Massachusetts GOP chair Kristen Hughes and political analyst George Bachrach joined NECN to discuss the latest issues impacting New England.
The panelists began by discussing the political fallout of John O'Brien, the former probation department chief who was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Thursday. This comes after O'Brien and two of his deputies were accused of rigging the agency's hiring process.
Huges said the probation trial is indicative of the campaign Massachusetts Governor-elect Charlie Baker ran, focusing on transparency and fairness on Beacon Hill. She added that a one-party, Democratic rule in the Bay State helped to create the culture of hiring employees regardless of their credentials to be good at the job.
Bachrach disagreed, saying that the majority of people on Beacon Hill are good, honest people. He did concur, however, that the judge should have sentenced O'Brien to more time behind bars. It had initially been suggested that O'Brien should spend four to six years in jail.
Hughes and Bachrach also discussed the post-election power struggles for Massachusetts GOP and Congressional Democrats, specifically about Charlie Baker's first week and office and Elizabeth Warren's new leadership position within the Senate.
