The Commonwealth has experienced one of its deepest financial crises in history, but it did not happen overnight. Over the past four years, the Patrick Administration and politicians on Beacon Hill have failed to make tough choices. State government continues to mismanage our hard-earned taxpayer dollars while passing one tax increase after another instead of making the tough choices to restructure state government and cut back on spending.

While families, businesses and local governments have been tightening their belts, Beacon Hill continues on a path of reckless and wasteful spending, forcing local leaders to cut vital services. The Administration squandered a $2.3 billion rainy day fund built up during decades of past administrations before it ever started raining, setting Massachusetts up for even bigger problems down the line.

I have made a commitment not to cut local aid as governor. I served as a member of my hometown’s Board of Selectmen and I know firsthand that these cuts force local leaders to lay off vital teaching and public safety personnel. The current leadership on Beacon Hill has refused to deliver real reforms so cities and towns can control local costs, such as the having the authority to change health insurance plans outside of the collective bargaining contract.

This is not the right way to lead a state through a fiscal crisis. There have been numerous missed opportunities to push for reforms and squeeze out savings. I know what it takes to lead a successful turnaround. As the former CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, I helped transform our state’s largest non-profit healthcare provider into the highest ranked health plan in the country for member satisfaction and clinical effectiveness for five years running.

As Governor, I will lead the state through a turnaround by:

• Adopting a comprehensive approach. Budget, operational and cultural changes must all be done simultaneously. You can’t tackle one without the other – it won’t work. This was key to my success at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.


• Embracing a vision and plan for the state’s prosperity. The state must make its business climate more predictable and competitive to spur job creation for all business sectors, protect core services like local aid, and make state government more accountable to taxpayers to make Massachusetts a more affordable place to live for everyone – not just the wealthy.


• Making quick and decisive decisions. Time is not your friend during a turnaround and neither is indecisiveness. Once you have a plan in place, you need to stick to it – through both good and bad economic times – and not cave to political pressure. Follow through is a must. This has certainly not been the case for Governor Patrick.


• Putting the right people in place to carry out the plan. My leadership team will share my commitment and vision for the state and will bring with them a proven track record to get things done. There will be no “on the job training” in my administration.


• Communicating with our cities and towns, the legislature and the residents of Massachusetts. Decisions should not be made in a vacuum. If we want buy-in and support for our plans, we need to make sure the stakeholders are kept informed and involved.