BOSTON (
MyFoxBoston.com) -- Former Governor Bill Weld has registered as a state house lobbyist, an interesting move, since Governor-elect Charlie Baker served in Weld's administration.
Fox 25's political reporter Sharman Sacchetti asked Governor-elect Baker what kind of influence former Governor Weld will have once Baker takes office.
After all, Weld is Baker's friend, supporter, and now a state house lobbyist. Additionally, Weld is also the lawyer for the Wynn casino project in Everett.
He campaigned often with Governor-elect Charlie Baker during the race. In fact, Weld hired Baker during the '90s for cabinet positions in his own administration.
So now that Governor Weld has registered as a state house lobbyist, what kind of pull does he have when it comes to the corner office?
"It's no secret he and I have known each other for many years," Baker said about Weld. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for him, but we're going to be an administration who plays by the rules period, start to finish."
Baker also added that "Governor Weld doesn't have my ear any more than anybody else who's known me for a really long time."
Weld is a lawyer at Mintz Levin in Boston.
Sacchetti asked him to sit down for an interview; he said no.
In a statement, he said:
"I have not done any lobbying work in Massachusetts in the last couple of years, but felt it prudent to register now for 2015 in case my practice at ML Strategies should develop in a way that requires registration under the statute. I don't have anything specific in mind, but obviously would try my utmost to manage my professional activities in a way that does not burden my friendship with the governor and lieutenant governor."
As far as questions regarding the Wynn project, Governor-elect Baker says he's already been public about concerns he has over traffic in Sullivan Square and the environmental cleanup of the site.
He says ethically he takes this kind of thing very seriously.
