Marc Comtois

About Bachmann’s “Founding Father’s fought Slavery” statement

By Marc Comtois | June 29, 2011 |

Apparently we’re at the point in Campaign 2012 where we play the game of dissecting political statements for “gotcha moments.” The pols have to be ready for the questions, so they should work to make sure they mitigate damage by reading up beforehand. That being said, of all the things to talk to a Presidential…

Binding Arbitration Bill Made Public

By Marc Comtois | June 29, 2011 |

The arbitration bill has been made public (PDF) along with a press release explaining the rationale. A “Last Best Offer – Final Package” model has been added: The legislation changes the arbitration process to one in which the complete “Last Best Offer” from both teachers’ unions and management is considered in its entirety, as opposed…

Real Person Account of Pension Advisory Group

By Marc Comtois | June 29, 2011 |

G.B. Short’s letter to the ProJo is worth highlighting. He went to the Pension Advisory Group meeting about which I’ve already expressed some skepticism. Let’s just say his first hand, real person account does little to alleviate my reservations. First, about the makeup of the members: Early on in the meeting it was stated that…

Last Again, Naturally

By Marc Comtois | June 29, 2011 |

CNBC has ranked Rhode Island as the least business-friendly state in the country. #50. Dead last. I know the yabuts will be out, but–to coin a phrase–“perception is reality” and when a business channel reports that your state is the worst, well, what do you think the business people watching that channel are going to…

Binding Arbitration = Tax Hike

By Marc Comtois | June 28, 2011 |

The House and Senate Labor Committees will be conducting simultaneous hearings and votes on binding arbitration laws tomorrow. A fait accompli? Probably. Tim Duffy, executive director of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees, whose organization opposes the legislation on grounds that it would make local taxpayers liable for the decisions of an unelected panel,…

Pension Panelist: “I don’t think the private sector is what we want to emulate.”

By Marc Comtois | June 28, 2011 |

So said Alicia Munnell of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College and one of the 12 appointed to the RI Pension Advisory Group. Munnell elaborated further: “I strongly believe that [the private sector model shouldn’t be followed],” she repeated after the 2 1/2 -hour meeting, “because what you have seen in the private…

Belatedly on the budget

By Marc Comtois | June 27, 2011 |

Real life took me away for the better part of the last week, but major kudos to Andrew and Monique for having the stomach to both watch and blog about the annual 11th hour House budget hearings on Captitol TV. I watched a little of it, but it was late, I was sick and they…

GoLocal’s Rankings

By Marc Comtois | June 20, 2011 |

So GoLocalProv is trying to find the “Best Community” in Rhode Island, huh? I suppose it is a clever way to drive website traffic (and media discussion) throughout the week by releasing your findings in pieces. Especially when you put each ranking as it’s own discrete web page, thereby amplifying web clicks, page views, etc.…

Bruins Win the Cup!

By Marc Comtois | June 16, 2011 |

Welcome to the party B’s!!!! source It’s official: in this century, Boston is the Hub of Champions!

Presidential Narcissism Takes a Weird Tack

By Marc Comtois | June 14, 2011 |

I can tell you that if it was me, I would resign. I keep hearing that soundbite on WPRO this morning. It sounded strange to me that President Obama chose to frame his disapproval of Rep. Anthony Weiner’s actions in just that way. It doesn’t seem, well, Presidential to project oneself into that sort of…