Governor Dukakis, in Town Meeting, Calls for Renewed Fiscal Confidence

Governor Michael S. Dukakis last night discussed his proposals for ending Massachusetts' growing fiscal woes at a town meeting at Somerville High School.

Speaking before a group of 150, Dukakis called for "increased responsibility" in his administration's conduct of its fiscal policies, and a "restoration of the public's confidence in the handling of programs by the state government."

He said that one of the major reasons for the state's financial troubles is the fact that "we have inherited a lot of programs and no money to pay for them."

"We will do all in our power to keep existing programs running." Dukakis said. "But in the long run, our priority has to go to those programs of financial assistance which support families with children, the elderly and disabled, instead of single, able-bodied individuals.