For immediate release
Contact:
Alex Goldstein (DPC)
617-367-2010
New Information shows Baker skipped 1/3 of meetings, including key board meetings about MCAS and other issues while on Board of Elementary and Secondary Ed
Tuesday - July 27, 2010 - Just days after Republican Charles Baker told WBZ-TV, "I don't know what it's about to tell you the truth and on some level I don't really care," when asked about the Patrick-Murray administration's motivations for working to improve Massachusetts' first-in-the-nation educational standards, the Boston Herald this morning reported that during his time serving on the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Baker missed 1/3 of the meetings - and Baker and his campaign are refusing outright to explain to voters why.
"In these difficult economic times, Governor Patrick and I go to work every day trying to improve the lives of all residents of the Commonwealth. Charlie Baker couldn't be bothered to show up for 18 meetings to help our children get a better education," said Lt. Governor Tim Murray. "His running mate, Richard Tisei, missed every meeting of a board he was on that was formed to help prevent substance abuse. They both should be embarrassed."
Revelations of Baker's shoddy attendance record comes after a week of efforts by Baker and his campaign to politicize and distort the dialogue around education policy in attempt to fool voters about his own tax proposals, which would cut as much as $2.5B from the state budget, devastating funding for education and schools.
While an overwhelming chorus of business and education leaders have supported the Patrick-Murray Administration's efforts, Charlie Baker has stood alone with the Pioneer Institute, an organization whose Board has given over $13,000 in campaign contributions to Baker and running mate Richard Tisei, and which Baker himself founded and served as executive director.
Governor Patrick has been crystal clear that Massachusetts would not agree to the national standards unless they were as high or higher than our current standards. Governor Patrick remains firmly committed to the MCAS as a graduation requirement, and as an accountability measure to ensure the success of our students.
