MA gubernatorial debate on Fox News: on Local Issues

Deval Patrick: Governor should take responsibility and get Big Dig reform

HEALEY: From the very beginning of the administration, we knew reforms were needed. Finally it took a tragedy to have the legislature allow us to get a stem to stern review done.

PATRICK: That stem to stern review was promised when you ran for Lt. Governor - it was owed the people of Massachusetts.

HEALEY: Then why did the legislature stand in our way?

PATRICK: The question always seems to come back to your not taking responsibility when it is your responsibility. I want to be governor and take that responsibility. My plan is to appoint an independent special inspector general, someone who doesn’t have relationships with any of the interests on Beacon Hill, to give a professional analysis of both the structural and the financial integrity of that project, and to hold them accountable.

HEALEY: That’s precisely what we have done. We’ve gotten experts from around the country.

Kerry Healey: Called for Big Dig reform in 2003; still investigating now

HEALEY: From the very beginning of the administration, we filed a budget that would merge the Turnpike Authority with Mass Highway. Why was that? Because we knew reforms were needed. We had no idea about the safety concerns at that point. We went to the legislature repeatedly and asked them to merge these two entities so that the governor could have control over it. Finally it took a tragedy to have them allow us to do that. We’re finally getting that stem to stern review done.

PATRICK: My plan is to appoint an independent special inspector general, someone who doesn’t have relationships with any of the interests on Beacon Hill.

HEALEY: That’s precisely what we have done. We’ve gotten experts from around the country.

MIHOS: People are dead, Kerry. It’s intentional indifference on your part.

HEALEY: Your facts are wrong and the fact is that people are very pleased that today Governor Romney is in charge of this process.