Gov. Patrick discusses Massachusetts issues with WickedLocal, newspaper editors

Gov. Deval Patrick says he’s going to be happy to see 2009 end.

While admitting there are more tough times ahead in 2010, he also touted the state’s “tough” financial decisions, which he hopes would bear fruit in a second term.

“In some respects, I won’t be sorry to see 2009 go; the economic collapse came home to roost in 2009,” Patrick said in a meeting with Gatehouse Media editors and reporters on Dec. 16.

But when asked about what communities should expect from his proposed state budget, which is due on Jan. 27, Patrick said more difficult decisions will have to be made.

“It’s going to be a miserable year. A lot of one-timers are gone,” Patrick said, noting one-time staff layoffs, federal stimulus money, Medicaid matching funds that will end at the end of the fiscal year and the depletion of the rainy day fund.

Patrick did offer hope for cash-strapped communities worried about further cuts in state aid.

“Business activities and tax receipts are coming back,” Patrick said.

“We have an even more difficult budget coming up next year and we have another round of difficult choices, but we’re beginning to see the results of that focus on the economy. We’re on the right course, but we have more work to do.”

Instead of further cuts in state aid, Patrick believes more sacrifices can be made on the state level, including increasing efficiencies in the judiciary system. He touted some of the initiatives that the state has already taken up in order to save money and increase revenue.

“Meals and lodging options are now available online; we’ve gotten rid of the telecom exemption; and we enabled cities and towns to join the state’s health-care system,” Patrick said. “We also tried, through casino gambling, to raise money for cities and towns. That went down in flames, as you know.”

Patrick defended his support of the gas tax, citing the work still needed on roads and rails throughout the state.

“The beauty of the gas tax is that in Massachusetts, you can’t direct it to something else,” he said. “You have to dedicate it to transportation … We have a shocking level of neglect in our transportation system.”

Patrick also tackled questions on the legislative maneuvering to appoint an interim U.S. Senator to fill the late Sen. Ted Kennedy’s seat.

“We needed that senator to move the health-care debate to the floor,” Patrick said.

Patrick threw his support behind a public option in the national health-care debate, even though he feels the nation can succeed without it.

“If we’re going to have a hybrid system, I like the idea of introducing another competitor that doesn’t have the same restrictions,” Patrick said. “Can we as a nation live without it? I think we can.”

In Massachusetts, Patrick described the assertion that state health reform has driven costs up as an “urban legend,” noting it has resulted in only a 1 percent increase.

“The acceleration of premium costs is a problem all over the country,” Patrick said. “There were choices made before I came on board. I understand those choices. Cost containment is now the name of the game.”

In response to a question on legislative cram sessions to pass legislation, Patrick was critical of the slow-moving nature of the state Legislature, even though he said the vast majority of his initiatives do get passed.

“About 90 to 95 percent of what I asked for is given to me,” Patrick said. “But it is not fast enough.”

With his re-election campaign coming up, Patrick promised to be accessible to the media. His meeting with Gatehouse Media staff came after some “busting of chops” when it took time to deliver on a promise to visit.

“There are days I feel like if I walked on water, the headline would be: ‘Patrick can’t swim,’” the governor said. “But if I want better coverage, I know I have to come out and explain myself.”

Asked to project where he’d be in five years, he said he hoped to be finishing his second term and then getting out of politics.

“I’m done after a second term,” he said. “I need to (go back) and earn some money.”