Gov. Baker Will Sit Out GOP National Convention

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker will not be attending next week's National GOP Convention in Cleveland, OH. 

Baker made it clear to reporters after speaking at a dedication event at Bristol Community College's Fall River Campus Thursday that he and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito have more pressing matters to attend to as the legislature's calendar comes to a close for the summer.

"Karyn and I both think it's really important for us to be here because this is when a lot of the stuff that we've been working on for the past 18 months is going to come to fruition one way or the other," said Baker.

Over the course of this election cycle, Baker has been very open about his opposition to the presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump and is not planning to change his mind anytime soon.

"I've said before that I don't plan to vote for him or for Hillary Clinton," Baker said. "I'm disappointed by that, I've been voting since I was 18 and this is the first time I've ever found myself in this situation."

When asked if he would consider casting a vote for a third-party candidate, Baker insisted he had enough to worry about on the Massachusetts ballot.

As for the assumed vice president pick by Trump, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, Baker said he has met him a few times at national events and that a selection for a running mate is "a very personal decision" for both parties.

Baker will be attending the National Governor's Association Summer Meeting in Des Moines, Iowa this weekend where he will chair a discussion on opioids. Recent Massachusetts legislation will be used as a framework for governors across the nation.

"We have managed to get over 40 governors to sign off on a sort of blueprint or playbook with respect on how to deal with this issue in their states that builds off of a lot of the work we've done here in Massachusetts," said Baker.

The Baker Administration's opioid abuse bill currently limits the amount of first-time opioid prescriptions from physicians and increases educational programs for both adults and children.