GOP Candidates Debate Budget

BOSTON--Massachusetts' fiscal crisis dominated a debate yesterday by the five Republican candidates for governor as they headed toward their March 10 statewide convention.

"The current system of government in Massachusetts has collapsed. I believe what we have right now is a complete paralysis of both branches of government, both executive and legislative," said Paul Cronin, a former member of Congress, at the debate sponsored by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

Cronin said the state's government must be restructured.

Former prosecutor William F. Weld '66 proposed stimulating economic growth to push revenues up as a solution to the crisis that has resulted in the lowest state bond rating in the nation and a $500 million budget deficit.

"There are two ways out of the fiscal woods. One way is to cut spending... and the other way, the preferable way, is to earn your way out," Weld said.

Len Umina, a "dark horse" candidate for the GOP nomination proposed to make state government more efficient by laying off 30 percent of its workers.

"We wouldn't even miss them," he said.

The state employs about 70,000 people.

The candidates were also asked about their stands on law enforcement.

Rep. Steven D. Pierce (R-Westfield)--who with Weld is a current front-runner in winning delegates to the March 10 GOP convention--called for mandatory sentences for people who use guns in committing crimes.

But Pierce said, "I don't believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens are a problem."

Pierce said he favors a rollback of the temporary income tax increase approved by the Legislature in July, as well as fee and permit increases imposed by Gov. Michael S. Dukakis.

Both Weld and Umina came out against allowing police officers to require people they have stopped to partially disrobe.

"I do not believe in destroying the rights of Americans in order to solve crimes," Umina said.

Weld proposed using private funds to replace Medicaid money to finance abortions for low-income women. Weld has taken a generally pro-choice position in the campaign but has endorsed some restrictions of public funding for abortion.

He also advocated allowing minors to get consent from only one parent or a judge, not both parents to get an abortion.

"You raise the issue of the female minor being a football between her two parents," he said.

Former Metropolitan District Commissioner Guy Carbone called for privatizing prisons.

"We've got to find the money to build the prisons," he said.