June 22, 2008
And Just So's You Don't Miss This Nugget
Be sure to note the closing paragraph of today's Projo article on the last bit of legislation for this year:
The Senate plans to return Thursday to confirm new traffic court magistrate David Cruise, Montalbano's chief of staff, and a new District Court judge, Mary Elizabeth McCaffrey, sister of the Senate Judiciary chairman.
As I stated during my most recent appearance on Matt Allen's Violent Roundtable, I'm much more concerned about this cross-branch nepotism than the governor's hiring of people whom he trusts. Ours may be a part-time legislature, but it's got a full-time spoils system.
RI politics=political "Deliverance"
Posted by: joe bernstein at June 22, 2008 7:15 PMWe have pervasive "hard" corruption (e.g., RISDIC; Operation Dollar Bill) and pervasive "soft" corruption" (patronage and nepotism).
Isn't that right, Magistrate For Life Mrs. Harwood?
And soon, not just one, but two movies about Buddy Cianci - so average people around the country can get a big screen introductory course on Rhode Island's sordid politics; and businesspersons / employers an irrefutable argument why they should avoid Rhode Island like the plague.
Sigh ...
Posted by: Tom W at June 22, 2008 7:56 PMNot all political payoffs are in the form of cash stuffed into envelopes.
What would really be news would be if people from outside Rhode Island or someone employed in the private sector with no close ties to local politicians, after a thorough national search based on qualifications for the position, actually getting these kind of jobs. Of course, this being Rogue's Island, it isn't very likely.
Posted by: Will at June 23, 2008 2:15 AMYou won't find Bill Rappleye working on an expose about this form of politcal/judicial corruption. The media's teammates in the Dem party are involved up to their eyeballs in this corruption.
Amazingly the Judiciary budget was untouched this year?
With a half a bill deficit to fix? Huh!
Wonder why? lol
Btw is Frank Williams still dragging his feet and refusing to rule on Separation of Powers and the House leadership's refusal to withdraw their controlling interest in the powerful CRMC?
Oh that's right his House leadership buddies are financing the latest Frank Willimas palace in No. Smithfield.
It shall be named The Quid Pro Quo Courthouse.
Classic political corruption Rhode Island style.
"The Senate plans to return Thursday to confirm new traffic court magistrate David Cruise, Montalbano's chief of staff"
And this follows upon the hiring of Senate President Montalbano's son (19) by a RI court three years ago. The "full time spoils system" Justin correctly refers to buys loyalty, though not necessarily to the state, the residents or the taxpayers who are the source of those "spoils".
http://www.anchorrising.com/barnacles/001434.html
Don't forget Sandra "I sleep with a Senator" whitehouse, a $100,000, plus benefits, "part-time envioronmental consultant" for JCLS.
Posted by: Mike at June 23, 2008 9:32 AMJudiciary's Budget not touched?
It went up!
Anyone notice that the General Assembly saw fit to take $17,000,000 from the state colleges and universities and another $2,400,000 from the RI Scholarship Fund and transfer almost equal sums to the Judiciary’s Budget?
Why was the Judiciary’s budget was the only one to go ‘Up'. Gee, I wonder why? What could that be about? Any members of the legislature have legal problems lately?
Posted by: Aldo at June 23, 2008 2:12 PMThis whole issue is just begging for someone to do a comprehensive investigative report on nepotism in RI government.
It would be a real eye opener to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. Without connecting all the dots for the public, you might never get the wide ranging reform you so desperately need.
Posted by: Citizen Critic at June 23, 2008 2:13 PM