Brian Shortsleeve ‘On The Record’ about GOP run for governor of Massachusetts

REPUBLICAN BRIAN SHORTSLEEVE WANTS TO BE YOUR GOVERNOR. IT IS TIME TO SAY TO MAURA HEALEY, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THE FORMER MBTA GENERAL MANAGER WILL BE ON THE PRIMARY BALLOT, BUT HE FACES AN UPHILL BATTLE AGAINST FELLOW REPUBLICAN MIKE MINOGUE. MIKE MINOGUE LET’S HAVE SOME REAL DEBATES ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS. ONE ON ONE THIS MORNING, SHORT SLEEVE GOES ON THE RECORD ABOUT THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR AND WHY HE THINKS HE SHOULD LEAD THE STATE. FROM WCVB CHANNEL 5 THE INSIDE WORD FROM BEACON HILL TO CAPITOL HILL. TODAY’S NEWSMAKERS ARE GOING ON THE RECORD. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY. THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. I’M ED HARDING. I’M SHARMAN SACCHETTI. AND JOINING US AT THE TABLE TODAY IS REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR BRIAN SHORTSLEEVE. THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. GREAT TO BE HERE. GREAT TO SEE YOU. SO SO LET’S START WITH WE’RE JUST TALKING ABOUT YOU ARE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR. YOU’RE THE FORMER HEAD OF THE MBTA. SO WHY SHOULD PEOPLE ELECT YOU GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS? I’M A MARINE. I’M AN ENTREPRENEUR. I’M A BUSINESSMAN, BUILT A GREAT COMPANY IN THIS STATE. I’M THE FATHER OF THREE TEENAGE BOYS. I’M A HUSBAND, AND I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE WHO HAS LAID OUT A VERY CLEAR, BOLD PLAN TO RESTORE AFFORDABILITY. WHEN I’M GOVERNOR ON DAY ONE, WE WILL ELIMINATE ALL STATE MANDATED FEES FROM YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL. DAY ONE, I WILL SIGN THE INCOME TAX ROLLBACK. I WILL END THE TAX ON TIPS. I WILL END THE TAX ON OVERTIME. I WILL SUSPEND THE GAS TAX. I’M A MARINE. LEADERSHIP IN THE MARINE CORPS MEANS PUTTING THE MISSION FIRST AND NEVER BACKING DOWN FROM A TOUGH FIGHT. MY MISSION IS TO RESTORE AFFORDABILITY. I’VE GOT A PLAN TO DO IT. YOUR OPPONENT, MIKE MINOGUE, WON THAT. AND WE’RE TALKING NUMBERS HERE. WON THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION AT THE CONVENTION WITH THE WITH A RESOUNDING I’LL USE THAT WORD 70% SUPPORT COMPARED TO JUST OVER 15 PERCENTAGE POINTS FOR YOU. SO WE ASKED HIM LAST WEEK ABOUT YOUR CALL FOR DEBATES. OKAY. I WANT YOU TO WATCH THIS. THIS IS WHAT HE SAID. I’M FOCUSED NOW ON THE GENERAL ELECTION. THE THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU ARE STILL IN A PRIMARY. AND THERE IS ANOTHER CANDIDATE WHO DID HAVE ENOUGH TO MAKE THE BALLOT, BUT YOU DON’T WANT TO DEBATE HIM. SO I HAVE DONE THAT FOR SIX MONTHS, BUT THE MANDATE HAS COME. 70% IS TIME TO UNITE. OKAY. THOSE ARE THE WORDS THAT HE USED FLAT OUT. SHOULD YOU DROP OUT? IS HE RIGHT? I’M NOT ONLY STAYING IN, I’M GOING TO WIN THIS PRIMARY. 300,000 PRIMARY VOTERS WILL CHOOSE OUR NOMINEE. OUR PRIMARY IS A MIX OF REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS. AND TO CALL FOR NO DEBATES, I THINK IS DISRESPECTING PEOPLE. I’VE SAID I’LL DEBATE ANYONE, ANYWHERE, ANY PLACE. THIS ELECTION IS TOO IMPORTANT NOT TO DEBATE WHEN IT COMES TO CANCELING A PRIMARY. THAT WOULD BE DISENFRANCHIZING. THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF VOTERS. ASK YOUR VIEWERS HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE VOTED IN THIS RACE YET? THE ANSWER IS ABOUT 1800 DELEGATES OUT IN WORCESTER LAST WEEKEND ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 300,000 VOTERS WILL VOTE. AND I’VE GOT THE MESSAGE THAT’S GOING TO CONNECT WITH THEM. WHAT ABOUT MONEY? IT SEEMS LIKE THE MONEY IS FLOWING TO THAT CANDIDATE RATHER WELL. HIS OWN MONEY IS FLOWING TO HIMSELF. LOOK, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS ELECTION IS NOT FOR SALE. THE GRAVEYARDS OF RACES IN MASSACHUSETTS AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL ARE LITTERED WITH MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES WHO THINK THEY CAN BUY ELECTIONS. I’LL HAVE PLENTY OF RESOURCES. WE’RE RAISING A LOT OF MONEY. I’VE GOT MORE INDIVIDUAL DONORS, BY THE WAY, THAN THERE WERE DELEGATES AT THE CONVENTION LAST WEEKEND. BUT WHAT MATTERS IS THAT I’VE LAID OUT A VERY CLEAR AND DETAILED PLAN TO TAKE IMMEDIATE, BOLD ACTION TO RESTORE AFFORDABILITY IN THE STATE. I WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION TO WHAT GOVERNOR HEALEY, HOW SHE’S PORTRAYING BOTH OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES. SHE SAID THEY’RE BOTH THE TWO MOST EXTREME MAGA CANDIDATES. THOSE. THAT’S A QUOTE FROM HER. HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT? WELL, I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THIS ELECTION WILL BE ABOUT MAURA HEALEY’S FAILED POLICIES. WE DON’T HAVE THE HIGHEST ELECTRICITY COST IN THE ENTIRE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES BECAUSE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WOULD YOU CALL YOUR HEALEY EXTREME POLICIES? WHAT DO YOU SAY? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? I WOULD DESCRIBE MYSELF AS A PRINCIPLED CONSERVATIVE. I AM A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE. I AM ALSO THE ELECTABLE CONSERVATIVE. THE ONE THING I HEARD OUT IN WORCESTER OVER THE WEEKEND, THE ONE THING ALL THOSE DELEGATES AGREED ON IS WE GOT TO BEAT MAURA HEALEY. I’M THE CANDIDATE WHO CAN BEAT MAURA HEALEY. A VOTE FOR MIKE MINOGUE IS A VOTE FOR MAURA HEALEY. I AM THE PRO-CHOICE CANDIDATE. MIKE MINOGUE IS AN ANTI-CHOICE CANDIDATE. HE DOES NOT SUPPORT A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE. HE WILL NEVER WIN A STATE ELECTION IN MASSACHUSETTS, PERIOD. I CAN WIN THIS RACE AND WHEN I DO WIN THIS RACE, IT’S GOING TO BE A COMPLETE FOCUS ON AFFORDABILITY AND TAX CUTS FROM DAY ONE. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS, BUT LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WORLD WE LIVE IN. THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO END THE WAR IN IRAN. GAS PRICES ARE AT A FOUR YEAR HIGH. EVERYONE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND EVERYWHERE IS AFFECTED BY THAT. A PENTAGON OFFICIAL SAYS THIS WAR HAS ALREADY COST TAXPAYERS AT LEAST $25 BILLION. MANY OF THOSE TAXPAYERS LIVE IN THIS STATE. YOU VOTED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP. DO YOU SUPPORT HIS WAR. WELL YOU KNOW I SAILED THROUGH THE STRAITS OF HORMUZ AS A YOUNG MARINE OFFICER IN 1998. TWICE I SAILED IN AND I SAILED OUT. IT’S A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD. SO, NUMBER ONE, I PRAY FOR THE MARINES OVER THERE. I PRAY FOR THE TROOPS. WE GOT TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS. IT’S A GOOD THING THAT KHOMEINI IS DEAD. THE IRANIANS SHOULD NEVER HAVE NUKES, BUT WE SHOULD GET OUT OF THERE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, GET AN EXIT STRATEGY. NO BOOTS ON THE GROUND. WE GOT TO GET FOCUSED BACK HOME BECAUSE GAS PRICES ARE KILLING MASSACHUSETTS FAMILIES. AND I’VE GOT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADDRESS IT. BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION DO YOU SUPPORT THE WAR? I UNDERSTAND YOUR ANALYSIS OF IT, BUT DO YOU SUPPORT THE WAR? IT’S A GOOD THING THAT KHOMEINI IS DEAD. IT’S A GOOD THING THAT WE’VE WE’VE WE’VE WE’VE TAKEN THE NUKES AWAY FROM IRAN. BUT AT THIS POINT, WE NEED AN EXIT STRATEGY. WE SHOULD GET OUT OF THERE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. DID THE PRESIDENT GO IN WITH THE STRATEGY AT ALL? DOES HE HAVE A STRATEGY? AND IS IT OBVIOUS TO YOU AT THIS POINT? WE GOT TO GET OUT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WORKING FAMILIES IN MASSACHUSETTS AND AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE GETTING CRUSHED WITH THE HIGH PRICE OF GAS. SO I THINK WE’VE BEEN WHERE WE’VE BEEN. THERE’S SOME GREAT THINGS HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED THERE. IT’S A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD. I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT BOOTS ON THE GROUND, AND I’M PRAYING FOR THOSE TROOPS. I’VE BEEN I’VE BEEN IN THOSE WATERS AND IT’S A TOUGH NEIGHBORHOOD. ALL RIGHT. THIS WEEK, THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATE RELEASED ITS MORE THAN $63 BILLION BUDGET. IT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO DO THINGS LIKE FOR PEOPLE TO CANCEL RECURRING SUBSCRIPTIONS. AND IT INCREASES FUNDING FOR CITIES AND TOWNS. THE HOUSE ALREADY PASSED ITS $63 BILLION BUDGET. DO YOU THINK THE LEGISLATURE IS TAKING THE RIGHT KINDS OF ACTIONS TO LOWER COSTS HERE IN THE STATE. I THINK WE NEED TO BE A LOT MORE BOLD. I PUT A PLAN OUT THIS WEEK. MY DRIVING DOWN COST PLAN WHICH WOULD END CAR INSPECTIONS. IT WOULD SUSPEND THE GAS TAX. IT WOULD BLOCK A MILEAGE TAX. IT WOULD BLOCK ANY TAX ON THE CAPE COD TOLLS OR THE CAPE COD BRIDGES. I BELIEVE THERE’S A LOT OF THINGS WE COULD DO IN A CONCRETE WAY. WHEN I LOOK AT THAT BUDGET $63 BILLION. WE HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM IN THIS STATE. I MEAN OUR STATE BUDGET BACK IN 2022 WAS $48 BILLION. AND THE ONE THING THAT’S NOT GROWING IS UNRESTRICTED LOCAL AID. ABOUT $50 MILLION OF GROWTH IN THIS BUDGET. YET THIS WEEK WE LEARNED THAT THE SURTAX HAS GENERATED AN EXTRA BILLION DOLLARS OF REVENUE. WHEN I’M GOVERNOR IF YOU GOT AN EXTRA BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE, IT’S GOING STRAIGHT BACK TO CITIES AND TOWNS. THAT’S THE QUESTION. IT’S LIKE A TOTAL $1.6 BILLION. SO WHERE SHOULD THAT GO? WE SHOULD BE PUSHING ANY EXCESS BACK TO CITIES AND TOWNS THAT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. WHEN YOU GIVE CITIES AND TOWNS UNRESTRICTED LOCAL AID FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES. SINCE MAURA HEALEY TOOK OFFICE, WE HAVE HAD OVER 180 PROPERTY TAX OVERRIDES, AND I MEET PEOPLE EVERY DAY, ELDERLY PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOME THAT ARE GETTING DRIVEN OUT OF THEIR HOMES WITH PROPERTY TAX HIKES, YOUNG FAMILIES THAT SAY, YOU KNOW, WHICH BILL CAN’T WE PAY THIS MONTH? SO YOU’VE GOT TO DOUBLE DOWN ON PUSHING MORE MONEY BACK TO CITIES AND TOWNS. I WOULD DO THAT. DAY. ONE IS THERE ARE SEVERAL BALLOT QUESTIONS THAT ARE HEADED. THEY’RE GOING TO BE IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS THIS FALL. AND ONE WOULD CUT THE STATE INCOME TAX RATE FROM 5% TO 4% OVER THREE YEARS. ENACTMENT IS ANOTHER QUESTION. IF IT PASSED. BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY, LEADING DEMOCRATS HAVE CALLED THIS IRRESPONSIBLE AND SAID PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT PEOPLE RELY ON HAVE TO BE CUT TO THAT. BRIAN SHORTSLEEVE SAYS WHAT’S IRRESPONSIBLE IS TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES OUT OF THE STATE. MAURA HEALEY HAS SAID SHE DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT CUTTING TAXES WOULD MAKE MASSACHUSETTS MORE AFFORDABLE FOR MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES. THAT’S RIDICULOUS. OF COURSE, IT WOULD MAKE MASSACHUSETTS MORE AFFORDABLE. THAT TAX CUT WOULD DELIVER $1,500 OF TAX RELIEF TO THE AVERAGE FAMILY, STRIPPING ALL THOSE STATE MANDATED FEES OUT OF ELECTRICITY AND GAS BILL WOULD RETURN ANOTHER $1,500. THAT’S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING. LAWMAKERS SAY, THOUGH, THAT THIS WOULD, YOU KNOW, CAUSE CUTS TO SERVICES AND BENEFITS THAT PEOPLE RELY ON HERE IN THE STATE. DO YOU DO YOU BUY THAT ARGUMENT? WELL, I’M GOVERNOR, DAY ONE WILL KICK OFF THE AUDIT, NOT ONLY THE AUDIT OF THE LEGISLATURE, BUT OF EVERY EXECUTIVE BRANCH. SPENDING IN MASSACHUSETTS HAS GROWN DRAMATICALLY. OUR STATE BUDGET IS UP 50% IN ONLY THE PAST SIX YEARS. YOU THINK THIS PLACE IS. YOU BET. I MEAN, I’M THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE WHO HAS EVER AUDITED A STATE AGENCY AND DELIVERED CONSERVATIVE REFORM FOR TAXPAYERS BY ELIMINATING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN WASTE AND ABUSE. I KNOW HOW TO DO IT WHEN I’M GOVERNOR. DAY ONE, EVERY PROGRAM, THE SNAP PROGRAM, THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, TARP PROGRAM, THE HOME BASE PROGRAM, WE WILL AUDIT ALL THOSE PROGRAMS. AND I GUARANTEE YOU, WE WILL FIND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN WASTE AND ABUSE, AS I DID 11 YEARS AGO WHEN I DID IT IN STATE GOVERNMENT VOTER BRIAN SHORTSLEEVE ON ON ELECTION DAY WILL VOTE YES FOR THE FOR THE INCOME TAX. ABSOLUTELY. MOST SMALL BUSINESSES IN MASSACHUSETTS, BY THE WAY, ARE ORGANIZED AS S CORP OR LLCS, WHICH MEANS THEY PAY TAX AT THE INDIVIDUAL RATE. I WAS IN WEST ROXBURY YESTERDAY AT A GREAT LITTLE PIZZA JOINT FATHER SON TEAM. THEY’RE GETTING CRUSHED WITH PROPERTY TAXES. THEY’RE GETTING CRUSHED WITH INCOME TAXES. WE’VE GOT TO ROLL BACK TAXES AND GET OUR PRIVATE SECTOR ECONOMY GROWING AGAIN. AS YOU KNOW, WE’RE NOW 50TH OUT OF 50 IN PRIVATE SECTOR JOB GROWTH. AND THE BIGGEST REASON PEOPLE LEAVE MASSACHUSETTS AND BUSINESSES LEAVE MASSACHUSETTS IS TAXES ARE TOO HIGH AND ENERGY BILLS ARE TOO HIGH. WE CAN CONTROL THAT. BRIAN SHORTSLEEVE WANTS TO BE YOUR GOVERNOR. HE’S IN T