Justin Katz
Personally, I dislike government reliance on gambling for revenue, but this is emblematic of a mindset: OUT OF EVERY DOLLAR lost at Twin River, the state gets approximately 61 cents. If expectations panned out, the state would get $254 million from Twin River this year. In June, the owners offered the state $500 million upfront…
The eye-opening thing is how many people believe that something as extensive as the current financial crisis can be analyzed simply and placed at the door of a particular political party — even a particular individual! By the time one gets to such specific and flatly stated explanations as Froma Harrop’s, it is likely that…
Just a reminder that such things are possible (emphasis added): The old bridge fell Aug. 1, 2007, killing 13 people and injuring 145 others. The sudden collapse of steel and concrete jolted Minnesota and other states into taking a harder look at the safety of thousands of aging bridges across the country. The state put…
Charles Pinning’s op-ed in today’s Providence Journal may present an awkward blend of maudlin setting and ideological sneer, but perhaps it offers a chance for productive conversation. Pinning puts the following in the mouth of an older male character from Providence’s west side, speaking of the regular schmoes whom his elderly sweetheart just encountered at…
None can doubt that this is part of the “value add” of the union structure, but it still strikes the ear as sinister: The organization opposing efforts to eliminate the state’s income tax has received two-thirds of its funding from large teachers unions based in Washington D.C. The Boston Herald reports in Wednesday’s editions that…
In a town that has witnessed nearly a 12% increase in property taxes in the past year, this sort of thing should get the union-busting, pink-slip-preparing blood boiling: [Johnston teachers] were a no-show on Monday at Winsor Hill School’s open house, an event where they typically meet parents and fill them in on their instructional…
Perhaps the key is to acknowledge and work with Rhode Islanders’ pathological need to vote Democrat: [Michael] Pinga [electoral slayer of West Warwick Senator Stephen Alves] switched his voter affiliation to Democrat from Republican this spring. Some of his ideologies — his support of Governor Carcieri and opposition to tax hikes, abortion and gay marriage…
Is it me, or is the news editor of the Providence Phoenix increasingly giving the impression of a strident partisan? To be sure, no doubt previously existed as to Ian’s political leanings, but something in this election season seems to be drawing him further across the tightrope spanning the ideological gulf, toward his ticker-tape-talking-point friends.…
Last night, Andrew took up the topics of economics and taxation with Matt Allen on 630AM/99.7FM WPRO. Stream by clicking here, or download it. ADDENDUM: The audio links weren’t working when I first posted this in the a.m. They’re fixed.
The powers that be should pay some attention when Tom Sgouros and I agree on something: Counting debt service paid from within the department’s budget, we now pay almost $100 million every year in DOT interest payments. How does that make you feel about borrowing $40 million more next year? Do you think that’s a…
