Keller @ Large: Walsh: D.C. Politicians Could Learn From His 'Bromance' With Gov. Baker
BOSTON (CBS) -- In these extremely partisan times, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh says he thinks Washington politicians could learn a lot from his friendly working relationship with Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.
Walsh sat down with WBZ political Analyst Jon Keller last week to discuss a variety of topics, including race and charter schools, and his so-called "bromance" with Baker.
The Democrat mayor and Republican governor have worked together in the past, and most recently came together to oppose the legalization of marijuana in Massachusetts, rallying against a ballot initiative that Mass. residents nevertheless passed.
But lately, Walsh and Baker held opposing views on issues like MBTA privatization--and on raising the cap on charter schools in Boston. Ballot initiative 2, which would have raised the cap, was voted down on election day.
Keller confronted Walsh about the thousands of people sitting on waiting lists to send their children to charter schools. Walsh explained why he supported "no on 2."
"One of the things about the ballot question that was on the ballot last Tuesday, was that the aggressiveness of raising the cap 12 schools per year into the future, I felt that that was too aggressive," said Walsh. "There's a way to raise the cap that should be done in the legislature. There also needs to be a funding mechanism."
Baker, however, strongly supported the "yes on 2" campaign. Keller asked Walsh what happened to his "bromance" with Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.
"We're okay, we're back together," Walsh assured Keller.
In fact, Walsh brought up that 'bromance' again when asked what should change about the Democratic party, saying he thought that both Republicans and Democrats in Washington could take a cue from he and Baker and learn to work together more.
"You talked about the 'bromance.' People like the fact that Charlie Baker and myself get along, we talk," he said. "We might have disagreements on issues, we might disagree on how to get to certain things, but we don't make it personal. It's not a personal slap at each other. And I think that Washington needs to take a chapter out of that book."
Keller and Walsh also discussed the mayor's discussion on race in Boston held Friday night.
You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.