Dukakis Tells Undergraduates He Will Pass Drinking Age Hike

Massachusetts Governor Michael S. Dukakis yesterday told a group of visiting undergraduates that he probably would not veto any proposed raise in the state drinking age from 20.

Dukakis, hosting members of the Harvard Democratic Club at the Statehouse, also reaffirmed his support for Democratic presidential candidate Walter F. Mondale, saying that Mondale's losing New England has made him a stronger candidate and increased Mondale's potential to beat President Reagan if he is the party's nominee.

The defeats in New England have exposed Mondale's weaknesses, and there'll be no surprise when Reagan goes on the campaign trail." Dukakis said.

"The Reagan administration is in a shambles," the governor charged, saying that he feels when Americans reflect on what the administration has done for them in the long run they will realize it has done nothing.

On the drinking age issue, Dukakis said that unlike in 1975 and 1978, during his first term as governor, be now would veto any bill raising the drinking age.

Dukakis said he feels he lost the 1979 election to Edward J King because of his decision to veto those bills, and although he feels a higher drinking age will not solve alcohol-related problems among teenagers, he is unwilling to take the political risk of vetoing an age-hike measure.

The eight undergraduate Democrats also spoke with Senate President William F. Bulger and Sen. George Bachrach, Bachrach sharply criticized Bulger, saying that the power structure of the senate "is very difficult to work, in. Bill Bulger controls all the committees and all assignments. When a typewriter breaks, I go to the senate president."

Bulger responded to Bachrach's criticism by saying that he saw little us in trying to defend the structure of the senate--"I'm doomed from the start because I seem to be defending my own kingdom."

Under the current power structure, Bulger said, the legislature is able to move bills and achieve results.

Club officer Adam J. Augustynski '86 said the purpose of the visit to Beacon on Hill was to increase the group's political exposure. "It is important to let the governor know we are here," he said.