Massachusetts Governor Candidates Square Off at Chamber Forum

Republican Charlie Baker and Democrat Martha Coakley squared off on a range of issues

The controversy over Super PAC ads in the Massachusetts governor's race got its most exhaustive airing to date at a Boston Chamber of Commerce debate, where Republican Charlie Baker was asked if he thinks his Democratic opponent, Martha Coakley, has done an admirable job as an advocate for children, would he then tell the Super PAC airing the Coakley attack ad questioning her record on child protection to take it down.

Baker said neither he nor Coakley have control over the outside ads.

"The decison the attorney general made to litigate that case rather than move to settle that case and fix what was broken at the Department of Children and Families is an issue worth discussion," Baker said.

"In this case, for you to say it would be better to spend that money on lawyers outside to get a one size fits all that most people agree is not right for Massachusetts. To me, that's not a good managers decision," Coakley said.

Coakley was also asked about charges she's made against Baker when he was CEO of Harvard Pilgrim; that he cut seniors, outsourced mental health and increased premiums.

"He went from a $600,000 salary to a $1.7 million salary," Coakley said, adding after Baker asked if it wasn't personal, "He's entitled to do that, he's entitled to do that, I'm just saying voters should know where his priorities lie."

Charlie shot back that Harvard Pilgrim is a not for profit, which means executive compensation is overseen by the attorney general.

"I find it odd, that the attorney general today, yesterday, the day before, thinks my salary at Harvard Pilgrim was inappropriate, when she was perfectly happy to sign off on it when I was the CEO there and she was the attorney general," Baker said.

"Except, I wasn't the Attorney General then," Coakley countered.

Coakley later admitted she had been the Attorney General at that time.

When asked if she would call on her Super PAC to pull the ad attacking Baker, Coakley said, "I would do this if Charlie will sign the People's Pledge. I'm not going to unilaterally disarm."

Baker says Coakley has no credibility on this issue since, just after the first attack ad against him ran the pro-Coakley super PAC made a major donation to her campaign.

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