June 15, 2006

Rhode Island Politics

State Policy Primers

Carroll Andrew Morse

Budget Primers:

Ian Donnis lays out the big picture, and the arguments being made on all sides, in this week’s Providence Phoenix.

(Hmmm. Donnis’ article mentions that the state needs to close a $243,000,000 shortfall. Scott Mayerowitz’s Projo article from Tuesday mentions that the RI House wants to increase state spending by 4.9%. Can you do both at the same time? The answer either lies in the question of a) what a shortfall is defined relative to or b) a shortfall defined in terms of one state account, i.e. general revenues, that can be hidden by borrowing money from another account.)

Scott Mayerowitz discusses how the budget is not yet a done deal, and what the outstanding issues are, in today’s Projo.

Jim Baron also provides some detail about what the Governor does and does not like about the budget in the Pawtucket Times.


Healthcare Primers:

Ian Donnis discusses the "fair share" health care legislation pending in the Rhode Island House in the Providence Phoenix…

Elizabeth Gudrais discusses the “seven-bill legislative health-care package” also pending in the legislature in today’s Projo.

12:02 PM
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Blah, blah, blah...

Cranston, under the steady and frugal hand of Mayor Laffey and his crack team of financial experts, is paying down its pension liability, has a reasonable surplus (five bond rate hikes in one year-historic), and has lowered property taxes (1.5% this year-no increase last year), while still being forced to increase spending because of outrageous contracts they don't control because of state mandates.

The Gov should have taken the gloves off on day one instead of trying to work with any of the deceitful and pandering men and women who populate the GA on Smith Hill.

Leadership is what we sorely lack up and down the pipeline.

J Mahn

Posted by: Joe Mahn at June 15, 2006 6:13 PM

Joe,

Why didn't your boy hero take the gloves off and run for the job he really wanted, that of governor?
I'm always amused how the Laffeyites can turn any conversation into silly Laffeyitis.
What will become of you sycophants when he loses?
We'll find out soon enough.

Posted by: Tim at June 16, 2006 7:08 AM

I think that Mayor Laffey did not run for governor because it would be a waste of his time and energy. Having dealt with the corruption in Cranston, especially the uncontrollable School Committee, may have led him to believe that the office of governor would be more of the same with the GA. I think he is running for the correct office at the correct time. I mean, if you have to deal with the monkeys, one might as well deal with the monkeys at the top, first.

Posted by: taxpayer at June 16, 2006 8:53 AM

I think taxpayer has a fair point. But Laffey would have a lot more traction with the republicans in the state if he hadn't made Cranston a haven of illegal aliens.

Posted by: Greg at June 16, 2006 1:10 PM