Marc Comtois

RE: The New Tax Math

By Marc Comtois | December 10, 2007 |

Just to amplify Andrew’s point, from the 2007 Revenue Facts report: State and/or local property taxes are levied in all 50 states. Rhode Island ranks very high in the percentage of state and local revenues generated from property taxes. It has traditionally relied more on local property taxes than most states. FY 2005 census data…

RI Supreme Court: Gay Couple CANNOT Divorce in Rhode Island

By Marc Comtois | December 7, 2007 |

7to7: The state Supreme Court has ruled that a same-sex couple married in Massachusetts may not divorce in Rhode Island. The court was split, 3-2, on the decision. In the case, the court was asked by the Rhode Island Family Court whether Margaret R. Chambers and Cassandra B. Ormiston, two women who were married in…

After Latest NIE, Some Appear Willing to Believe that “Death to America” Really Does Mean “I Love You”

By Marc Comtois | December 6, 2007 |

Cliff May boils down the problem with the reaction to the NIE report: Many commentators are fudging the distinction between Iran “suspending” and “abandoning” its nuclear weapons program. According to the new NIE, Iran not only continues to enrich uranium, it also is “continuing to develop a range of technical capabilities that could be applied…

Teach Them to Fish

By Marc Comtois | December 4, 2007 |

Today, the ProJo delves into a report published last week by the Center for Immigration Studies: [T}he survey, based on U.S. Census data, found that immigration to Rhode Island increased by 61 percent between 2000 and 2007 and that immigrants and their U.S.-born children make up 17.7 percent of the state’s population. By contrast, that…

Chavez Defeated

By Marc Comtois | December 3, 2007 |

Hugo Chavez’s attempt to reshape the Venezuelan constitution has failed. This despite the fact that, according to Providence City Council member Miguel C. Luna: [T]he reforms would deepen the social and economic changes under President Chavez that have just begun to affect the population, lessening poverty and affording more human rights to the majority. Discrimination…

RE: Rhode Island’s Literal Depressed Status

By Marc Comtois | November 30, 2007 |

There may be a reason the state as a whole is so depressed: not enough Republicans! Republicans are significantly more likely than Democrats or independents to rate their mental health as excellent, according to data from the last four November Gallup Health and Healthcare polls. Fifty-eight percent of Republicans report having excellent mental health, compared…

Don’t Forget the City and Town Budgets

By Marc Comtois | November 28, 2007 |

Question: What is this? 35-40 – East Greenwich, Middletown, Portsmouth, Newport, Warwick, Woonsocket 37.5 – Bristol, Glocester and Jamestown 35 – Burrillville, Cranston, Cumberland, East Providence, Exeter, Foster, Little Compton, Narragansett, North Smithfield, Scituate, Smithfield, South Kingstown 34 or 32.5 – West Warwick 32.5 – Tiverton 30 – Warren Answer: The number of hours required…

Welfare Cash Time Limits

By Marc Comtois | November 28, 2007 |

The ProJo reports: Thousands of poor Rhode Islanders have received cash welfare benefits for longer than five years, the time limit adopted by state leaders during the sweeping welfare changes of a decade ago intended to push poor families into the work force. Nearly half of the state’s 10,755 families receiving cash assistance last year…

Even the Crossing Guards Get It

By Marc Comtois | November 27, 2007 |

The ProJo’s Edward Achorn takes notice of the ongoing Warwick Crossing Guard debate and thinks he detects a sea change: [H]ere’s some good news for Rhode Island: A slumbering giant, the great silent majority, may be awakening at long last to the crisis this state is facing. The evidence? Last week, the Warwick City Council…

Happy Thanksgiving

By Marc Comtois | November 22, 2007 |

The First Thanksgiving 1621 by Karen Rinaldo Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after have a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served…