Mass. Attorney General Maura Healey dropped by WGBH News's studio three for her regular BPR segment, "Ask the AG." Healey talked about the Mass. casino process, women's World Cup, government transparency and more.
The following questions are paraphrased, and AG Healey's responses are edited where noted [...].
Developer KG Urban has pulled its $650 million bid to build a New Bedford casino, saying its investors weren't persuaded it would be profitable. What does this say about the ongoing Mass. casino process?
Healey: This brings into sharp focus some of what others many of us have talked about in terms of market saturation in this region. I think it's significant when a group of investors backs out. [...] I think it's a really important issue. I hope that the commission uses this as an opportunity to take a hard look at the situation.With Plainville now online, with MGM in the works, and with Region A now the subject of all sorts of ongoing work and attention, let's not rush this here.
What did you make of the fact that the US Women's team just won the World Cup and got paid $2 million, while the winning 2014 men's team, Germany, got $35 million?
Gender inequity, pay inequity between men and women is a problem. I was really happy to be in front of the legislature here to testify [about this]. We all watch as a nation these women who put their heart and soul and effort into something. [...] They can barely survive, in fact they can't survive.
A PEW report on the gender pay gap found that young women make about 93 percent what their same-aged male counterparts made. Does that mean it's getting better?
What you're pointing to is important. It's complicated, there are a lot of factors here.
A coalition is looking to put together a ballot question that would implement a "graduated" income tax in Massachusetts, essentially taxing the wealthiest people more. What do you think of that idea?
This is something that we're taking a look at now, I actually haven't had a chance to read and to look at what it is they are contemplating. [...] We'll do the thorough look and analysis, legally.
Do you support it in theory?
Certainly, I mean I've always been in support of a progressive tax regime.
How is the Commonwealth doing implementing the medical marijuana that voters approved in 2012?
We have within the office started to take a hard look at this, and evaluate this. [...] The Baker administration has moved ahead within the Department of Public Health [...] to make more places available as soon as possible.
Where do you stand on legislation designed to increase transparency in Mass. government officials and agencies? There's a bill in the Massachusetts House of Representatives that would strengthen the state's public records law.
I support the legislation, and we offered testimony in support of this legislation. [...] Obviously this is something we've debated and discussed. [...] I've said at the outset I think it's important, as a matter of transparency.
No one should enjoy a categorical blanket exemption from our public records law.
A Globe review of the judiciary, Legislature and governor's office found all three consider themselves exempt from public records requests. How does that work?
I think that for a long time we have needed to modernize and update our public records laws. [...] With regard to those categories, I don't believe anybody in government should be categorically exempted from public records law. [...] No one should enjoy a categorical blanket exemption from our public records law.
There has been a lot of bad press recently about for-profit schools and colleges, including some here in Mass. What do you make of them?
We have brought multiple investigations against these entities. [...] We'll continue to work with Senator Elizabeth Warren [on this].
Where do you stand on the Boston 2024 Olympic bid?
I'm letting it play out in the process. What I do think is important is that voters get the information about how all of this is going to work.
Did you try out for Olympics?
I got cut quickly, yeah. Twice.
Too bad!
But it was great! You know, the first time I got invited I was 16. [...] Basketball and sports were part of my life. I think they gave me a certain amount of self-esteem and confidence.
You mounted a very public campaign to get Backpage.com to remove sex services advertisements on their pages. Where does that stand, and why are they so onerous?
Backpage is the go-to website now for, really, the exploitation of women and children in our state. It's a website where pimps and traffickers would post postings of women. [...] Backpage was owned by the Village Voice back in the day. [...] It has become the facilitator [for] robbery, assault, rape, killing. [...] How can you do business knowing what you're facilitating and knowing what you're enabling when it comes to this activity?
Many of the users of Backpage.com are folks from suburban communities, married men with children.
What can Massachusetts do, initiate a shut-down order?
I'm gonna keep talking about this issue, and we're going to evaluate our legal options. [...] Many of the users of Backpage are folks from suburban communities, married men with children. [...] We've moved from a physical location to this online world, which is really dangerous, really dangerous for these women. [...] I've called on them to take down their site.
Isn't it just whack-a-mole because something else will take its place?
I've gotta deal with the status quo, and the reality of this is the vast majority of this is happening on Backpage. [...] We're also trying to do outreach to survivors and victims. [...] We need to work to get them counseling, treatment, housing [...] to get them from out of this life.
>>To hear the entire, unabridged interview with AG Maura Healey, click the audio above.
