Sen. Hedlund Looks Forward to Debating Opponent

Senator Bob Hedlund joined us for a on Tuesday afternoon. Questions submitted were about his position on the Green Bush Line, healthcare costs, water prices and casinos.  Hedlund will challenge Democrat Genevieve Davis  in November.

On His Past

Mike: What accomplishment are you most proud of as a State Senator?

Hedlund: Career - Melanie's Bill lead sponsor. Creation of safe drinking water SFR program. Not losing my perspective that I came into office with. Continuing as the Senate's fiscal watchdog. This session alone- lead sponsor of EBT reform, legislature siding with me and against Gov Patrick in adopting my X registration provision which closes driving loophole for illegal immigrants. Also my bill to give AG intervention status in water rate setting cases.

Roger Mexico: What would you say was your greatest accomplishment during the past legislative session?

Hedlund: As stated above, AG intervening powers on water rate cases, closing loophole that allows illegal immigrants to register cars, in addition my amendment that allows communities to spend CPA money to rehabilitate parks and playgrounds. Also, led fight to save commuter boats. Additional reforms at MBTA and in the EBT. Still a long way to go on both MBTA and EBT.

On Casinos and “Happy Hour”

Margaret: How close is Massachusetts to reinstating Happy Hour? And, how would Happy Hour be beneficial?

Hedlund:  Happy Hour is not even on the table. This is the biggest bit of misinformation I have seen in my career on Beacon Hill. There is currently a review of all ABCC regulations. The study passed unanimously in the Senate. It was an amendment to the casino bill. Not one Senator that supported this did so with an eye towards reinstating what we knew as 'happy hour' in the late 70s/early 80s. Happy Hour was an easy one for the press to sensationalize and dumb down. Turned into a referendum on reinstatement. Silly coverage.

Brittany: What is your position on casino gambling?

Hedlund: I voted against it, statistics demonstrate clearly that it is the most regressive way for the government to collect money. We have always touted our history, academia, cultural sites, and now we have been seduced into the lure of the casino golden goose like every other state. Meanwhile, we have reached a saturation point with casino gaming in this country and I do not believe we will see the returns that advocates of casino gambling said we will see. Yet we will see social ills, impacts to business (that have occurred every where else where casino gambling has been introduced).

On Opponent Genevieve Davis

Jen: Genevieve Davis seems to have strong supporter around Norwell and South Shore. What do you know about your opponent and why do you think you can beat her in the November election?

Hedlund:  I don't know much about my opponent. I look forward to debating her. It has been my policy to accept any and all debates throughout my career. Unlike many incumbents, I have never turned down any invitations to a debate or political forum. Look forward to getting to know her through said forums/debates. As far as her "support" she has yet to win anything and has raised little campaign funds so it remains to be seen just how strong that support is. We will find out November 6!

On the Greenbush Line

Mike: Do you still oppose the Greenbush line?

Hedlund: I opposed it for a host of reasons and it has performed worse than I even thought it would. It has not met ridership projections. It did not meet expectations of removing cars from Route 3. Added half a billion to the MBTAs crushing debt. Its bleeding the MBTA 10M a year to operate. Nearly 60% riders came from existing forms of mass transit. Lastly, it prevents the MBTA from building capital projects that provided a more cost effective, environmental friendly, and transportation benefit. And the folks at the T know it.

Mike: Would you shut down the line if given the opportunity? Why would you fight to maintain the ferries if we have such an overlap in mass transit?

Hedlund: As to shutting down the Greenbush line... Of course not. The genie is out of the bottle. 

The ferries:

a) were here first 
b) more environmentally friendly
c) most importantly, require the least subsidy. In fact, after recent T increases, the ferries are nearly without an operating subsidy.

On the Bottle Bill

Hedlund: Current bottle bill is dysfunctional. Certain containers exempt, certain containers have deposit. Our roadsides and ballfields are being overrun by non-carbonated beverage containers. I think the bottle bill needs to be updated. It can be done without hurting business and in a way to benefit our environment. For sixteen years, Democratic leadership supposedly the "pro-environment party" has bottled up the bill at the behest of large business interests. In that time I am the only legislator who has successfully offered and passed the expanded bottle bill legislation in either branch. It was killed in conference committee by the Speaker. Some Democrats who were actually cosponsors of the bottle bill voted against it when it came up for an actual vote. There's your one party system in action.

On his Recent Talks with Aquarion Water Company

Hedlund: I advocated on behalf of the residents of Hingham, Hull, and N Cohasset who are served by Aquarion at not only the recent DPU rate hearing but two previous rate hearings. I met as recently as yesterday with Aquarion's new area Vice President to discuss service and quality issues. Also, the most significant thing I have done on behalf of rate payers was getting a ten year subsidy in place that lessened the impact of the rate increase that was put in place due to the construction of the water treatment plant to comply with federal safe drinking water act. In this session, I successfully passed a bill to give AG's office intervening status in water rate cases which will save Hull time and expense moving forward.

On Obamacare

Hedlund:  Although Obamacare is obviously something being done at the federal level, it is going to have ramifications for all state legislators. Given where we are in Massachusetts having addressed many health care issues Obamacare is potentially a step backwards for us in having to comply with some of it's provisions. While it's true health care costs are probably the biggest issue we as policy makers have to grapple with, Obamacare's many impacts, additional taxes and mandates, will have an overall negative impact. Not only in Mass. but throughout the country. The legislature just passed a Senate initiative, Health Care Cost Containment, that we hope will reign in health care costs in Massachusetts. I do believe strongly these issues should be dealt at the state level and not with a massive one size fits all federal attempt at this problem in the form of Obamacare.