Gov. Patrick pats himself on the back.

There is a large deficit, falling gas tax revenues, and dire predictions for the State's fiscal health.

But on Tuesday, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick focused on his administration's legislative accomplishments in these tough times.

Patrick is the first to admit we need to be prepared for "troubled times," nonetheless, the governor defends his plan to borrow millions of dollars to fix roads and bridges.

WBZ's Chief Correspondent Joe Shortsleeve sat down with the governor for 15 minutes Tuesday afternoon. Patrick defended the bridge repair plan -- even though Massachusetts has the highest per capita debt in the country.

Shortsleeve asked the Governor, Is this a good time to be borrowing and borrowing?

The Governor responded. "I am comfortable. We have done the homework, we have done the analysis, it's not about a gut feeling, and it's a financial analysis. We have done that work and we have done it in a very transparent way and a smart way as well."

UPDATE: More from the Globe and Herald.

SECOND UPDATE: More from the Herald and Globe.

THIRD UPDATE: From the Globe and Herald.

FOURTH UPDATE: From Michael Graham and Holly Robichaud.