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Gov. Deval Patrick, (D-Mass.), on efforts to improve the educational system and boost job growth in his state and across the country.
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Let's get to this a coalition of 215.
Organizations.
Called opportunity nation gathering at George Washington University today.
The coalition it's bipartisan created -- tool last year called the opportunity index which gives a ranking of every state.
And more than 2400.
Counties examining various aspects of -- local economies education.
Things like community health civic -- and they give it sort of our ranking now some of the VIP attendees include.
Arianna Huffington Republican senator Marco Rubio Florida and democratic senator Tom Harkin of Iowa.
And my next guest Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts joining us now in a Fox Business exclusive.
From a big opportunity nations.
Annual summit and not that not that anybody's really there to -- governor but you you really could have in Massachusetts.
Has an unemployment rate while while still elevated because nobody likes to see anything high is a full two percentage points at what six point 1%.
Below the national average so obviously opportunity is better in Massachusetts what is it that you were doing right in Massachusetts.
Well you know we've had to do what everybody else has to do has had to do in these tough times -- in terms of trimming budget cutting programs.
Reducing headcount but we've also invested in things we know make a difference in our case.
We've invested in education it's our calling card around the world -- I think that single best investment that the public can make in our collective future.
We've invested in innovation and those those industries that really depend on the kind of bring that concentration of brain power we have so.
Biotech life sciences IT.
Robotics.
Financial services of which is you know is one more ninety business clean energy.
And we've invested in infrastructure which is -- you know unglamorous work of look governing but it supports everything else.
And -- been disciplined that about that -- let's say has been helpful in giving us the resources to do it.
Let me go back to education because it's a touchy subject we spend more per capita on on students in this nation than many other countries who end up having better educated kids.
Would you say investing in education.
Governor tell us what it is you're doing instead of just we hope but not throwing money at at you know vocal cuts community schools and things like that what is it that's doing -- -- that's working.
It's really important point when I say investing I mean not just money that we're investing ideas were investing new people.
-- trying some new things you know we are number one in the nation and student achievement and had been for the last five years that's not by accident.
But at the same time lives we've had a persistent achievement gap and the kids would step in that gap -- poor.
They speak English in many cases as a second language they have special needs.
And what we have not discovered through trial and -- over many years is something that I think really common sense would bring -- to which is that you can't have.
The same solution for every child and every community of children.
So we've given some new latitudes and tools and rules to that to -- is to be able to reach those kids and that's with the -- is coming it's incredibly exciting.
When it comes to opportunity nation now we just wanted to give people perspective who's at the top of the list who's kind of scraping the bottom you know we have -- -- at the top of the list.
North Dakota you get to see the rankings as we put up this list.
And then sort is -- the bottom we have Nevada and Mississippi.
How does one get.
Their number to move higher what can leaders do to improve their states.
Well I think I think -- -- -- as Americans you know -- one of the points I was making -- the at the conference this afternoon.
We rarely leave anything we think is really important entirely to chance we tend to shape our own future.
And I think a combination of public and private.
Focus and investment in this frame of education innovation and infrastructure is a winning strategy not just for the commonwealth.
But for the whole country.
Where do you stand governor -- regulation there is so much discussions that it it throw sand in the wheels of businesses that are trying to get up off the ground.
-- at some point.
Somebody has to look at all of the new regulations that have cropped up over the past couple of years and say you know as we -- -- -- Diane -- had not already having people want their businesses.
Tit shots to be able to operate of course and a safe -- and comparable way that safe for everybody.
But how do you feel -- -- onerous regulation.
Well first of all you you put the word owners in front of it and what other answer would you have -- that the nobody wanted to -- -- -- at a picnic and we you know we've been in a process at home in Massachusetts where we've been.
Culling through all regulations that are twelve or so -- eight years old.
Just to let you know simplified streamlined get rid of the things that.
That I have outlived their usefulness what happens I think in government same thing that happens in large companies from my experience.
In the private sector is that somebody comes along with a new idea and they put that on top of the old idea and -- just layers and layers and layers over time.
And I think a comprehensive look has made a difference for us.
At home really going back to the questions what are the parameters within which.
From the safety.
-- fairness and consumer protection point of view.
We want to make sure are out there and then have a we enable businesses to operate in those parameters as freely and -- efficiently as.
Possible -- you've got high marks on your speech during the Democratic Convention and then one of the lines that jumped out at me.
Was when you said we believe that government has a role to play not insulting every problem in everyone's life but in helping people help themselves.
To the American dream you know at a time when that.
There's so much discussion of course the Mitt Romney -- -- -- -- sank 47%.
Don't pay taxes yet they use government services and we are.
Governor at the highest level of food stamp usage in this nation granted we are.
Experiencing extraordinary times with this recession that we've just -- door but.
But how do you view the government's role as so that it is more for transition purposes vs permanent -- Well I think first -- nobody believes certainly I don't and most Democrats I know -- I can certainly say this that President Obama.
That welfare or public citizen should be a way of life.
I grew up on welfare myself my mother's determination to get off of it and energy -- get a job.
Was one of the one of the influencing.
One of the most influential.
Lessons I think I I learned I think this notion though of common cause in common destiny as is reflected in.
In government ought to -- incurred decisions we make about the role of of government and -- -- have a robust debate.
About what we want government to do and not do is something we ought to be able to have in this country.
Without thinking that people who differ with us are inherently evil.
And one of the things I love of that opportunity nation Liz is that -- has created a forum.
-- it at a time of deep political.
-- -- philosophical division where people can come together around real solutions and how we move the country flow.
From both sides of the -- that's what I think most veterans like to -- governor a pleasure to have you on the program thank you so money she lives Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts.
Unemployment rate Massachusetts.
Two full points below the national average and move --
