Taunton's Pacheco wages battle against Baker over MBTA privatization

http://www.tauntongazette.com/article/20150909/NEWS/150906644



Taunton's own State Sen. Marc Pacheco took the microphone to amplify his message and rally the union troops during a Labor Day rally in Boston, as the veteran Democratic lawmaker intensifies his ongoing battle with Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker over MBTA privatization.

Taunton's Pacheco wages battle against Baker over MBTA privatization


By Marc Larocque
Taunton Gazette Staff Reporter
Posted Sep. 9, 2015 at 2:51 PM
Updated at 9:57 PM

TAUNTON – Taunton’s own State Sen. Marc Pacheco took the microphone to amplify his message and rally the union troops during a Labor Day rally in Boston, as the veteran Democratic lawmaker intensifies his ongoing battle with Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker over MBTA privatization.

Last month, the state announced that it is looking to privatize 32 bus routes in order to fix the T and make public transportation more cost-effective, through a plan that would affect dozens of drivers from the Boston Carmen’s Union. Baker’s administration said the plans are focused on certain late-night services lines with low ridership, and some express lines, potentially using smaller, privately operated vehicles.

Pacheco said that the Labor Day rally, with about 1,000 people in attendance near the Park Plaza Hotel, was the first step in a public awareness campaign to oppose the administration’s efforts to privatize T services.

"Today was the first rally to get the truth out," said Pacheco, when reached on Monday.

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Republicans.