Tools to boost Democrats and take on Governor Baker and his Republican allies.

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Our goal with the MassDems Wire is to give you the tools to boost Democrats and take on Baker and his Republican allies. Use these talking points on social media, as the basis for a letter to the editor of your local paper, in emails to your personal network, or in conversations with your friends and neighbors.
March 31, 2021

Charlie Baker’s Privatization Playbook
President Biden’s American Jobs Plan
Charlie Baker’s Privatization Playbook
Charlie Baker’s decision to hire private contractors to lead Massachusetts’ vaccination plan isn’t the first time he’s outsourced essential services.
* Baker’s decision to cut local health officials out of the vaccine rollout, throwing tens of millions of dollars at private contractors ([link removed]) to stand up mass vaccination sites instead, is the latest chapter in Baker’s privatization playbook.
* As Governor, Baker has prioritized budget cuts and privatization at the MBTA and in early 2020, Baker revived plans to privatize bus service. ([link removed])
+ Soon after, an audit found ([link removed]) that outsourcing the T’s warehouse functions led to poor performance and management and did not reduce costs.
+ Recently, the Baker-Polito administration has come under fire for repeatedly hiring the consulting giant McKinsey & Co. ([link removed]) , the same firm that studied privatization at the MBTA ([link removed]) , despite their role in profiting from the opioid crisis.
* In 2016, Baker backed a ballot measure to lift the cap on privately-run charter schools ([link removed]) , a move that threatened to drain billions in funding from public schools.
+ Voters sided against Baker and rejected the ballot measure by a 24 point margin.
* Baker’s privatization agenda precedes his tenure as Governor:
+ After directing the Pioneer Institute, a conservative think tank that’s championed privatization, Baker oversaw privatization efforts in the Weld administration.
+ In 2008, Baker received an Excellence in Outsourcing Award. As CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Baker sent over 200 jobs overseas, hurting Massachusetts workers and lining his own pockets.

President Biden’s American Jobs Plan
President Biden outlined the first of two packages to rebuild our economy and create good-paying, union jobs for American workers.
* President Biden believes this is the moment to reimagine and rebuild a new American economy. The American Jobs Plan ([link removed]) will create millions of good-paying jobs, rebuild our country’s infrastructure, and position the United States to out-compete China.
+ There is no reason why the United States should rank 13th globally in overall infrastructure quality and is outspent by competitors on research and development.
* This is a once-in-a-century capital investment in America to not only meet our current infrastructure needs—like rebuilding crumbling roads and bridges and making sure every American has access to broadband and clean water—but also investing in research and development, so that we can make 21st century products in the U.S. and sell them around the world.
* Unlike investments of the past—we are not going to leave behind communities that have been systematically excluded for generations, including communities of color and rural communities. And, our investments will allow us to take on the climate crisis and move to a clean energy economy.
* President Biden will propose a tax code that rewards work, not wealth, and pays for this agenda.
* In mid-April, President Biden will announce the second part of his recovery agenda, focused on helping families with the challenges like health care costs, child care, paid leave, and education.

We encourage you to share these talking points with your networks online and offline. Questions about the information outlined above and about the MassDems Wire program may be directed at our Communications Director, Allison Mitchell. (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Wednesday%20Wire)

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