Jay Gonzalez on Budget & Economy

Preserved important investments during Great Recession

A: Governor Baker's been mismanaging the budget. He's been irresponsible in how he's been developing the budget. He's been in this situation where he's constantly having to go back and scramble at the end of the fiscal year to get it in balance. And it's resulted in emergency cuts to really important programs.

Q: How do you compare your record as the state budget chief?

A: When I was there, during the Great Recession, we successfully managed the budget. We did so while preserving important investments in public education at record levels and in infrastructure at record levels, and achieved the highest bond ratings in state history, when I was there. Gov. Baker has failed to manage the budge, and this is supposed to be his whole case for being governor: that he's a great manager. He has not been managing well.