BOB SALSBERG, Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — The state’s new governor, Charlie Baker, glanced out the window of a briefing room at the bare ground outside and remarked that while he had plenty of other fiscal problems to deal with, at least he was “not that worried about the snow and ice budget.”
That was Jan. 20.
Within days, Baker’s misplaced optimism would lie buried under the first of a bruising series of winter storms that shattered snowfall records, collapsed roofs, brought public transportation to a near standstill and quickly exhausted snow removal budgets for the state and its cities and towns.
For Baker, a Republican who ran on a platform of reforming and streamlining the machinery of state government, it meant putting some major policy initiatives on the back burner as he struggled to guide the state through its winter of epic discontent.
“There is no question that in this particular job, you shouldn’t be surprised when you get surprised,” said Baker, reflecting on his first 100 days in office during an interview with The Associated Press.
Despite the weather, the governor said, he was able to achieve key objectives of his early tenure: assembling a strong team to lead his administration, taking steps to right the state’s fiscal ship and strengthening the state’s ties with local governments.
The record snowstorms, meanwhile, provided an opening to dramatically restructure the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Baker said, after countless riders were left stranded on frigid platforms waiting for trains and buses that never arrived.
“I certainly don’t ever want to see what happened this winter happen again with respect to the T,” he said, adding that he planned to file legislation next week to implement some of the recommendations of a special commission he formed. That panel found a “pervasive organizational failure” at the transit agency.
Baker acknowledged that the MBTA’s deficiencies rarely came up during his own yearlong campaign for governor, and the T wasn’t among the key challenges facing state government that he cited in his inaugural address. The governor also faced some criticism after initially appearing to distance himself from the T as service deteriorated — suggesting it was an independent agency outside his control.
He attributed the early hesitation to past reform measures that “moved the governor’s office further and further away from the T each time.” He would eventually become heavily involved with the transit recovery efforts, directing National Guard troops to help clear snow from tracks and securing private buses to help shuttle passengers when a branch of the Red Line shut down.
Baker took office amid questions about a Republican governor’s ability to work with an overwhelmingly Democratic Legislature. He appeared to answer those concerns — for now at least — by shepherding through the House and Senate a bill to close a $768 million budget deficit inherited from the administration of Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick.
In a recent address to area business leaders, state Senate President Stan Rosenberg praised Baker for forging a “productive relationship” with Democratic lawmakers, which he attributed in part to Baker’s experience as a top Cabinet official in previous Republican administrations.
“We won’t agree all the time,” Rosenberg said. “But let’s just keep the lines of communication open and not let things break down. We don’t want to be Washington.”
Baker, who named several Democrats to his own Cabinet, believes he has lived up to his promise to be a bipartisan leader and seems comfortable with his growing national profile as a moderate force within the GOP.
“I hope what that means is I’m a proactive problem solver that doesn’t really care where a good idea comes from,” he said.
Jeffrey Berry, a professor of American politics and political behavior at Tufts University, said Baker showed his fiscal acumen by responding with relative ease to the budget deficit and demonstrated leadership in his handling of the snow crisis. But the weather, Berry added, likely forestalled other early accomplishments as the governor approached Friday’s 100-day milestone.
“I don’t think he was able to take full advantage of the honeymoon because the snowstorms got in the way,” Berry said. “He was responding to another agenda, not his own agenda.”
As for his ill-timed January remark about the mild winter Massachusetts had been enjoying: “Believe me, you will never see me say that again during my time in this job,” Baker declared.
A timeline of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s first 100 days in office:
Jan. 8 — Putting his hand on the family Bible, Baker takes the oath of office. He says in his inaugural address that state government has ignored or put off tough challenges “because they’re not politically convenient or easy to fix.” In one of his first official acts, Baker makes good on a campaign promise by releasing $100 million in transportation funds for cities and towns withheld by the previous administration. The United States Olympic Committee names Boston the U.S. bid city for 2024 Olympics. Baker calls the bid a “significant opportunity” for Massachusetts but promises “robust” public debate on it.
Jan. 9 — Baker orders a hiring freeze in the executive branch and a program-by-program review of state agencies as his first steps toward addressing the budget deficit.
Jan. 12 — Baker holds his first meeting as governor with House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Stan Rosenberg. The Democratic leaders and Republican governor vow bipartisan cooperation on the budget shortfall.
Jan. 15 — Baker orders a temporary halt to new state regulations, saying red tape makes it more difficult to do business in Massachusetts.
Jan. 20 — Baker pegs the state budget deficit at $765 million (later upped to $768 million), considerably higher than previous estimates, and vows the solution will not include new taxes or cuts in local aid. At a budget press briefing, he references the bare ground outside the Statehouse. “As I look out the window today, I’m not that worried about the snow and ice budget,” he says.
Jan. 27 — A blizzard drops up to 3 feet of snow on parts of Massachusetts. Baker declares a state of emergency and orders a travel ban.
Jan. 28 — Baker visits areas of the state hard hit by the storm and vows to seek federal disaster assistance.
Jan. 29 — A New Jersey treasury audit finds Baker did not break pay-to-play rules when he donated to Republicans in 2011, shortly before New Jersey invested in a firm with ties to Baker.
Feb. 2 — A second major winter storm drops 18 inches of snow on Boston. Baker does not order a travel ban but urges people to use public transportation if possible.
Feb. 3 — Baker announces a plan to close the current state budget gap that includes more than $500 million in spending cuts.
Feb. 6 — Baker calls the MBTA’s overall performance during the winter storms “unacceptable.”
Feb. 9 — The MBTA shuts down after the latest winter blow. Baker calls the spate of storms “unprecedented” and seeks help from neighboring states in digging out.
Feb. 11 — MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott resigns abruptly after defending the shutdown of the system earlier in the week. Baker says he did not seek Scott’s resignation.
Feb. 12 — The Senate joins the House in approving Baker’s plan to close the budget shortfall.
Feb. 15 — A blizzard warning is posted for much of eastern Massachusetts as yet another storm pounds the region. Baker again urges motorists to stay off the road.
Feb. 18 — Baker meets with top executives of Keolis, the operators of the MBTA’s commuter rail system, and says he’s “done with excuses” about weather-related breakdowns.
Feb. 19 — Baker forms a taskforce to develop strategies to stem the opiate addiction crisis.
Feb. 20 — Baker assembles a panel of experts to examine the MBTA and recommend long-term solutions to fix the transit system.
Feb. 25 — Four members of the state’s health connector board resign at Baker’s request as the governor moves to take control of the agency after the botched rollout of the health insurance website.
Feb. 27 — Baker asks the Legislature for a $350 million spending bill that includes money to replenish depleted snow and ice budgets.
March 2 — Baker unveils a plan to offer early retirement incentives to thousands of executive branch employees and projects savings at $178 million.
March 4 — Baker unveils a $38 billion budget proposal for the fiscal year starting July 1 and says the plan would address a structural gap between spending and revenues.
March 6 — Baker is the only sitting governor among a group of prominent Republicans to sign a brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of gay marriage.
March 9 — Baker expresses impatience with the Boston Olympic organizing group, saying there are “many unanswered questions” about the 2024 bid.
March 15 — In a tongue-and-cheek video shown at Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day breakfast, Baker is seen waiting for a late MBTA bus driven by Scott.
March 23 — Baker and legislative leaders agree to jointly hire a consultant to advise state government on Boston’s bid for the 2024 Olympics.
March 27 — Citing an “unprecedented and disastrous pattern of severe winter weather,” Baker asks President Barack Obama to declare a disaster in 10 Massachusetts counties.
April 2 — Baker hears gripping testimony from heroin addicts and relatives of overdose victims during a meeting of his opioid abuse task force at the Statehouse.
April 8 — An MBTA review panel finds “pervasive organizational failure” and “severe financial distress” at the transit agency. Baker calls for the creation of a financial control board to oversee the T. Baker also applauds the guilty verdicts against Dzhohkar Tsarnaev in the Boston Marathon bombing trial and says he hopes it will bring some closure to victims and families.
April 13 — Obama approves disaster assistance for the January blizzard, but Baker is disappointed that a broader request for federal aid wasn’t granted.
April 15 — Baker asks for the resignation of the board that oversees the MBTA.
