February 8, 2007

Rhode Island Politics

Watching the House: Adjusting the Political System

Marc Comtois

As if the whole Rhode Island system of disaffiliating and re-affiliating doesn't allow for enough shenanigans, H 5320, proposed by Representatives John DeSimone (Chair of the House Separation of Powers Committee--sheesh) and Peter Wasylyk want to make it even easier. Howe? By reducing the time between disaffiliating and re-affiliating from 90 to 29 days: Here's the pertinent portion:

Any person who has designated his or her party affiliation pursuant to section 17-9.1-23 may change the designation on or before the twenty-ninth (29th) day preceding any primary election for which the person is eligible.
Why not just propose that we go to a completely open Primary system, fellas?

On the other hand, this sounds like common sense to me: H 5328 (proposed by Representative Donald Lally) seeks:

The removal of residence by an elected or appointment member of a ward committee from the ward from which he or she has been elected or appointed shall constitute his or her resignation from the city or ward committee.
Sounds fair to me.

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"Why not just propose that we go to a completely open Primary system, fellas?"

Please don't give the idiots any more ideas!

As for Lally's idea, it makes perfect sense, but I don't think it just occured to him out of the blue. It has me wondering "what's in it for him"?

Posted by: Will at February 8, 2007 5:28 PM

If you think Mollis is screwing things up now, just wait until he has to keep track of party disaffiliations happening 30 days before an election.

I think Wasylyk's idea is a bad one, but I might just support it solely for the humor of watching all the contested elections that will result from it!

Posted by: Anthony at February 9, 2007 12:31 AM

"The removal of residence by an elected or appointment member of a ward committee from the ward from which he or she has been elected or appointed shall constitute his or her resignation from the city or ward committee."

Lessee, would death constitute removal of residence? I guess it would.

We have deceased people voting; why shouldn't they also continue serving on ward committees? Unfortunately, Rep Lally's bill would close that opportunity.

Posted by: SusanD at February 9, 2007 10:05 PM
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