For immediate release
Contact:
Alex Goldstein (DPC)
617-367-2010
Monday - July 26, 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' already top in the nation educational standards, Charlie Baker held yet another press conference today to deliberately distort the facts, mislead voters, and continue his political charade.
"Unfortunately, Charlie Baker continues to deliberately misrepresent the Governor's position to hide the fact that his budget proposals would gut funding for education in Massachusetts and endanger our position as top in the nation in student achievement," said Patrick campaign spokesman Alex Goldstein.
Baker's press conference, billed as a rally with "dozens of families", had roughly 12 participants. By contrast, a bi-partisan chorus of leaders in the business and educational communities have voiced their support for the Patrick-Murray administration, including the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Business Roundtable, the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, Progressive Business Leaders Network, former education commissioners Driscoll and Antonucci who served under Republican governors, and superintendents from school districts across the Commonwealth, including Boston, Lynn, Worcester, Berkshire Hills Regional School District, Melrose, Lenox, Springfield, Westfield, Fall River, Revere and others.
The only organization thus far to validate Baker's false claims is the politically compromised 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.
Meanwhile, Baker's rhetoric has not fooled voters about his tax proposals, which would cut as much as $2.5B from the state budget, devastating school funding and continuing his attack on public education. When Baker was in charge of the state budget, he proposed huge cuts in education funding.
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.
