLINA THIS YEAR, JOE BIDEN ONE TO DO DO THAT.

NEW HAMPSHIRE IGNORED THEM AND SAYS WE HAVE THIS CODIFIED IN STATE LAW.

NOW BIDEN IS IGNORING NEW HAMPSHIRE, NOT ON THE BALLOT, NOT CAMPAIGNING THERE.

HAS ANYONE BEEN TELLING YOU THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY AS AN INSTITUTION AND THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR IT?

>> WELL, NOT TO BE MORBID, BEGINNING OF THE END-WISE, BUT WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT IF TRUMP WINS, THIS WILL BE THE LAST PRIMARY EVER IN THE UNITED STATES COULD -- STATES, THAT’S WHAT SOMEONE SAID.

>> WE’VE HAD AN ARGUMENT OVER WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE FIRST STATE, AND WHILE HE DEFENDS NEW HAMPSHIRE, HE THINGS A REGIONAL PRIMARY WOULD BE BETTER AND SO DO I.

BEYOND THE TRUMP LINE, THIS COULD BE IT.

WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL, WHILE THE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING WE ARE NOT DOING THIS, THERE IS AN AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN LED BY SOME PEOPLE LIKE MAURA HEALEY, KIM DRISCOLL AND MICHELLE WU TO HAVE A RIGHT AND FOR BIDEN ON WEDNESDAY.

>> ALSO A CEASE-FIRE RIGHT IN THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED.

>> I’VE HEARD ABOUT THAT AS WELL, SOME VIEWERS WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH THAT.

WHAT IS THE CEASE FIRE RIGHT AND -- WRITE ONIN?

>> IT’S ABOUT ISRAEL AND HAMAS, AND PEOPLE ARE VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS, SOME OF THEM ARE MAD AT PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR NOT PUSHING NETANYAHU MORE TOWARD A CEASE FIRE AND THEY ARE WRITING IN CEASE FIRE AS A WAY TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THEIR REGRET ABOUT HIS POSITION AT THIS MOMENT.

>> I WANTED TO ASK EACH OF YOU AND JIM YOU ANTICIPATED ME GOING IN THIS DIRECTION, I WANTED TO ASK WHETHER YOU THINK IT MAKES SENSE FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE TO CONTINUE HAVING THE FIRST PRIMARY IN THE COUNTRY?

WHATEVER THE DEMOCRATS PUSH FOR OR WANT TO HAPPEN.

OR IS IT TIME, YOU HAVE COVERED A FEW OF THESE, IS IT TIME TO LOOK TO A DIFFERENT FRAMEWORK THAT MIGHT REPRESENT THE COUNTRY MORE EFFECTIVELY?

JIM, YOU SAID YOU LIKED SUPER TUESDAY.

>> UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, ORIGINAL PRIMARY OR A COMBINATION OF PLACES FOR A PRIMARY.

WE’VE BEEN COMING HERE ALMOST 25 YEARS EVERY FOUR YEARS AND I THINK OUR POSITION IS THE SAME, WE ARE HYPOCRITES.

WE LOVE COMING TO NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR THE POLITICAL FUN.

OF COURSE IT SHOULD NOT BE THE FIRST I MARY STATE.

IN TERMS OF DIVERSITY, PEOPLE OF COLOR FAR LOWER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

THE BIGGEST CITY, 115,000 PEOPLE.

CAMBRIDGE HAS 115,000 PEOPLE.

IF IT WAS ON THE MERITS, WHICH IT WAS NOT, THIS IS NOT A REPRESENTATIVE STATE.

EVERYBODY SAYS THEY LOVE THE ONE-ON-ONE POLITICKING -- AND TRUMP IS NOT DOING IT AND HALEY TO A DEGREE AND DESANTIS TO A DEGREE BEFORE HE LEFT THE STATE.

BUT THAT’S NOT HOW YOU GOVERN THE COUNTRY.

I LOVE THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN SHAKE THE HAND OF EVERY CANDIDATE BUT PEOPLE DON’T LEAD OUR COUNTRY BY LIVING ROOM CONVERSATIONS.

I THINK FOR A TON OF REASONS THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR THE FIRST PRIMARY.

>> I THINK YOU FORGOT THE LINE ABOUT HOW THE CANDIDATES WILL COME UP HERE AND DO EVERYTHING BUT CHANGE THE KITTY LITTER IN PEOPLE’S HOMES AND SOMETIMES THEY CHANGE THE KITTY LITTER.

I WILL BE HYPOCRITICAL TOO.

WE ARE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND WE HAVE THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE, DIFFERENT PUBLIC -- DIFFERENT POLITICIANS.

TONIGHT WE GO TO A NIKKI HALEY RALLY AND TOMORROW A DONALD TRUMP RALLY COULD WE HOPE TO SEE SOME MORE OF THOSE T-SHIRTS WITH THE BOSOMS ON FRONT.

IT’S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR BOSTON AND NEW ENGLAND TO HAVE THE PRIMARY HERE.

>> IT IS, BUT THE POINT ABOUT HOW YOU DON’T GOVERN THE COUNTRY TALKING INDIVIDUALLY TO PEOPLE, THAT IS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT.

YOU DID AN INTERVIEW WITH THE REPUBLICAN OPERATIVE THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT MITT ROMNEY COMFORTING A DISTRAUGHT WAITRESS AT THE RED ARROW DINER WHEN SHE WAS EXPRESSING DISMAY ABOUT HEALTH CARE -- IT’S GREAT TO SEE MOMENTS LIKE THAT BUT THEY ARE NOT WHAT YOU DO AS PRESIDENT.

I’VE GOT TO THINK IT IS AT LEAST POSSIBLE TO HAVE THEM IN OTHER STATES AS WELL, IN OTHER PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE CAMPAIGNING.

I KNOW PREDICTION IS A TRICKY BUSINESS BUT I WOULD LOVE IF EITHER OF YOU ARE WILLING TO HAZARD A GUESS, OR BOTH OF YOU, WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON TUESDAY AND WHETHER ANYTHING WILL HAPPEN THAT WILL FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE ARK OF THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

WHAT YOU THINK?

>> HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> I’M GOING TO STEAL SOME LINES FROM SOMEONE WHO USED TO BE THE CHAIR OF THE GOP IN HATCHER, SHE’S NO LONGER EVEN A REPUBLICAN.

HER PREDICTION WAS IF NIKKI HALEY WINS OR EVEN COMES CLOSE, DONALD TRUMP WILL SAY SHE CHEATED AND IT WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF HIS CLAIMING EVERYONE HAS CHEATED IN EVERY RACE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE HE DOESN’T BECOME THE WINNER.

>> I SHOULD PREFACE US -- PREFACE THIS BY SAYING THAT FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN JOE BIDEN CAME IN FIFTH OR WHATEVER, I PREDICTED HE WAS DEAD IN THE WATER AND HE SHOULD WITHDRAW.

I DO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT GUY.

>> REMEMBER WE SAW JOE BIDEN AND HIS WIFE AT THE DESK WHERE YOU CHECK IN AND WE FELT SO SORRY FOR JOE AND JILL.

>> I HAVE TO SAY I ACTUALLY BELIEVE NIKKI HALEY WILL PULL THIS OUT.

THE REASON I DO IS NEW HATCHER VOTERS ARE A CONTRARIAN LOT.

-- NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS ARE A CONTRARIAN LOT.

I THINK WITH TRUMP WINNING BY A LANDSLIDE IN THE IOWA CAUCUSES, AND THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM BEING IT IS OVER, I THINK THERE WILL BE A MINI REVOLT BY NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICANS.

I AM PREDICTING A NARROW NIKKI HALEY ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

>> I LOVE THAT TAKE, WHAT BETTER WAY TO FLEX THAN SENDING THE MOST DRAMATIC MESSAGE YOU CAN?

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU BOTH, ENJOY YOUR TIME UP THERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT, AS WE MENTIONED, THIS IS NOT YOUR RUN-OF-THE-MILL NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY.

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS SEEN FOR MONTHS TO BE HEADED TO A VICTORY DESPITE HIS REELECTION LOST ON THE OTHERS OF THE AISLE, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN OPTED OUT OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE RACE ALTOGETHER.

THERE IS A DISPUTE WITH NEW HAMPSHIRE DEMOCRATS ABOUT THE FIRST IN THE NATION PRIMARY.

BUT WILL A SURGE FROM NIKKI HALEY CAST DOUBT ON DONALD TRUMP’S CAMPAIGN?

AND WILL A WRITING CAMPAIGN SAVE JOE BIDEN FROM AN EMBARRASSING RESULT?

FOR MORE ON THAT, OUR GUESTS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, I KNOW YOU ARE EXTREMELY BUSY.

WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY, THEY THINK OF A SCENE, OR AT LEAST I DO, WHERE YOU’VE GOT THREE TO FIVE INTERESTED CITIZENS SITTING IN A DINER ASKING QUESTION AFTER QUESTION OF A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO TAKES ALL THEIR INQUIRIES AND RESPONSE THOUGHTFULLY AND TAKES ALL OF THE TIME THEY COULD POSSIBLY WANT TO FILL THEM IN.

YOU’VE REPORTED THAT’S NOT REALLY THE WAY IT IS WORKING IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

WHAT CHANGED?

>> THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS YOU HAVE A FRONT RUNNER IN DONALD TRUMP WHO SEEMS NOT VERY INTERESTED IN EMBRACING THAT SORT OF A LITTLE COOL LAURA OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY.

HE’S NOT IN DINERS, NOT DOING TOWN HALLS OR TAKING QUESTIONS DIRECTLY FROM VOTERS.

HE’S NOT SHAKING HANDS OR KISSING BABIES.

HE IS HOLDING LARGE RALLIES, DRAWING BIG CROWDS AND REACHING A DEVOTED GROUP OF SUPPORTERS BUT NOT ENGAGING IN THAT SORT OF ONE-ON-ONE WAY THAT IS THE STORY OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY.

>> DID THE OTHER CANDIDATES FOLLOW HIS LEAD OR DID THEY DO THAT AS HE WENT TO BIGGER EVENTS?

>> I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES AND NO.

OVERALL, THERE WERE FEWER RETAIL POLITICS EVENTS THIS CYCLE.

THAT SAID, NIKKI HALEY IN THE FINAL STRETCH HAS BEEN RAMPING UP HER SCHEDULE AND DOING A LOT OF SMALL-SCALE MEET IN GREETS.

ONE HAS TO WONDER IF PART OF THAT MIGHT BE THE INFLUENCE OF GOVERNOR SUNUNU, WHO IS ASSERTIVE A MASTER OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE RETAIL POLITICAL SCENE.

BUT WE DID NOT SEE THE NUMBER OF DINER STOPS AND FISH FRIES YOU MIGHT TYPICALLY EXPECT.

>> ANDREW, YOU DID A POLL JUST OVER A WEEK AGO SAYING HALEY WAS IN STRIKING DISTANCE OF DONALD TRUMP AND SHE MIGHT BENEFIT AND GET CLOSER IF CHRIS CHRISTIE DROPPED OUT, AS HE HAS.

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF HOW CLOSE SHE IS TO DONALD TRUMP RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR NIKKI HALEY HAD VIVEK RAMASWAMY STAYED IN AFTER IOWA.

SHE GOT A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM CHRIS CHRISTIE VOTERS WHO WANT ANYBODY OTHER THAN DONALD TRUMP, THE PROBLEM IS THAT FOR VIVEK RAMASWAMY AND RON DESANTIS VOTERS, THEIR SECOND CHOICE IS DONALD TRUMP.

WHEN VIVEK RAMASWAMY DROPPED OUT, ANY ADVANTAGE SHE GOT FROM CHRIS CHRISTIE DROPPING OUT HAS BEEN EQUALED FOR TRUMP.

ANIL THINK SHE’S CLOSED THE GAP AND I THINK IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR HER TO CLOSE THE GAP IN PART BECAUSE TRUMP IS BEATING HER ALMOST TWO TO ONE AMONG REGISTERED REPUBLICANS.

NO CANDIDATE HAS WON THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY WITHOUT WINNING THE PLURALITY OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS.

THE INDEPENDENT VOTERS HAVE NEVER DETERMINE WHO WINS THE NEW HATCHER PRIMARY.

>> IS IT POSSIBLE THIS CYCLE IS AN EXCEPTION?

I UNDERSTAND HALEY IS ATTRACTING MASSIVE SUPPORT FROM INDEPENDENTS CLAIMING TO VOTE IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY THIS YEAR, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> IT IS MATHEMATICALLY POSSIBLE BUT SHE WOULD HAVE TO WIN UPWARDS OF 75% OF THE UNDECLARED VOTES IN ORDER TO OVERCOME TRUMP’S LEAD AMONG REGISTERED REPUBLICANS BE A VERY HARD TASK.

-- REPUBLICANS.

A VERY HARD TASK.

SHE’S REALLY RELYING ON THEM ACROSS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE REGISTERED INDEPENDENT.

IT’S HARD TO GET THEM VOTE IN THEIR OWN PRIMARY ALONG THE OPPOSITE PRIMARY.

IT’S LIKE ASKING A RED SOX FAN TO GO TO YANKEE STADIUM AND CHEER FOR THE YANKEES BECAUSE THEY WANT THEM TO BEAT THE OTHER TEAM THEY ARE PLAYING SO THEY CAN GET TO THE PLAYOFFS.

IT’S POSSIBLE BUT DOESN’T HAPPEN OFTEN.

HALEY HAS A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TASK AHEAD OF HER, ALSO IN PART BECAUSE THE UNDECLARED OR INDEPENDENT VOTERS DON’T TURN OUT AS THE SAME RATES AS REGISTERED VOTERS.

IF YOU HAD TO BET ON SOMEBODY, BET ON REGISTERED VOTERS.

>> I WOULD THINK HER CHALLENGE IS MADE TOUGHER BY THE FACT THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THE MESSAGES -- MESSAGING IN RECENT WEEKS MIGHT NOT BE APPEALING TO LEFT-LEANING INDEPENDENTS.

I WANT TO PLAY A QUICK SOUND BITE OF HER ON FOX NEWS IN WHICH SHE SAID WE ARE NOT A RACIST COUNTRY IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> WE ARE NOT A RACIST COUNTRY.

WE HAVE NEVER BEEN A RACIST COUNTRY.

OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE TODAY IS BETTER THAN YESTERDAY.

ARE WE PERFECT, NO.

OUR GOAL IS TO BE MORE PERFECT EVERY DAY WE CAN DO.

>> ARE THERE OTHER ASPECTS OF THIS PARTICULAR UNUSUAL PRIMARY THAT HAVE STOOD OUT TO YOU AS YOU’VE BEEN REPORTING?

FOR EXAMPLE, THE ENTHUSIASM OR LACK OF ENTHUSIASM AROUND THE PUSH TO GET PEOPLE TO WRITE IN JOE BIDEN SO HE DOESN’T HAVE AN EMBARRASSINGLY WEAK FINISH.

OR PERHAPS THAT HALEY IS MAKING HER PITCH TO THOSE VOTERS.

ANYTHING STANDING OUT YOU WANT TO HIGHLIGHT?

>> THOSE ARE BOTH REALLY INTERESTING POINTS.

THE BIG STORY TUESDAY WILL BE THE RESULTS OF THE PRIMARY AND THE BIG STORY WINS THEY WILL BE WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION.

WE’VE BEEN TALKING FOR MONTHS WITH VOTERS AND IN THE NEWSROOM ABOUT THE ENTHUSIASM GAP.

IT’S HARD TO GET VOTERS OUT TO WRITE IN A NAME, IT’S JUST A BIGGER ASK.

WE KNOW FROM POLES AND DOZENS OF CONVERSATIONS THAT SO FEW PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF A TRUMP-BIDEN REMATCH.

THE IMPRECATIONS OF THAT I THINK WILL BE CLEAR FROM TUESDAY’S RESULTS.

>> I WANT TO BRING UP SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE RIGHT IN W RITE IN CAMPAIGN, 69% OF DEMOCRATS SAID THEY WERE MANNING TO BACK JOE BIDEN.

7% SAID DEAN PHILLIPS AND 6% SAID MARIANNE WILLIAMSON PURE -- WILLIAMSON.

THE LACK OF ENTHUSIASM FOR WRITING IN BOTTOM, MAYBE I’M NOT THINKING ABOUT IT THE RIGHT WAY.

WERE YOU SURPRISED AT 69% OF PEOPLE WERE PLANNING TO SUPPORT BIDEN?

>> NOT REALLY BECAUSE I THINK NATIONAL PARTY POLITICS WILL TRUMP ANYTHING THAT GOES ON WITH THE PRIMARY AMONG VOTERS AND IT COMES TO NOVEMBER.

DEMOCRATS AREN’T HAPPY ABOUT THE D&C AND BIDEN BYPASSING NEW HAMPSHIRE AS THE FIRST PRIMARY BUT THEY ALSO RECOGNIZE THEY DON’T WANT DONALD TRUMP AS THE PRESIDENT.

THEY DON’T SEE ANOTHER DEMOCRAT THAT CAN DO BETTER THAN BIDEN.

WE ASK IN POLES DO THEY WANT BIDEN AS PRESIDENT, LIKELY VOTERS WISH THEY HAD SOME BUDDY ELSE BUT THEY DON’T KNOW WHO THAT PERSON IS.

THEY ARE BASICALLY TRUDGING TO THE POLLS TO PUT BIDEN’S NAME THERE SO AS TO NOT HAVE IVAN EMBARRASSED AND BE FURTHER -- BIDEN EMBARRASSED AND BE FURTHER WEAKENED.

THE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN VERY NERVOUS, THE WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN IS NOT A NEW THING, AND THERE’S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF EFFORT PUT INTO IT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING ON THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN OR HAVE WORKED FOR BIDEN RECENTLY GOING CLEAN FOR GENE IN 1968 AND THEY REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE HAD THE WRITE IN.

WE DON’T HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE TO BIDEN EVEN THOUGH THEY DON’T LIKE HIM AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

>> THERE AREN’T A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE GROUND THAT HAVE THE MEMORY OF THE GENE MCCARTHY SITUATION.

THINK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO TALK THIS THROUGH AND ENJOY THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> AND HER FIRST DATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH SPEECH, MAURA HEALEY LAID OUT PLANS TO TACKLE BIG ISSUES.

>> COST ARE TOO HIGH FOR HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE THE BEST BUT NOT FOR EVERY STUDENT.

CONGESTION, ROADS AND SLOW TRAINS, IT IS FRUSTRATING.

WE HAVE TO ACT AND ACT NOW.

>> OUR STATEHOUSE REPORTER JOINS ME TO UNPACK ALL OF IT.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

IN THESE SPEECHES, POLITICIANS START TALKING ABOUT WHAT WENT WELL THE PAST YEAR, THEY ACHIEVED IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHERS.

WHAT DID GOVERNOR HEALY HIGHLIGHT AS SHE TOOK THE VICTORY LAP PORTION OF HER SPEECH?

>> QUITE A FEW THINGS, ACTUALLY.

SHE TALKED OF THE TAX BREAK PACKAGE SHE SIGNED LAST YEAR WHICH FULFILLED A CAMPAIGN PROMISE FOR HER.

ANOTHER SEVERAL PIECES OF MAJOR POLICY INCLUDING MAKING SCHOOL MEALS PERMANENTLY FREE.

ANOTHER THING SHE TALKED ABOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN, MAKING COMMUNITY COLLEGE FREE FOR STUDENTS 25 AND OLDER.

THOSE ARE THINGS DONE WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND A LOT OF IT WAS UNILATERAL, JUST HER AS GOVERNOR PARDONING SEVERAL PEOPLE.

IT WAS AN UNUSUAL MOVE BUT SHE SAYS SHOWS HER COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE.

>> THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE.

WHAT ABOUT THINGS WHERE SHE SAYS MASSACHUSETTS IS NOT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE BUT ON THE RIGHT TRACK UNDER HER WATCH?

>> YEAH, I THINK YOU HEARD A LITTLE BIT IN THAT CLIP, SOME OF THOSE ITEMS ARE EDUCATION -- EARLY EDUCATION AND IN PARTICULAR THE COST FAMILIES ARE BEARING FOR CHILD CARE.

THE TRANSPORTATION AND ALL ELEMENTS, WHETHER IT IS PUBLIC TRANSIT, TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS.

AND REALLY HOUSING COSTS, I DON’T NEED TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, EVERYONE KNOWS IT IS EXPENSIVE TO LIVE HERE.

IF YOU LISTEN TO HER INAUGURAL ADDRESS FROM A YEAR AGO, SHE WAS BRINGING UP THOSE SAME PROBLEMS.

NO MATTER HOW FAR WE’VE COME IN THE PAST YEAR, YOU FEEL THE PINCH EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT GET AN EXPANDED TILE TAX CREDIT, MORE MONEY THAT WAY.

YOU ARE STILL PAYING A TON OF MONEY FOR CHILD CARE IF YOU ARE A PARENT.

>> I WANT TO ASK IF SHE MAY BE POINTED A FINGER MORE AT THE BIGGER ADMINISTRATION DOWN IN THE PAST, SPECIFICALLY -- THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION VINCI HAS IN THE PAST, SPECIFICALLY THE STATE OF THE T. >> WHEN WE TOOK OFFICE, IT WAS BADLY UNDERFUNDED, VERY POORLY MANAGED AND WOEFULLY UNDERSTAFFED.

1100 VACANCIES A YEAR AGO.

IT’S NO SURPRISE THE TRAINS WERE NOT RUNNING ON TIME.

WE PLEDGED TO HIRE 1000 NEW WORKERS AT THE T. >> KATIE, TO ME THAT DOESN’T SOUND LIKE THE WAY, AT LEAST IN HER FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE, GOVERNOR HEALY TENDED TO TALK ABOUT THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION.

AM I ATTACHING TOO MUCH IMPORTANCE TO THIS OR WAS IT SIGNIFICANT?

>> I DON’T KNOW, THOSE ARE SOME SHARP CRITICISMS.

WE ALSO HEARD HER WHEN THE ISSUES CAME TO LIGHT RECENTLY UNDER HER TEAM, IT WAS REVEALED THAT FOLKS IN THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION KNEW ABOUT THAT.

SHE KNOCKED THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION FOR SHOWING POOR JUDGMENT OVER THAT.

I THINK IT’S WORTH NOTING ALSO THAT WHEN CHARLIE BAKER WAS IN CHARGE OF THE T, HE WAS OFTEN POINT HIS FINGER BACKWARDS AS WELL, SAYING HE WAS TRYING TO CLEAN UP AFTER DECADES OF UNDERINVESTMENT.

I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO THE T, WE SEE PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT LOOKING BACKWARDS BECAUSE IT’S BEEN SUCH A LONG TERM PROBLEM.

>> THAT’S A REALLY GOOD POINT.

I’VE GOT TO WONDER IF THAT SERIES OF GREEN LINE REVELATIONS, THE SETBACK, WAS MAY BE A TURNING POINT FOR HOW SHE THOUGHT ABOUT THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION STEWARDSHIP OF THE T. IN A PIECE YOU WROTE FOR OUR WEBSITE, YOU STRESS THAT GOVERNOR HEALY, EVEN THOUGH SHE JUST MADE SOME MIDYEAR BUDGET CUTS, HAS A BUNCH OF BIG SPENDING PLANS OR PLANS THAT WOULD INVOLVE SUBSTANTIAL SPENDING THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LEGISLATURE MAKE REALITY.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE?

>> SHE REALLY WAS TALKING AGAIN ON THE EDUCATION FRONT, SHE WANTS TO INVEST IN STUDENT LITERACY, IN EXPANDING THE FINANCIAL HELP FAMILIES GET FOR CHILD CARE.

SHE’S TALKING ABOUT INVESTING IN K-12 SCHOOLS, IN ROADS AND BRIDGES ENROLL AREAS -- IN RURAL AREAS.

SHE TALKED ABOUT SUPPORT FOR THE MBTA, AND MAKING LOW INCOME FARES PERMANENTLY REDUCED.

THAT COSTS MONEY TO DO.

THERE WERE A LOT OF PLACES SHE’S TALKING ABOUT SPENDING MONEY.

SOME OF IT WILL THROUGH THE BUDGET AND SOME OF IT BORROWING WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE BIG BOND BILLS WHERE SHE WANTS TO INVEST INCLEMENT TECHNOLOGY AND LIFE SCIENCES.

THOSE ARE THINGS WE WON’T SEE AN IMMEDIATE DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR PRICE TAG ON IT.

>> WE SHOULD PROBABLY HEAR FROM THE GOVERNOR HERSELF.

I WANT TO GIVE A SENSE OF HOW SHE TALKED ABOUT THIS MONEY THAT WOULD NEED TO BE SPENT TO MAKE THESE THINGS A REALITY AND HOW SPECIFIC OR VAGUE SHE WAS ADDRESSING THAT QUESTION.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK.

>> WE NEED TO BE SMART WITH HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY, YOUR MONEY.

THAT’S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO.

THE GOOD NEWS IS OUR ECONOMY AND FISCAL HEALTH ARE STRONG.

>> CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG, BUT AFTER UNEXPECTEDLY LOW TAX RECEIPTS A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, ISN’T THAT PRETTY MUCH WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID ABOUT HOW SHE WOULD AVOID MAKING MIDYEAR BUDGET CUTS?

WE NEED TO BE SMART, EFFECTIVE STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER MONEY?

AND A MONTH LATER ALL OF A SUDDEN WE WERE MAKING BUDGET CUTS AND SHE’D SAID WE WOULD NOT MAKE.

>> I THINK WHAT CHANGED FOR HER AFTER SHE’D SAID WE DON’T NEED CUTS, THERE WAS ANOTHER MONTH OF BELOW TARGET REVENUE COLLECTIONS.

IT’S BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS OF SLUGGISH GROWTH IN TAX COLLECTIONS.

THEY DON’T THINK THEY COULD MAKE THAT UP AND THEY LOWERED THE REVENUE ESTIMATE THIS YEAR BY A BILLION DOLLARS.

AT THAT POINT SOMEONE ON HER TEAM CHANGED THEIR MINDS ESSENTIALLY AND REALIZE THEY’D HAVE TO MAKE CUTS BECAUSE THE SITUATION WASN’T IMPROVING.

>> IN SPEECHES LIKE THIS, YOU HAVE ABOUT 40 SECONDS TO ANSWER THIS, THERE ARE THINGS YOU EXPECT TO BE ADDRESSED THAT ARE MAYBE DOWNPLAYED GOOD DID ANYTHING -- DOWNPLAYED.

DID ANYTHING LIKE THAT STAND OUT?

>> WE DIDN’T HEAR SPECIFICALLY HER PLAN GOING FORWARD FOR DEALING WITH A REALLY BIG SOURCE OF STATE SPENDING, THE INFLUX OF MIGRANTS THAT HAVE STRAINED THE SHELTER SYSTEM.

THAT IS STILL A BIG QUESTION MARK AND SOMETHING THAT IN THE SPEECH SHE IS FOCUSING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE DON’T KNOW IF OR WHAT SHE WILL LOOK TO CHANGE IN MASSACHUSETTS, OR THERE IN MASSACHUSETTS SINCE I AM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

>> KATIE, THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO US.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

YOU CAN SEND AN EMAIL OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

WHILE YOU’RE AT IT, SIGN UP FOR A POLITICS NEWSLETTER.

THINGS FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.

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