March 30, 2009
House Republicans' "Form Letter"
... as promised. House Republicans have suggested that representatives who vote in favor of the General Assembly's pending supplemental budget send the following letter to the city or town which they represent.
(A press release is public, right? Okay, then.)
April 1, 2009Dear Town Council President /Mayor;
I wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know that today I will be voting in favor of the Democratic version of House Bill H-5019: An Act Making Revised Appropriations For the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2009.
Among other things, the Speaker’s budget bill cuts off all money for our city/town, reduces aid for our schools, includes tax increases that will devastate local businesses, make those few remaining citizens who have jobs pay more for gas and includes absolutely none of the management rights you have repeatedly asked for from the General Assembly.
The bill also puts off any relief you seek from pension reform and we even get to skip our required contribution to the state pension system. Too bad you can’t skip your payments as well!
Being an effective legislator is not easy, but it’s important for you to know, that no matter how bad this bill is for our city / town, Speaker Murphy wants me to vote for it. I always do what the Speaker asks, that’s how I am able to get my legislative grants (your tax dollars) that help me get my picture in the local paper. I have also been promised that one or more of the bills that I have introduced, which have nothing to do with actually helping our citizens, will be passed out of committee and voted into law – more publicity for me. Now that’s what I call a great trade!
One positive is that I do have permission to vote against some of the specific articles in the Democratic budget to make it look like I am on your side, but when it comes to the vote on the Speaker’s budget as a whole, Speaker Murphy needs my vote to pass it, and I always do what I am told.
The good news is that you can always raise property taxes to cover the shortfall or maybe layoff some more teachers, firefighters or municipal employees.
Well, I have to go now, we are celebrating National Peach Week and the Speaker has set up some delicious peach cobbler and peach wine for us in the House lounge.
Have a great day!
Your State Democratic Representative.
Very creative. Love it!! Methinks Billy Bulger...err Murphy is going to have a tough time getting his supplemental budget veto-proofed. That's because while Murphy may be Rhode Island's version of Billy Bulger in his own mind House Speaker Bill Murphy is actually nothing more than a small-timer who "leads" one of the most intellectually challenged group of so-called adults one will ever run across in this lifetime, the Rhode Island House of ill-REP-ute.
This economic meltdown is calling for the big boys to step up. Going to be veeeeery interesting to see what happens.
hi Monique,
Someone called "Monique" called in to Dan Yorke today about the supposed "break-in" at Gordon Fox's office.
Was that you?
Posted by: Thomas Schmeling at March 30, 2009 7:17 PMBtw everybody check out the picture of Mt. Rushmore on the Drudge Report. You bet the founding fathers are crying. Awesome pic!!
Posted by: Tim at March 30, 2009 7:18 PMMy state rep. is a "progressive" democrat; he announced, via twitter, that he will vote against the budget.
Posted by: mikeinri at March 30, 2009 8:07 PMMethinks Murphy's speakership jumped the shark with the St. Pat's incident.
Posted by: rhody at March 30, 2009 8:36 PM(No, Thomas S, it was not I.)
MikeinRI, did he say why or elaborate at all?
What this budget does to cities and towns - take away revenue while not allowing them the tools to deal with structural problems - it does to taxpayers as well: takes away revenue (with the increase in the gas tax, etc.) while dealing with none of the structural issues (pensions, etc).
At a minimum, if they didn't want to deal with the structural problems, they needed to leave everything the same - no tax increases, no adjustments anywhere; we'll deal with it all in FY10. To take the candy without the medicine makes them look irresponsible and cochon.
Posted by: Monique at March 30, 2009 8:54 PMI admit it, that is a funny letter.
Posted by: Pragmatist at March 30, 2009 11:08 PMThe three Woonsocket Reps are all on record as voting against the supplemental budget bill.
One on radio, one by email, and one on RI Future.
Any more confirmed NOs out there?
Posted by: John at March 30, 2009 11:25 PMThis is truly hilarious, except the fact is that most of these dems ARE sending this kinda letter
Posted by: Andyd at April 1, 2009 4:03 PM