Attorney General Maura Healey said she plans to vote for Andrea Campbell in the race to fill her position as attorney general of Massachusetts.
Healey, who's running for governor, said Campbell brings "the combination of judgment, skill, compassion, empathy — and really will center the work, as I've tried to do, on the people of this state."
Healey joined Boston Public Radio for an hour on Monday. She also discussed public transit, the housing crisis and climate initiatives in the state.
On the end of legislative session
Healey's appearance came just hours after lawmakers left the State House Monday morning in the wake of a chaotic end to the legislative session that left an economic development package in limbo, which she called "incredibly disappointing."
"The economic reality out there is that it's tough on so many residents, and again the economic development bill that was, I thought worked out, but now seems to have gone by the boards was something that's going to provide a whole lot of important funding to a whole bunch of entities around the state and we need to get this done," she said, imploring lawmakers and Gov. Charlie Baker to remain engaged.
On the MBTA
"I am absolutely sick about what's happening here," said Healey of the MBTA, which has been plagued with safety incidents and is facing a federal investigation.
She said her role as attorney general is limited, as the MBTA is subject to federal oversight, but said she does believe the T is facing "systemic failure."
"You can look at everything from staffing, to safety protocols, to safety protocols, to training, to financing, you can look at procurement, there's a range of things," she said.
Healey said she does not regularly ride the MBTA or commuter rail.
"I don't think you have to ride the T to know what a serious issue it is," she said in response to a question from co-hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan, referencing a comment from Gov. Charlie Baker to GBH News in 2019 about being a "virtue signaler" by riding the T.
"How are we going to get people out of their cars and taking public transit if it's not affordable, if it's not safe, if it's not on time?" she said.
On the state's housing crisis
Healey said she supports lifting the state ban on rent stabilization, but said the issue is "more nuanced" than what some vocal supporters of rent control purport. Healey said her priority is on quickly building more housing, across income levels.
"While rent stabilization is something I'm supportive of, provided it's done at a community level, it's also not a one-size-fits-all solution," she said. "The real way to deal with wealth disparity in our state and country is the path to home ownership — that's how you accumulate wealth."
On access to reproductive health services
Healey's office put out a notice warning Massachusetts residents about anti-abortion pregnancy centers earlier this month in the wake of the United States Supreme Court's decision reversing a constitutional right to abortion. On Monday, Healey said these centers sometimes engage in harassment and harmful practices.
"I've sat across from women who believed they were going to Planned Parenthood, only to find out they were going to Problem Pregnancy," she said, referring to one of the organizations that operates what are referred to as crisis pregnancy centers.
"They go and find out the Planned Parenthood locations, they set up right next door, and women will go there thinking they're actually getting counseling on abortion," she said.
"Crisis pregnancy centers ... need to follow the law. They can't mislead, they can't deceive, they can't lie, and they sure can't keep women hostage in these rooms, subjecting them to incredibly difficult commentary and conduct that actually hurts the emotional and physical wellbeing of these women," she said. "So that was my message. ... I just wanted to be really clear about what is and isn't acceptable under the law."
