Brad Jones-House Minority Leader

And of the legislative session the clock is ticking. The session ends on the 31 which I guess is Saturday night at midnight. There's all kinds of bills pending so we had to bring somebody in the know on the show and tell us what's going on up at the Statehouse welcome the Charlie Manning show Brad Jones. I'm doing great. I bet it's like a whirlwind of activity yup there it is is sessions going on votes taking place. Did must be wilds up there today brackets the clocks ticking less than 72 hours ago what's going audits it unbelievable.

Well it's unbelievable absolutely. But not trader you just described fanatic he could probably European Europe and politics and why. -- because Chris you know we've most these physical wanna go on behind closed doors in the movement and Clinton. So of course that way parts of the sustain us.

What you're endurance formal session today very early yeah we're.

We -- and and uniform essentially an informal factions. More formal session -- being treated which if it's true when he -- that.

No votes we know there -- only two hours to.

Believe we think you I think that's a good thing is if we're voting on things that mean. I think -- again not all the things to get pastor and you're good thanks.

That's true that's too.

Sometime is that the best the legislature can do is not. South. You know obviously there are a number issues -- big is a big meeting about that happens because -- at 130 and on. The issue to cure which is gaining yes. You know and you know that the Senate is saying that if we don't reach some agreement or some agreement is reached at 8 o'clock tonight. In all -- backdrop of unintended.

Us you know. Did that standard discussions and gaming. You know we'll see the real serial drop dead date ended being 8 o'clock and try to make that's when you're likely to -- if indeed we. Conference committee reports -- And I just spent the rules which I've received state. Need to they've routinely do that. With with impunity so. They not a lot of moving a lot of pieces of legislation that had -- and economic of his stimulus piece so called. The gaming -- it -- health care cost containment peace. This is -- legislation. There is. And have a wind piece of a witness stating. The governor has got a couple other pieces -- he -- that he thinks are.

What a -- and I'll just load just let's let's go down some of these will get gambling in a minute let. This wind side being. Law if I remember. He takes away the rights. Of local communities. To determine if they can have if -- have windmill farms in here.

Some people review it very much so that the -- local control loose. Take in a way proponents say no that's advocated that allow were innocent and expedited process. You know I guess mighty would be why do we is if we think we have a problem without permitting process why are we singling out. One industry. It's a -- industry and say okay we'll do this expedited process for you. But nobody else. You know particularly Campbell we see down in you know cape wind we -- rates to do with the electricity coming meant to be three times higher than what people pay right now. Right. So it seems to me we should take it a little more let's let's go slow. If we think we have. Difficult permitting process in Massachusetts. Four industry. -- who should be taking a more industry wide and -- approach as opposed to singling out you know has Massachusetts government doesn't always do well when it when it feels it's charity picking winners and losers supposed to sank. Our our red tape processes to blanket for any particular business that want to located deal with here let's let's look at all of across the board not just of one ensure.

You mean like Evergreen Solar. Which yesterday had authorized a one for six in reverse stock split. So that their company could still be listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market.

And that's when the governor Governor Patrick the company's lets you know what -- a lot of money. A lot of money. You know it's it's in today you know I don't know 607080. Million the figure -- side and I want to.

Had a -- but it's a lot of money. And it's certainly a lot of money.

So no money or no money for Curt Schilling but plenty of money for Evergreen Solar. Which by the way is about to be de listed. On the -- on the NASDAQ Stock Market. And guess just what my favorite part of this is you're moving you're assembly operation. To a new factory yen. Wuhan China not. So they're moving here operation over the Wuhan China. Gave them millions -- we don't wanna put the number on it because it would make -- sick millions and millions and millions of dollars.

The governor is still trumpeting editing on unprecedented success and -- know that we east will hostility and that they have more jobs here than we otherwise wouldn't have had we done so not thank. Again that's -- what you would you pick winners and losers even within you know that -- not you're just taking it shipment. Don't you know solar is gonna win and in windows it'll lose this about the picking company's specific companies within. To give you straight victories as to why those companies to take the first place.

That's for sure that's for sure pull. Biden to I just hate the ID your government people government trying to pick winners and losers OK so if you had to guess. What powered two or three things. That at 3 o'clock in the morning over the next couple days the leadership up there is gonna be trying to ram --

Well I still think you know essentially it is going to be a big push today in and I still will -- to arrive at some consensus on gaming. And then if there's a consensus and game between the you know the Senate president speaker. You know then to have everything else -- pollution in the BC. Portions of the health care cost containment bill the economic stimulus bill. So that at the end of the day they can say they get something done it won't be as much as they com. You know could there probably should do in either of those two areas but they wanna be able to say they did something. Because you know. All of them all of them have to run for reelection as we all do this fall. -- right now the -- looking pretty -- to accomplishments. Out there and certainly the company looking empty. In terms of accomplishment that set the table would deal with that the fiscal situation -- it would next year.

U I I drive up from the cell shore and I go by the ID DI BEW -- in nod Dorchester and they've got their big. Sign flashing out there. Support the jobs bill. So now we're talking about the gambling -- gaming is he so nicely put it. And you know you can agree with the speaker are you can disagree you could say we shouldn't have any more gambling or we should or whatever and and die you know the speakers made this proposal for the slots at tracks. But it is so we know where he stands. And he can make the credible argument that. It's gonna save the jobs that are already at the tracks. It's gonna increase. Give us some more jobs several thousand more jobs at a time we desperately desperately need them. In pretty quickly. It's gonna provide us some with some revenue. That we can send back to the cities and towns because the governor cut local lay them. Yes yes slash local weighed in it's we're gonna have you know every city in town is gonna be laying off teachers and police and fire. And died this would be some money so. If you know I know very good you know certain media people already say now the speaker didn't get it he's not gonna be -- gets what he wanted but at least he had a plane and 21. Creates a new jobs. In come up with some more money for local aid. Well this false drew right. What do you Murray and Patrick say what is Governor Patrick say all right when I asked him on the show when he comes in and say. Governor you've cut local aid you could've got the money you.

He gonna say aid though legislature cut will -- what -- him he proposed fully funding in his recommendation was that you know he could send back an amendment -- He could've pushed the issue. You know on you know -- did he get to -- laid out for things that he said were all kind of had to get it for job creation and it economic development. This healthcare cost containment where he basically. Talent but it will be contain cost is just telling but he can't raise rates a catalyst that was spent on taxes to -- you know the tax payment bill we just don't raise. And then you know we want to do. Something and gaming but he never flat piece of legislation. The end you know -- which is -- came up a couple of years ago it was it was more important stuff signings book deal. Himself than in advocating for -- at that point time was it a signature piece of legislation. In any other piece he thinks is it's critical to returning content around his quarter reform. You know so that's some segment out there that are unable to pursue war. Get employed because of some past indiscretions on the criminal record. Allowing those people into the workforce should be we -- what some I'll turn things around.

It does he knows there's no jobs well let people that's how that would amend right now -- asked yeah.

That's the plan to -- what we that would we have 9% unemployment. That you indicate that there are a lot more people looking for work there is work. It seems to me if the reverse were true there were a lot more jobs open in that weren't fully. He's available then maybe you'd make Jackman that we need to do something to expand the workforce. So I don't think he can't get to them -- he's playing to a segment. You know his path to victory in. It's keeping his you know 4040. To 43%. Any -- played much into that minority population.

That's for sure all right what else so quarry he's always wanted that -- things used to talk about it when he ran the first time you know. When he ran for years ago so he's always wanted that what what are the chances on that happening.

Well I think -- it it will do 888 peace and it certainly not anywhere near his boulder dramatic. If he wants. Certainly you know what I don't think anywhere -- because of the Senate when they did it he's put in a -- sentencing. Reform piece. That I think it cannot -- terms of the house. You know so he want that he still want to do is them. You know -- that Second Amendment legislation. You know because he was gonna put a thousand please have some street so we you know he can -- crap that way -- contrast.

We have less officers on the street than we had when he came and.

What we were employed actresses on the street when he came in and a lot of them played out on the street right. Yeah he's a while without doubt -- on the street.

Yeah -- did we even have a state police class every year for the four years -- you know illustration now.

I'm not gonna staple of the state police enrollment is now.

So that's the one police force that is actually he can control. You really you can't really you know you could blame them because he cut local laid. For the cities and towns but the but in sign go.

I don't think we had two classes but at the last time I checked that we week. It that we would -- we're state to state police classes where we're not -- happening -- certainly not keeping pace with the retirement to people who transferred to right.

So probably less state police than the day he walked yeah.

Yeah and to the point they were doing certain consolidations within agencies if they didn't have enough. Troopers as I understood to submit also especially in competitive kept track teams may have missed. Team of that group this group that they had to consolidate some of those they didn't have enough troops drive. -- obviously that you could have been taken. You know regrettably. You know a different have been in the paper a lot the last couple months this. -- usually drunk drivers there. Hitting them when they're doing their job.

I notice anatomy of street have been on. -- got a text message here wanted to ask Brad Jones why is all this legislation left to the last minute.

Well honestly yeah I think -- the last minute because yeah it's so likewise calling -- high school term paper. You know you if there with a deadline is and you don't really start keep going and anybody want to play brinksmanship to -- you know what you want it that way we want to what men. You know it's it's it's I think it's -- human nature I think helped keep peace it is quite frankly I want tiny amounts. -- what happens is that we have. A lot of power that's put in the hands of in the governor the speaker in the Senate president. And it is amplified we have just one party control in everybody's sort of in this food fight for whose candidate King of the Hill. And I think a lot happens because it can't happen. Because it it happens without consequence is being paid and if voters truly don't want things like just happen. Mean there's always going to be it is only going to be some things that come down to the end did it you know that's when they get resolved. You know -- debated the house debated come to the resolution point. Matters on the believe it in the last two weeks recession new ideas should be being brought up and certainly that's what you should be resolving.

Isn't that long standing right. -- that we just -- good health care costs continue last week and we -- I think economic development that we before. In fact we're coming down to the last -- concession. But act you know finally doing an economic development built in history is -- is ridiculous. You know its Japanese economy that -- and one of the first piece of legislation that we. That we get. You know and it's all because it's it's. You know people wanna hold things up to two -- it can't achieve.

That text are just wrote back Bratton wrote shame on them. I agree shame on that.

Actually ask you know what it rehab and miss Kitty -- that message is only. Action on their message is only gonna have meaning. If people remembered in November if they -- one party government is not serving the citizens of the commonwealth. And I -- one party government could actually control -- and by anyone parties not get that. And obviously Massachusetts perfectly that obviously means democratic very. This seems scandal after scandal after scandal we've seen these certificates and Hampton the debris obviously China to carry state can now. I healthy dose of abuse about his boat. And isn't enough to do all the taxes is solid all. I go home we have you know well be tank rounds. But its net -- that sort of let it get arrogant step insular of sort of Indian accent and so men and you know do is they say not as they do. And the reality is you know. 99.9 999% of the matches population that are gonna be able to -- an honorable like that. Well on you know try to -- what I -- on it now and trapped you know I can avoid paying. Taxes on it at the same time almost put taxes everybody else. Who have no ability to avoid.

Yeah exactly. We got one call for younger. Brad Jones at the state us rep Brad Jones. We -- up there call hey Todd.

I thank you. It's my understanding that'll always occur until especially this 120 it will happen. To essentially follow this -- amendment and then it went into. What they call conference committee and I think disappeared like because the morning do hot day. Why hasn't the Republican Party made a bigger deal out of this particularly the two Republican conferees. Who or try this process.

Couple things one is I would change. They were not part of the process and that's one of the reasons why it if you you know you watch indicated that they -- date. Which isn't Republican in the house and senate voted against the budget of one of the reasons. The budget -- interest me. It was not a process where all in the three members of the house -- sit down and go back and forth. It was they had they had two meetings the first two days they're appointed. And met for a few hours each day and then through then the next 23 weeks went by that never met again. I was hashed out by. Video speaker's office. The chair ways and means and the president -- the chair which means the Senate side and in the country's -- back and say this is the agreement we reached. And you know obviously what they it is they didn't essentially codified it. Those practices that were already in place. So that effect they could create the appearance of doing something while doing little about it. And again that's exactly. One of the frustrating things appear is that you know this actually my vision of a -- Conversely if you know the three members in house treatment the Senate. Obviously meeting with but at a level staff. Get together and go through issues and talk but issues and I -- you know a video on and I know that necessarily involve the president the speaker as well. To go through it and not have this process with the two of them. He hammered out and give it the conference concrete to say sign this important announcement going to be. And as far as I'm concerned it was just it was sort of a final exclamation point on what has been. I'll lousy horrific. Budget process in substantive budget. -- quite frankly this institutionalization. And the governor should be ashamed.

Why did they -- stated. He truly -- countries should not send did not panic actually why haven't -- been out on the hustings and explaining to people what an improbable process this isn't --

Date date date date have explained -- we've been on the radio we've been everywhere but the reality is if it's viewed video conference -- put a sole user of his parliamentary. You know in the side. Ball that the public doesn't care about until the public and and I don't mean one a few people -- really it's it's but until a much broader segment of the public. Cares about it. It's not gonna change.

It's just just like the Politburo in Russia.

It really is it's is Brad said coming on -- And they're all up there but they're not going into session every that he has to wait around. In -- some -- leadership people are meeting in back rooms. Yeah if Brad went up to most of the democratic member suitable not that. Not the chief who does the just the regular guys and said. What are you guys gonna do they would know. They would know -- the speaker comes out or the Senate president Doug tell somewhat in doubt. That's the way it is up there.

And this is the best. Campaign issue the two Republicans can make this coming into this November election of mr.

If there's certainly a process segment you know quite frankly it's been made before it's been me. Dramatically with resources behind it if you know -- but.

You know.

People have to do. Globalize it thinking a little bit terms of Massachusetts -- I like my own personal state wrapped CoreStates at a.

Not solely in the same that they need to separate -- how do you vote in these these process issues.

Could you vote and W -- preferably located in the mean what's even worse about this actually not even instead that -- exploded this conference to be made up things.

They weren't even before.

Mike is a very my understanding is is a very. Three. Side goal. Version of the -- amendment that doesn't really have any. Strain to it that they put in there wasn't even before the neither branch and even passed it. But they put that in so now all their members. Can go back in if you ask them -- you say that they you know that they can you know the our local rep or senator hey how -- you guys supposed to ever. All no one know we hope they did not catch it intersection actually like the -- and -- initiative and they'll look you right in the eye and lied you that's what they'll do leadership.

It is the biggest thing that -- early in my mind as we know we be able to this several money they called -- when he got.

Each created find.

They put. You know state because put money in alliances that -- they dual language.

I think that weren't even when even there in the Senate and house versions of the budget.

And I can you want came up last week there was a line item I forget what it was you know this that was put in let's say 21 million dollars. Senate putting fifteen million dollars. And somebody in a go to constantly in the average person who had managed to -- excommunicated 21000015 million either -- to pick -- come -- number between right. We came up with 24 million dollars and what's more. Books for workforce development. Yeah a lot well it's basically job retraining and in this -- but the point is in terms of process. It if it's it's.

Saying that what the house debated in the Senate debated is irrelevant it basically -- they can make up numbers -- they go along. That bears no relation to what the Senate. And that host the Senate house debated -- that means it other than the one or two with three poor but -- talked about. Everybody's irrelevant that means that the 40000 people to send me here addition French.

Is the right vote for -- against it's irrelevant these guys gonna sit -- you know have a drink I have dinner hashes out and say this that go to.

Isn't that amazing. Well drab we've got a scoop but thanks so much I know -- inferred given us the time today.