Heroin crisis among early priorities for new governor - Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

BOSTON (AP) - Republican Gov.-elect Charlie Baker said Tuesday that he considers heroin and opioid addiction to be a major problem in Massachusetts and that it will be an early focus of his administration after he takes office.

"It cuts across geography. It cuts across class. It cuts across everything," Baker said. "That is something we are going to focus on early on."

Baker, who will be inaugurated Jan. 8, was asked during a visit to the Statehouse about some of his initial legislative priorities upon taking office.

During his gubernatorial campaign, he outlined what he called a "comprehensive approach" to tackling addiction, including having a "frank discussion" with doctors about pain treatment with the objective of reducing prescriptions of highly addictive painkillers. He also called for creating a central database for tracking heroin overdoses around the state.

Baker said jump-starting the state's stalled medical marijuana rollout would also be an early priority, along with addressing a state budget gap estimated at $329 million by outgoing Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick's administration but even larger by the independent Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

Baker has not specified how he plans to address the deficit besides ruling out new taxes or cuts in aid to cities and towns, and he said Tuesday that he hadn't discussed the budget with legislative leaders.

Baker spoke after meetings with state Auditor Suzanne Bump and Secretary of State William Galvin, both Democrats. He also attended a farewell party for retiring state Rep. George Peterson, R-Grafton, the assistant House minority leader.

Addressing other topics, Baker said he was "certainly a fan" of Republican Jeb Bush, who announced Tuesday that he would actively explore a run for president in 2016. Baker said he admires the former Florida governor's record but stopped well short of saying he would back Bush should he become a candidate for the White House.

Baker said that a potential Olympic bid by Boston would represent a "pretty unique opportunity" to promote Massachusetts but that he still wanted to see more details about financing for such an endeavor. The U.S. Olympic Committee met Tuesday to discuss whether to make a bid for the 2024 Summer Games, with Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., vying to be the U.S. candidate.