He's A Republican. And He's A Democrat. They're Flying To D.C. Together To Set An Example

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker embark on their "road trip" today in what they say is an attempt to set an example of bipartisanship. Baker and Walsh fly to Washington, D.C. Wednesday — in the middle of infrastructure week — to talk with congressional leaders about Massachusetts' transportation needs. Walsh spoke with Morning Edition Host Joe Mathieu in advance of their trip. The transcript below has been edited for clarity

Joe Mathieu: So are you guys flying together today, what's the plan?

Mayor Marty Walsh: Yeah, we're flying down. We're going to have meetings on Capitol Hill with different congressional people and Secretary Elaine Chao today to talk about infrastructure and the importance of infrastructure. And not just Boston and Massachusetts but the United States, and really focusing on the importance of working together. I know the governor and myself going down, it's not going to change the culture of Congress or the United States Senate, but I do think it sends a powerful message.

Mathieu: How much of this has to do with sending a message, Mayor Walsh, versus getting things done for Massachusetts? Do you have an agenda for yourself today?

Walsh: Well, you know ultimately, it's about getting things done. I think that the governor obviously has a lot of transportation needs at the state level, in 350 other cities and towns. In Boston we're certainly concerned about our roads and our bridges working here. You know, in Boston alone we have 40 bridges, 850 miles of road and 1,600 miles of sidewalk. So, that's a lot of infrastructure for our city, we're growing and we're all connected. I think that advocating on behalf of the transportation bill that is about infrastructure and putting money into it, is really important for the future of the economy here in Boston, and the future of the economy in Massachusetts.

Mathieu: Is it simply living in Massachusetts with a moderate Republican at the helm, or do you feel like you'd have a working relationship no matter who was in the corner office?

Walsh: I think it's important, you have to work at it. And I think that you don't let issues get in the way, and you don't let personalities get in the way. ... But I think we both have the same goals. The governor has the goals in moving the commonwealth forward, I have goals in moving the city forward. I mean we disagree on things, and you don't make it personal. And that's an important aspect of it. And I think if Congress did the same thing, I mean there are people on two different sides of the issue, or maybe more than two. You can't make it personal. And I think that you have the debate in the chamber down in Washington, and when you leave that chamber you leave the debate there. And there's no need to continue this on, because it jeopardizes the country.

Mathieu: How has it gotten this bad, Mayor Walsh? Is it social media? Or is there more to it than that? People taking it personally and getting so angry every day.

Walsh: I think there's a lot more to it, I think this has been on now for a decade, the divide between the Democrats and Republicans. Maybe on the Republican side when the Tea Party started, it started to divide that side. And people really got extreme. We hear the stories of the of the old senators and congressmen years ago, how they use to battle on the floor. Tip O'Neill would battle with the president, Ronald Reagan, and then afterwards they'd be friends.

And I don't know if that's the answer. I don't know if the answer is to work on relationships. It's just tough, because what happens is the American people lose out. We have in some cases a very stalled government and we have a president, quite honestly, who just doesn't care and doesn't get it in a lot of ways. It causes a lot of turmoil and I think that that distraction puts people off of what the job actually is to do down there. And the same could happen anywhere. I think we have to continually work at it. I mean, social media's here and obviously social media is an opportunity for people to express their concerns. There's no filter on it. I think sometimes that adds to it, but I don't think that's the cause.

Mathieu: Well, I hope people are going to be listening when you're there. Can I ask, are you guys sitting together on the plane?

Walsh: I don't know. I'm not sure yet.

Mathieu: I hope the governor gets extra leg room.

Walsh: If we are sitting together, I hope he does too, he's about about 6' 4". So I'd rather, you know, get him to another aisle.