Barrett Sees Himself As A Moderate Candidate

So far, the gubernatorial campaign of State Sen. Michael J. Barrett '70 (D-Cambridge) has emphasized both Barrett's strength and Gov. William F. Weld '66's weaknesses.

Barrett says he believes the most important issue this year is the Massachusetts economy, with job creation as his top priority. Barrett proposes tax credits to retrain displaced workers and help small businesses.

"I believe job creation is the key to the welfare of Massachusetts families," Barrett says. "That means you've got to have an intelligent policy that marries business interests to the traditional commitments to the party."

The Senator insists Weld has not done enough to increase employment in Massachusetts.

"He's presided over the loss of 130,000 jobs since January 1991, yet he proposes to manufacture 50,000 jobs out of thin air," Barrett says. "That's Reaganomics all over again."

Although he is not campaigning on a "no-new-taxes" pledge, Barrett says he will not increase the income or sales tax to pay for his programs.

"The name of the game is to persuade people that Weld's tax cuts aren't worth it and that we should take the increasing tax revenue and reinvest it for decent programs," Barrett says.

But Barrett has irked some Democrats by not announcing whether he supports a graduated income tax in Massachusetts.

Barrett has received national recognition for his crusade to reform education in Massachusetts. Barrett supports increasing educational standards in order to help Massachusetts remain competitive.

"We've got to set high standards," Barrett says. "We need a longer school day and a longer school year."

Barrett says he supports universal health care in Massachusetts but wants to maintain "world-class quality within the state's health care institutions." Barrett has not yet suggested a specific program for health care insurance reform.

Barrett supports a tougher approach to crime and advocates President Clinton's "three strikes and you're out" approach to stopping career criminals.

Barrett also criticizes Weld's approach to crime.

"Weld will pose as a governor who's tough on crime, but he has cut aid to municipalities so deeply that there are now fewer police on the streets in every Massachusetts city than when he became governor," Barrett says. "He's responsible for people feeling less safe when they walk to the corner store because police presence is drastically reduced."

Barrett describes himself as "gutsy," a "new type of Democrat--the independent kind, the outspoken kind, the energetic kind" who understands why "some people have accused me of being idealistic."

Like Weld and his Democratic opponents, Barrett favors the right of a woman to an abortion. Unlike his opponents, however, Barrett opposes the death penalty.

"Mark [Roosevelt '78, one of his Democratic opponents] has just changed the commitment of a lifetime to come out in favor of capital punishment," Barrett says. "I want to be governor, but I'm not willing to kill people to be governor."