>> AFTER NIKKI HALEY’S DEFEAT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, DOES HER CAMPAIGN STAND A CHANCE AGAINST DONALD TRUMP?

ONE OF THE REGIONAL CHAIRS FOR WOMEN FOR NIKKI JOINS ME.

A NEW STATE BUDGET PROPOSAL WHICH INCLUDES MORE MONEY FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

CUTS IN OTHER AREAS WHILE TAX REVENUE GROWTH IS EXPECTED TO DIMINISH.

>> NONE OF THESE CHOICES ARE EASY BUT WE THINK THE INVESTMENTS ARE SMART, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, ALSO REALLY FORWARD-LOOKING.

>> JOINING ME TO BREAK IT ALL DOWN ARE THE BOSTON GLOBE’S -- THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

SO I’VE SEEN THIS DESCRIBED HALF AND HALF AS A $56 BILLION BUDGET AND A $58 BILLION BUDGET.

THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION CALLS IT A $56 BILLION BUDGET.

WHICH IS IT?

>> THE GOVERNOR CORRECTED A REPORTER WHICH CALLED IT 58 AND HER PRESS CONFERENCE.

>> FOR YOU THAT REPORTER?

>> I WAS SITTING NEAR THAT REPORTER.

IF YOU COUNT REVENUE FROM THE MILLIONAIRE’S TAX, THAT MAKES UP A $2 BILLION BILL -- DIFFERENCE.

WE CALLED IT A $58 BILLION BUDGET.

IF YOU ARE MAKING INVESTMENTS FROM THE MILLIONAIRE TAX, THAT’S PART OF THE BUDGET.

THAT’S YOUR BUDGET.

YOU ARE RELYING ON IT TO DO SOME INVESTMENTS THAT YOU THINK ARE IMPORTANT.

IT BECOMES 58 BILLION IN MY MIND.

LAST YEAR WAS 56 COUNTING THOSE THINGS.

>> WHAT IS THE POLITICAL INCENTIVE FOR THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION TO SAY IT IS 56?

TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE THEY ARE MORE FRUGAL?

>> IT’S AS MUCH ABOUT MATH AS POLITICS.

AT 56, YOU COULD CLAIM REVENUE IS GROWING THIS AMOUNT.

2.9% THEY SAID.

COUNTING THE MILLIONAIRE TAX REVENUE AND THE SPENDING ELSEWHERE, THAT RISES TO 3.7%.

IT SOUNDS LIKE A FRACTION OF A PERCENTAGE POINT.

WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT TIGHTENING OUR BELTS, TWO POINT NINE SOUNDS BETTER THAN 3.7.

WE ARE BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IN BUILDING OUR BUDGET.

POLITICS AND MATH CLASHING TOGETHER.

>> THIS PROPOSED BUDGET IS $2 BILLION HIGHER THAN THE BUDGET FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

STOP ME IF I GET SOMETHING WRONG BY THE WAY.

$2 BILLION HIGHER BUT IT’S BASED ON THE IDEA THAT REVENUE IS GOING TO BE PRETTY MUCH STATIC.

HOW IS THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION ATTEMPTING TO BALANCE INCREASED SPENDING WITH STATIC REVENUE?

>> THERE IS FLAT REVENUE GROWTH.

THAT’S WHY REVENUES FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR HAVE COME IN BELOW EXPECTATIONS FOR SIX MONTHS.

THAT EXPLAINS WHY THE ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED $375 MILLION IN CUTS.

TO KIND OF GET EXTRA DOLLARS TO MAKE THE BUDGET AND MAKE SURE THE ADMINISTRATION IS ABLE TO FUND THE INITIATIVES THEY WANT TO, IT’S DIVING INTO OTHER REVENUE SOURCES THAT IT ISN’T TYPICALLY.

IT’S TAKING IN CAPITAL GAINS REVENUE THAT WOULD GO INTO THE STABILIZATION FUND.

THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION HAS EMPHASIZED THEY ARE NOT DIPPING INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND.

BUT THEY ARE TAKING AWAY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CAPITAL GAINS THAT WOULD TYPICALLY GO INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND.

THEY ARE KEEPING IT IN THE GENERAL FUND.

>> COULD ALSO BE FRAMED AS DIPPING INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND.

IF YOU GET THE MONEY BEFORE IT GOES IN, THAT’S THE SAME AS GETTING IT AFTER.

>> THEY ARE ALSO PLUCKING MONEY FROM OTHER SOURCES.

THE EDUCATION FUND, THERE’S A NUMBER OF CASINO GAMBLING MONEY.

THEY ARE HOPING THAT THE LOTTERY COULD FILL A GAP.

THEY ARE LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS TO FUND THE BUDGET.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT ANOTHER INSTANCE IN WHICH THEY ARE USING THE TECHNIQUE THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED.

THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL WOULD FUND THE EMERGENCY SHELTER SYSTEM WHICH IS EXTREMELY OVERTAXED AT THIS POINT IN TIME WITH $325 MILLION.

THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION IS ACTUALLY SEEKING TO INCREASE THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO THE EMERGENCY SHELTER SYSTEM BY MORE THAN TWICE THAT.

CORRECT?

HOW IS THE GOVERNOR AND HER COLLEAGUES LOOKING TO DO THAT?

>> THE GOVERNOR FILED A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET FOCUSED ON THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE SHELTER SYSTEM.

THE 325 MILLION IN THE BUDGET ITSELF WOULD REFLECT 4100 FAMILIES.

WE KNOW THAT THE SYSTEM IS MAXED OUT.

HEALY HERSELF PUT A CAPACITY OF 7500 FAMILIES.

THERE’S A WAITLIST OF HUNDREDS MORE FAMILIES WAITING TO GET INTO HOTELS AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHELTERS.

WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PROPOSED IS DIPPING INTO AN ESCROW FUND.

THAT FUND IS COMPOSED OF SURPLUS DOLLARS SO THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO BASICALLY DRAIN DOWN THAT FUND AS ANOTHER WAY TO FUND THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE SHELTER SYSTEM.

LAWMAKERS DON’T SEEM ON BOARD.

THE WAYS AND MEANS CHAIRMAN SAYS THAT THEY TRY TO PRESIDE -- PROJECT THAT FUND.

>> OK.

THE STATE IS GOING TO BRING IN -- HOW MUCH ARE WE TALKING?

CLOSE TO DO BILLION BUT NOT QUITE FOR THE MILLIONAIRE’S TAX?

>> THEY ARE GOING TO PROJECT TO USE 1.3 BILLION.

THEY ARE PROJECTING IT WILL RAISE MORE BUT THEY HAVE SET THESE CAPS.

>> SO THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ALLOCATED BACK WHEN VOTERS DECIDED TO PUT THE SURCHARGE ON INCOMES OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.

THE IDEA WAS THAT THIS NEW INCOME STREAM WAS GOING TO BE DEDICATED TO SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENTS I THINK.

MAYBE THAT WORD WASN’T USED.

INVESTMENTS IN TRANSPORTATION AND EDUCATION.

HOW ARE THOSE PROPOSED INVESTMENTS BREAKING DOWN IN THE BUDGET?

>> MORE TOWARD EDUCATION THAN TRANSPORTATION THIS TIME.

PART OF IT IS SHE WANTS WHAT THE NBT RECEIVES.

127 MILLION INCLUDED IN THAT.

ON THE EDUCATION SIDE, NEW LITERACY EFFORT.

THAT’S 30 MILLION.

THERE’S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT -- >> IS UNIVERSAL PRE-K A PART OF THAT?

>> YES.

THEY WANT TO GET THE STATE ON THE PATH.

STEPS TOWARD THAT.

RIGHT NOW, FOCUSED ON GATEWAY CITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

REALLY SPREADING THE MONEY TO DIFFERENT PLACES.

WE ARE SEEING DIFFERENT PLACES THAN LAST YEAR.

THEMSELVESIT CHANGES FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

THE LEGISLATURE DOES THE SAME.

THEY WILL PROBABLY HAVE A DIFFERENT IDEA.

>> ARE THERE OTHER BIG INVESTMENTS THAT GOVERNOR HEALY IS PROPOSING?

>> IT’S INTERESTING THE AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT SHE WANTS TO PUT INTO A TRANSPORTATION FUND.

SO THEY ARE PLANNING TO SET UP A TASK FORCE TO EVENTUALLY ISSUE MORE BONDING.

THEY ARE TRYING TO MAX OUT THE FUNDING THAT THEY DO HAVE IN THE SURTAX.

THAT WOULD ALSO MEAN TYING UP THE MONEY FROM THE SURTAX EVEN THOUGH THAT MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR NEW INVESTMENTS.

>> THAT’S AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC.

ANYTHING ELSE WE SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTING BEFORE WE GET TO PROPOSED INVESTMENTS THAT ARE BEING TALKED ABOUT?

>> LET’S MOVE ON TO THE CUTS.

>> WHAT CUTS?

>> IT FELT LIKE A SCALPEL IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BUDGET AS OPPOSED TO ONE BIG CUT ACROSS A CERTAIN AGENCY.

THERE’S LINE ITEMS THROUGHOUT.

EITHER HAVE LESS THAN LAST YEAR, THE BUREAU OF SUBSTANCE -- >> IT SURPRISED ME TO SEE SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES PROPOSED.

>> THERE ARE CERTAIN GRANTS AS WELL THAT THE NAVY FUNDED LAST YEAR.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE OPIOID CRISIS.

THEY DESCRIBED IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS THAT THERE WERE ONE-TIME COSTS THAT THEY ARE NOT DOING THIS YEAR.

WHAT THOSE ARE COULD RANGE FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

THERE ARE PARTS THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET WHERE THEY CUT HERE, THERE.

THEN SAID, THIS LINE ITEM OR THIS AGENCY, THE BUDGET WOULD BE MORE AND WE SCALED IT BACK.

>> SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS OF FRAMING.

>> THERE’S A LOT OF CREATIVE ACCOUNTING TO MAKE IT WORK.

IT TAKES, YOU HAVE TO LOOK THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET TO TRY TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND IT.

>> ONE OF THE CUTS THAT STRUCK ME AS SURPRISING IS THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION LOOKING TO REDUCE FUNDING FOR MASS HEALTH PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT PROGRAMS.

THESE ARE THE WORKERS WHO COME IN IF SOMEONE IS CHRONICALLY DISABLED, TO HELP THEM AROUND THE HOUSE AND COOK MEALS FOR THEM.

I BELIEVE THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING AT TIGHTENING ELIGIBILITY FOR GETTING THOSE SERVICES, LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT PERSONAL HEALTH CARE ATTENDANCE ARE ALLOWED TO PREPARE MEALS FOR PEOPLE WHO GET THOSE SERVICES.

AM I RIGHT TO BE SURPRISED BY THAT PARTICULAR CUT?

THE STATE GOVERNMENT OBVIOUSLY IS HUGE AND UNWIELDY.

ANYTIME THERE’S A CUT THAT SEEMS TO HONE IN ON PEOPLE WHO ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE, IT MAKES MY EYEBROWS GO UP.

>> MASS HEALTH IS THE BIGGEST BUCKET IN THE BUDGET.

THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION IS GOING THROUGH THE MASS REDETERMINATION PROCESS TO FIGURE OUT PEOPLE.

THEY ARE BEING REMOVED.

IT IS STILL A SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE.

THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO SEE HOW THEY CAN CUT OUT SOME OF THOSE EXPENSES.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BUDGET CUTS THAT AFFECT VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.

>> WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE TEND TO SEE A HUMAN CRY FROM ADVOCATES.

IS THAT HAPPENING IN THE CASE OF THE PROGRAM I JUST DESCRIBED OR ANYTHING ELSE?

PEOPLE SAYING, THIS IS UNCONSCIONABLE.

WE JUST CUT TAXES IN THE STATE.

OR HAVE WE NOT REACHED THAT POINT OF THE PROCESS YET?

>> I’VE HEARD IT AS FAR AS THE BUDGET CUTS.

THE 375 MILLION THAT WAS ANNOUNCED EARLIER.

>> JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

>> THOSE CUTS DO GO TO A NUMBER OF GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, HOUSING INITIATIVES THAT COMPLEMENT WHAT THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION IS DOING.

>> JUST A FOLLOW-UP ON THAT.

THOSE BUDGET CUTS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A BUDGET PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW.

THOSE BUDGET CUTS ARE UNILATERAL AND THEY TAKE EFFECT IN THE LEGISLATURE AND THERE’S NO LEEWAY BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR HAS THAT POWER TO DO IT.

THOSE ARE FELT IMMEDIATELY.

FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, IT WAS SURPRISING.

THEY WERE TOLD MONTHS AGO, YOU WILL HAVE THIS FUNDING.

TO HAVE IT TAKEN AWAY HURTS MORE THAN BEING TOLD MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME.

THAT REALLY MAKES A BIGGER IMPACT ON PEOPLE, TO HEAR THAT.

>> EXPLAINED TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PAY RAISES THAT ARE GOING INTO EFFECT AS THE HEALY ADMINISTRATION ROLES OUT THERE BUDGET BLUEPRINT.

YOU REPORTED RECENTLY THAT HER CABINET SECRETARIES ARE GETTING RAISES AMOUNTING TO ABOUT $15,000.

WHO IS GETTING THESE RAISES?

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GETTING THESE RAISES?

WHY ARE THEY GETTING THEM RIGHT NOW?

>> NOW YOU ARE TESTING ME.

I THINK IT’S 11 OR 12 PEOPLE IN HER CABINET.

>> ONLY BECAUSE I COULDN’T HAVE TOLD YOU.

>> IT HAS EXPANDED UNDER HEALY COMPARED TO PAST GOVERNORS.

I APOLOGIZE.

LAST YEAR, THE STATE NEGOTIATED WITH A RANGE OF UNIONS THAT REPRESENT WORKERS WHO WORK FOR THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, STATE.

A SERIES OF PHRASES WHICH WERE TWO TO 4% RAGES -- WAGES THAT WERE FIRST SUPPOSED TO TAKE EFFECT IN JULY.

BECAUSE THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE LEGISLATURE PASSING THIS BIG SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING BILL LAST YEAR, THAT MONEY DIDN’T GET SIGNED INTO LAW UNTIL DECEMBER.

AS PART OF THAT, THE GOVERNOR MADE A DECISION.

THESE WORKERS ARE GETTING A RAISE, TYING THEM TO, WE ARE GOING TO GIVE THE SAME INCREASES TO OUR CABINET SECRETARY’S.

THAT WASN’T SOMETHING THEY HAD TO DO.

THAT WASN’T PART OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.

THAT WAS A DECISION THEY MADE.

THIS IS HOW PAST ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE DONE IT.

IT VARIES.

CHARLIE BAKER’S FIRST TERM, HE DIDN’T GIVE ANY RAISES TO HIS SECRETARIES THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE FIRST TERM UNTIL DECEMBER 2018.

HE WON A SECOND TERM AND GAVE THEM A RAISE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR YEARS.

THESE ARE DECISIONS.

SAME THING WITH BUDGETS.

THEY ARE MADE OF THE DECISIONS OF WHAT YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT.

IN THIS CASE, THESE RAISES ARE GOING -- THEY SAY THERE’S MONEY IN THE CURRENT BUDGET TO COVER THEM.

ALSO THEY ARE CUTTING FROM ELSEWHERE.

I THINK IT’S FAIR TO RECOGNIZE THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE ABOUT THE MONEY.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT $15,000 FOR 12 PEOPLE, THE MONEY IN ITSELF IS NOT HUGE MONEY COMPARED TO OTHER CUTS.

THESE ARE STILL DECISIONS YOU ARE MAKING WITH HOW YOU SPEND TAXPAYER MONEY.

>> SOME VIEWERS WILL NEED A REFRESHER.

I ALWAYS NEED A REFRESHER.

THIS IS JUST THE START OF A LONG AND COMPLEX PROCESS.

WHAT’S THE TIMETABLE?

>> THE HOUSE NEEDS TO GO FORWARD IN APRIL AND THE SENATE WILL COME FORWARD WITH THEIR OWN PROPOSAL.

THAT WILL TURN INTO A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

CLOSED DOOR DISCUSSIONS AS SENATORS AND NEGOTIATORS HASH OUT THE DETAILS.

WE KNOW THE BUDGET IS SUPPOSED TO BE DUE BY JULY 1 OR FINISH AROUND THAT TIME FRAME.

IT NEVER REALLY IS.

IT WILL BE STRETCHING INTO THE SUMMER TO SEE HOW THIS ALL PLAYS OUT.

THE GOVERNOR HAD HER BUDGET AND HER SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET AGREEMENTS.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING HOW THOSE PAN OUT.

THE GOVERNOR NOTED IN HER BUDGET THAT THE BUDGET IS COMPLEMENTED BY SOME OTHER PROPOSALS.

INCLUDING THAT OTHER BILL, RAISING LOCAL TAXES FOR MEALS, LODGING, OTHER ITEMS LIKE THAT.

THERE’S GOING TO BE A LOT OF NEGOTIATIONS COMING OUT OF EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BREAKING THIS DOWN.

APPRECIATE IT.

AFTER A BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED SHOWING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, NIKKI HALEY IS ONTO SOUTH CAROLINA AND INSISTING THAT SHE’S IN THE RACE FOR THE LONG HAUL.

>> SHOW ME WHAT YOU’VE GOT.

>> DESPITE A WIDE GAP IN THE POLLS IN THE NEWS THAT THE RNC BRIEFLY CONSIDERED CROWNING TRUMP HURLEY, HALEY LAYING OUT A STRATEGY THROUGH SUPER TUESDAY AT THE END OF THE DAY.

CAN SHE GIVE TRUMP A RUN FOR THE NOMINATION?

JOINING ME IS HANNAH KANE.

THE REGIONAL CO-CHAIR OF THE WEEK AND FOR NIKKI.

-- WOMEN FOR NIKKI HALEY.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME AND VIEWERS WHY YOU ARE BACKING HALEY?

>> SURE.

I’VE WATCHED NIKKI HALEY FOR A LONG TIME.

I SAW HOW SHE GREW THE ECONOMY.

WHEN SHE WENT TO THE U.N. AS AMBASSADOR, SHE WAS VERY CLEAR ON WHAT THE UNITED STATES STOOD FOR AND SHE WASN’T AFRAID TO STAND UP FOR BULLY -- FOR -- TO POLICE AROUND THE WORLD.

I WAS HOPING THAT SHE WOULD RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

AS SOON AS SHE JUMPED IN, I WANTED TO HELP.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF US NOT JUST IN MASSACHUSETTS BUT AROUND THE COMPANY -- COUNTRY.

WE SEE HER AS THE BEST CHANCE TO TAKE BACK THE WHITE HOUSE AND HELP REPUBLICANS UP AND DOWN THE TICKET THIS COMING NOVEMBER.

>> IS IT OVERLY DRAMATIC TO ASK IF THIS IS A BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF THE GOP AND WHAT THE GOP REPRESENTS?

>> I THINK THIS IS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY.

CERTAINLY IT’S ABOUT THE GOP.

I ALSO THINK THAT THE COUNTRY IS IN A DIFFICULT SPOT.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE’VE BEEN TOO FOCUSED INWARDLY.

IN THAT TIME, WE ARE SEEING GROWING THREATS AROUND THE WORLD HAPPENING.

SO WE NEED TO ELECT SOMEBODY TO THE WHITE HOUSE WHO CERTAINLY CAN LEAD ON DOMESTIC ISSUES BUT ALSO IS EXPERIENCED IN FOREIGN POLICY AND CAN UNDERSTAND THE THREATS IN THE WORLD AND MAKE SURE THAT THE UNITED STATES IS PREPARED FOR THEM.

>> WERE YOU HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE?

THEY WERE BETTER THAN THE POLLS INDICATED.

THERE HAD BEEN TALK OF HER -- VERY CLOSE SECOND, MAYBE BEATING TRUMP?

>> THE PULLING HATTER AT 38%.

SHE CAME IN AT 43.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT DONALD TRUMP DID, HE’S ESSENTIALLY THE DEFECT OUT INCUMBENT HERE.

HE ONLY GOT 54%.

HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN UP IN THE 80’S.

BECAUSE OF THE FOLKS THAT WERE DROPPING OUT FROM THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, WE DIDN’T GIVE ENOUGH TO RESPECT TO THE FACT THAT NIKKI HALEY STARTED THE RACE 11 MONTHS AGO WITH ZERO DOLLARS AND 2% PULLING.

12 OTHER CANDIDATES HAVE DROPPED OUT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT HER GETTING 38% AND COMING IN AT 43 ON ELECTION DAY, SHE OUTPERFORMED.

SHE WAS THE ONE HE WAS GETTING VOTES FROM INDEPENDENCE WHICH IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO INTERNATIONAL ELECTION.

PEOPLE WHO DECIDED IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, A MAJORITY OF THEM BROKE FOR NIKKI HALEY.

>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE RISK -- SUPPORT SHE’S BEEN GETTING FROM INDEPENDENCE.

SHE DID GET SUPPORT FROM A WHOLE BUNCH OF INDEPENDENCE.

I BELIEVE IT WAS TWO TO ONE.

CONVERSELY, HE GOT THREE REPUBLICAN VOTES FOR EVERY REPUBLICAN VOTE THAT SHE GOT.

IS IT REALISTIC TO EXPECT TO BECOME YOUR PARTIES NOMINEE IF THE ACTUAL PARTY MEMBERS SEEM TO BE SO INCLINED TO VOTE FOR YOUR ARRIVAL?

>> 35% OF REPUBLICANS NATIONALLY SAY THEY WILL NEVER VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP.

FOR A NATIONAL ELECTION, YOU NEED REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS.

THOSE PEOPLE WHEN WE LOOK AT NATIONAL POLLS ARE GOING WITH NIKKI HALEY.

SHE WAS UP ON BIDEN BY 17%.

DONALD TRUMP ISN’T ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THAT.

WE KNOW NIKKI HALEY CAN WIN.

>> I WANT TO ROLL TRUMP’S ELECTION NIGHT SPEECH AND GET YOU TO RESPOND TO IT.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF WHAT HE SAID.

>> THE ONLY PERSON MORE ANGRY THAN ME -- I DON’T GET TOO ANGRY.

I GET EVEN.

[APPLAUSE] >> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> MORE OF THE SAME FROM DONALD TRUMP.

YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE SAYING?

WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER, YOU GO NEGATIVE.

THIS IS A MAN WHO CONSISTENTLY COMES OUT AND ATTACKS PEOPLE.

HE DOESN’T OFFER A VISION FOR THIS COUNTRY.

THE FACT THAT HE SPENT SO MUCH OF HIS ELECTION NIGHT, WHERE HE WON THE PRIMARY, GOING AFTER NIKKI HALEY SHOWS HOW INSECURE HE IS.

THEY ARE THREATENED BY NIKKI HALEY.

THAT’S WHY YOU SAW THE RNC TRYING TO SHUT DOWN AND COORDINATE DONALD TRUMP.

WE DON’T DO CORONATIONS IN OUR COUNTRY.

WE HAVE ELECTIONS.

IF YOU GO BACK TO 2016, COMING OUT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, NIKKI HALEY HAS THE SAME VOTE COUNT THAT DONALD TRUMP DOES FROM DELEGATES.

31 MILLION PEOPLE VOTED IN THE PRIMARIES IN THE PRIMARIES AND 2016.

WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED.

NIKKI HALEY IS IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL.

>> THE HALEY CAMPAIGN PUT OUT A MEMO ABOUT HER PAST FORWARD.

SHE NOTED THAT MICHIGAN, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND 11 OF 16 SUPER TUESDAY STATES HAVE EITHER OPEN OR SEMI OPEN PRIMARY WHERE ANYONE CAN VOTE IN WHICHEVER PRIMARY THEY WANT.

THAT’S THE WAY IT WORKED TO NEW HAMPSHIRE.

LET ME ASK YOU.

IF THAT DYNAMIC, INDEPENDENTS BEING ABLE TO COME AND VOTE, IF IT WASN’T ENOUGH TO PUT HER OVER THE TOP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, WHICH HAS A MORE TRADITIONAL REPUBLICAN BASE, IS IT REALISTIC TO THINK SHE’S GOING TO BE ABLE TO START WINNING SOME OTHER STATES?

>> I DO.

IF YOU GO BACK TO NEW HAMPSHIRE AGAIN, IN RECENT HISTORY, GEORGE W. BUSH IN 2000 LOST NEW HAMPSHIRE.

BILL CLINTON LOST NEW HAMPSHIRE.

BARACK OBAMA LOST NOT HAMPSHIRE.

-- NEW HAMPSHIRE.

THE RACE IS JUST BEGINNING.

YOU HAD ONE POINT 6% OF THE 31 MILLION WHO VOTED IN 2016 VOTING RIGHT NOW.

AS WE MOVE FORWARD, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE NOW GETTING TO KNOW NIKKI HALEY.

UP UNTIL RECENTLY, WE HAD 12 PEOPLE RUNNING WHO ARE NOW OUT OF THE RACE.

THERE’S NOW A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NIKKI HALEY AND DONALD TRUMP.

WHICH IS WHY THE RNC SHOULD HOPEFULLY GET FOCUSED ON SCHEDULING A DEBATE.

THAT’S WHERE PEOPLE WILL HAVE A CLEAR OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THEIR DIFFERENT VISIONS FOR AMERICA.

THAT’S WHERE YOU WILL SEE MORE OF THE INDEPENDENT VOTE COMING TO NIKKI HALEY.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO WATCH A DEBATE BETWEEN HER AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

IS IT REALISTIC TO THINK THE RNC WILL PUSH THAT?

AS YOU MENTION, THEY WERE GOING FOR BANDYING ABOUT THE IDEA OF AN EARLY CORONATIONS TO GET EVERYONE TO CONSOLIDATE BEHIND TRUMP.

IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ALREADY ARE A SUBSIDIARY OF THE TRUMP WING OF THE PARTY.

WOULD A DEBATE HAPPEN?

>> ANYONE CAN PUT OUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A DEBATE.

NIKKI HALEY WILL TAKE ON ANY INVITATION THAT IS OFFERED TO HER.

DONALD TRUMP DOESN’T WANT TO DEBATE NIKKI HALEY BECAUSE HE DOESN’T HAVE A VISION FOR THE COUNTRY.

HE IS SCARED OF NIKKI HALEY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU ARE GOING TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT, YOU NEED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOTERS TO GET TO KNOW YOU.

THAT DOESN’T MEAN JUST FLYING IN AND HAVING A RALLY WHERE YOU BASICALLY SHOW GRIEVANCES.

IT MEANS COMING IN AND GETTING DOWN TO THE TRUE ISSUES FACING OUR COUNTRY.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES?

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, DONALD TRUMP LOST THE 2020 ELECTION.

UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, WE LOST IN 2018, 2020, 2022.

IF WE WANT TO WIN, WE NEED NIKKI HALEY AT THE TOP OF OUR TICKET TO DO SO.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 15 SECONDS LEFT.

ARE YOU GOING TO BE HEADING TO SOUTH CAROLINA TO DOOR KNOCK?

>> I AM.

I HAD A GOOD FRIEND JUST MOVE THERE.

I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING DOWN TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

>> THANK YOU FOR TALKING THIS THROUGH.

APPRECIATE IT.

THAT’S IT FOR TONIGHT BUT COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

IN THE MEANTIME, LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

WHILE YOU ARE AT IT, SIGN UP FOR OUR POLITICS NEWSLETTER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.

♪ >> TODAY WE ARE GOING GAMBLING ON A MINOR URBAN MYSTERY HERE IN BOSTON.

♪ IN A TYPICAL YEAR, THE CITY OF BOSTON ISSUES ABOUT 5000 PERMITS FOR STREET EXCAVATIONS.

COMPANIES LIKE COMCAST AND VERIZON DIG TO CABLE.

THE NATIONAL GRID TEARS UP TO REPLACE GAS LINES.

A HUNDRED DIFFERENT PRIVATE COMPANIES LAY UNDERGROUND PIPES THAT TAP INTO WATER MAINS.

EACH TIME A COMPANY DIGS UP A BOSTON STREET, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING IT WHEN THEY ARE DONE.

CRUCIALLY, THE CITY HAS A THREE YEAR WARRANTY ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE PATCHES.

ACCORDING TO CITY OFFICIALS, 10% OF THESE PATCHES GO BAD.

CRACKING, CRUMBLING, SINKING AND THEY NEED TO BE REPAIRED.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, HOW DO CITY OFFICIALS KNOW WHETHER THAT PARTICULAR PATCH IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY?

IF IT IS, WHAT COMPANY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT?

THAT’S WHERE THESE GUYS COME IN.

THEY ARE CALLED A TAGS.

THEY ARE THE CENTERPIECE OF THE CITY OF BOSTON’S STREET REPAIR TRACKING SYSTEM.

THOUGH THEY ARE LITTLE, THEY ARE FIERCELY INFORMATIVE IF YOU KNOW HOW TO DECODE THEM.

THE YEAR THE PATCH WAS LAID IS MARKED AT THE CENTER OF EACH TAG SO IT’S EASY TO QUICKLY IDENTIFY WHETHER IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.

AS FOR WHO LAID EACH PATCH, CITY OFFICIALS DEVISED A CUTTER CODING SYSTEM.

FOR COMPANIES THAT DO A LOT OF DIGGING GET THEIR OWN CUSTOM COLORS AND THEY GET TO DISPLAY THEIR NAME ON THEIR TAGS.

>> NATIONAL GRID, YELLOW.

COMCAST AND VERIZON ARE ORANGE.

EVERSOURCE IS READ.

THE STEAM COMPANY IS WHITE.

>> PRIVATE CONTRACTORS GET A GREEN TAG WITH A UNIQUE ID NUMBER AT THE TOP.

SO ALL IT TAKES IS A QUICK LOOK AT A LEGEND TO KNOW WHO DID THE JOB.

THEY HAVE BEEN REQUIRED ON EVERY PATCH LATE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON SINCE 2011.

COMPANIES CAN BE FINED IF THEY DON’T LEAVE THEIR CHIP.

IT’S BEEN A ROUSING SUCCESS ACCORDING TO CITY OFFICIALS WHO SAY THE COMPLIANCE RATE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 98 AND 99%.

AS FOR THAT LAST ONE TO 2%, NOW THAT YOU KNOW THE CODE, YOU CAN BE AN INSPECTOR.

IF YOU SEE A FAILING PATCH IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, CALL 311 OR SNAP A PICTURE AND TWEET IT.

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT.

THE HUMBLE A TAG.

AN ACE UP THE CITY’S SLEEVE THAT KEEPS THE ODDS HI, THE STREETS STAY EVEN.

STAY CURIOUS OUT THERE.

>> THE CURIOSITY DESK IS SPONSORED BY EMERSON COLLEGE, INSPIRING CURIOSITY AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION IN ALL OF US.

♪ C ♪