Richard Ross

There are I believe forty people running as Republicans for candidates have for the legislature. And this creates an exciting new year we're gonna expose you candidates on both sides of the equation Democrats as well as Democrats and cause I know Republicans and Communists. We will put them both out there weren't sure whether Republicans and a thin we're doing the sit in. Cooperation with the pioneer institute the think tank here and in Boston right here institute put together a set of questions that they think could be appropriate to ask any and all -- which we don't plan on your nor I think that's how hot not the first candidate joining us is Richard Ross who is real state -- currently is a Republican is running for Scott Brown's old -- was a Republican seat. And one of the five state senate seats of the Republicans owned now it's fewer because of of Scott's departure. And Richard Ross is running to hand that's it for people who -- those states. Well that's a good that's a good point people on everything. Even Richard Ross's jacket. Richard good morning welcome to WRKO. Good morning. I'm on -- this morning -- yes. So why did tell us about yourself give us a quickie on who you are and why are you running for office.

Okay have I'm -- saudis simply let the Massachusetts as well as several people would have made news lately seem to have come from. I'm running because I do believe that we do need to restore -- on Beacon Hill and I. We and the first time around because even six years ago lies with other people were. The guitar and increased taxes not a control spending and I am not that beating second poison being able to be a voice for businesses well would be something that's going to legislature.

Try that sounds to. Puffy though. Don't have some hard hitting stuff force -- what do you call -- by in the legislature's guy who works there that you think guy having the influence of the Senate might be good to work.

One of the things I realize that from my private sector experience and one only has come in the fifth the focused I think since the January election to. Is how few people understand the relationship. Between job growth in the economy the very things that we're wrestling with a and sometimes that things that we think are important in the building or others -- it important building. I watched the focus in the last few years really be on. Pension reform and some of the things around health insurance -- things that affect people. I think that in the building a particular only has public jobs as being. Really did bring jobs the economy back into focus and when there was. It's hearing and listen to -- chairman command and actually say you know the backbone of the recessions broken. And I kind of what I had to go today is that funny the only Republican -- on what he's saying -- to what I do so well. Things are changing I don't think things -- getting better well of course they are -- spent all the stimulus money on its. Infrastructure and saving jobs and creating jobs and so will the creation of jobs that you think you're doing actually is shaping public sector jobs and I'm realizing. Until he grows and private sector jobs to pay for them we really have trouble. So I realized I -- a different voice and it and I think that's very important to realize that you do have. Sometimes from the only Wacom wife. Whole setup things to understand how that you bring to the plate the sometimes all the people don't.

Richard dimension pension reform and health care reform and a lot of the preoccupation of focus on that. I'm curious would you vote to repeal the Massachusetts health -- law.

I wouldn't vote to repeal the Massachusetts Health -- awhile but I would vote to help hopefully help us reconsider the national want. I think I'm 97% of our folks here in the commonwealth are. Ensured and I think has my equipment has that you -- taxpayers. But it's got a lot of problems lot of things that we need to work out. About 97% of the folks are ensured and I think about the cost of the commonwealth. Is something that we've been able to to swallow so far so.

It's in the approach the wrong one though that we need to lower costs rather than force people into the system. And by lowering costs you'll make it more accessible more people flowing into the system.

I agree with that as well and we need to lower the -- I think we need to get control. Over some of the things that happened to drive up the concept patent for some -- tort reform and things of that nature as well. I think we need to be able to see what things actually cautious when we going to get tested thanks to what I think. That's one of the things I know my other business some required to give priceless. And what was -- what to a hospital and actually saw what the Kosovo attest that you're gonna get actually is. And been able to compare with -- another facility that might have lower costs and he's all common sense things I think the consumer probably --

Actually it's a good point Richard carry it ties into an aligns with on the jolly Vickers made about transparency. And -- it -- and information. To people but it seems to me that. Everybody hesitates about taken the next step. Daddy is when we know -- example and I love about -- general so much and that's critically at Mass. General might be paid cash charge and twice as much for labor delivery the insults -- hospital. Com if your wife says hey Richard I'm go to Mass. General take your -- show hospital advice and show but because of reputation brand whatever it might -- Are you prepared to make people forced people to put -- the end I either own money into the game.

If people want tech had a choice I guess that's probably something I have to think about isn't -- but I like having choices I like having. Up. And help choice -- choosing what plant site choose. And that's what I think I don't like about the federal government's plan is well not be able to choose -- help. Plans were not going to be able to have that plan even if we can pay for it if we make money wanna afford a better plan. But -- be allowed to do that and I think that want to guess a lot of core values of working hard. And why we work hard in the first place to be able to afford things sometimes that are better about life. I think people should have those choices.

One of the questions pioneer has suggested that Todd and I ask all the candidates and Russia have given a lot of thought is. What you might do to try new put on a better footing economically or financially some what are called the gateway cities the troubled cities I'll mention a few with a Brockton Holyoke. You know Lawrence seawall. You know who's got you know that either all or news or Springfield. -- any particular plan that Richard -- has to have. Expand opportunities lived in -- instability down of those cities and towns.

Well I think we need to revive the struggling cities and towns and I think I creating jobs and improving their educational systems and I want around the commonwealth. I want I was first elected -- was the education chair back then and I didn't realize just how active -- I was -- committed to educate anyone they -- I had an issue which went public with it that's why would you -- help make. -- appeared -- to come to all of our policy towards the what it did give me was a great collapsed. At the diversity of problems that we have and we deal with on the education committee and on the education committee as well. And I think we really need to take a real hard look at the disparity in these areas. And to try to get a handle on the fact that we can't legislative mandate school systems do what is lacking in many school systems which just. Family involvement and it's a very difficult thing to spend enough money to get a lot of these on the performing schools up and running I think we do need to take. Blood system being taught by some of the Charter Schools and to be able to get people's choices. In the city's about the kind of education that they have that's available to them and their children as well so. We have to be best they will manage they have to create jobs and make critical business -- in these environments. And we need to find a way to get pretty processes of small businesses up and running in those communities to help them become strong and vibrant again.

Reassure us appreciate your time thanks for being here today Richard running for state senate to take over Scott Brown's old seat. It is that people see if that is the people see hopefully -- people turn it over Richard Ross soon. And we will continue this series every you Monday morning at this time we'll have one of the candidates are. So our thanks to share represented Richard Ross running to move up into the Senate -- to pioneer institute for their involvement and good idea some nice questions I think coming up there.