In a fund-raising e-mail channeling his inner wonk, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Charlie Baker today took aim at his rivals for not speaking out against a procedural rule that limits what amendments can be offered as the state budget is crafted.
The former state budget chief lightly criticized his opponents for not saying anything about a rule passed earlier this month by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives that prohibits legislators from introducing amendments related to welfare or local aid, which cities and towns use to pay for basic services such as police officers and firefighters.
“The one-party dominated crew on Beacon Hill decided the people’s representatives would not be allowed to talk about local aid or our state’s broken welfare system,” he wrote.
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“All of my opponents, including Treasurer Steve Grossman and Attorney General Martha Coakley, said nothing and did nothing while their colleagues put a gag order on these two important issues,” he wrote.
House leaders have defended the rule, saying they allowed debate on those touchy issues during earlier sessions. And they have noted their budget proposal increases funding for local aid.
A Baker spokesman said today marked the first time the candidate had criticized Coakley and Grossman in a fund-raising email. Spokeswomen for Coakley and Grossman had no comment.
After losing his 2010 bid for governor, Baker has focused his 2014 campaign on an upbeat vision of making Massachusetts “great.” He has, so far, almost completely avoided direct attacks on his opponents, instead focusing on what he says government can do better.
His light chastisement of his opponents comes just over six months before general election. The half year mark is often a point at which political activity begins to heat up.
Baker ended the solicitation with a hard ask: “April is almost over and while my opponents sat on their hands and did nothing, I need you to act before the month closes out. … Please click here to donate now.”
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Baker has raised more money this year than the other ten candidates running for governor. From Jan 1. to the end of March, he pulled in more than $700,000.
Along with Coakley and Grossman, three other Democrats are vying for their party’s nod.
Three independent candidates and a Libertarian are also running to succeed Governor Deval Patrick.
Another Republican hopeful, who the state party said fell short of winning enough votes at the March GOP convention to make the primary ballot, is disputing that result in court.
Joshua Miller can be reached at joshua.miller@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @jm_bos.