Marc Comtois
Students protested against a potential cut in school sports and other activities outside of Warwick City Hall last night prior to and during the scheduled City Council Budget hearing. One of the prime movers was information provided by Warwick Schools Superintendent Dr. Peter Horoschak explaining the budget crunch and the various budget scenarios being floated.…
The story reported by NBC10 focused on proposed cuts to Warwick school sports. In fact, all school activities and a few other discretionary items are all that is left to cut out of the Warwick Schools budget (around $2.5 million if my memory serves correctly) if they are to begin to meet the funding limits…
For commenter edification, here are the three “highlights” of the just-passed House Budget, cribbed from the ProJo: * Car Tax – 50-22 voted to cut around $120 million in car tax subsidies from cities and towns. Gave cities and towns the ability to implement their own car tax “to make up for the losses” by…
Oy. Think Greece and Spain are drowning in debt? Look a little closer to home. Seven U.S. cities recently had their municipal bonds downgraded below investment grade. Their debt is now junk, considered more worthless than that of the so-called PIIGS. “America’s short-term budget crises, long-term growth perspectives and needs for austerity are similar [to…
I previously commented on the one degree of disconnect that I’ve come to believe is the core political problem in our state. The event that motivated that post was an immigration reform-related bill that was brought up in the RI House (kinda). Now, as Andrew and Monique have explained, the same shenanigans–again related to an…
It’s June, the first day in fact, and there’s a new poll out from Rasmussen (via ProJo) with a snapshot of the RI Governor’s race. The scenario summary: Lincoln Chafee (I) – 35% Frank Caprio (D) – 32% John Robitaille (R) – 25% Undecided – 9% = = = = = = Frank Caprio (D)…
Rep. Peter Palumbo (D-Cranston) gained some kudos from conservatives and immigration reform proponents for submitting an Arizona-like immigration bill. Palumbo further benefited amongst the same group when it was learned that his immigration bill wouldn’t get a hearing because House Speaker Gordon Fox killed the bill (something I commented on myself). In short, the perception…
You grew up with the guy. Went to school together, played sports on the same teams. Went your separate ways after high school, but still saw each other every once in a while. When he ran for the legislature, you didn’t think too hard about voting for him. As you got older and had kids…
USA Today reports that recent number from the Bureau of Economic Analysis confirm what many people have sensed: private wages are shrinking while government grows. The facts: * Private wages. A record-low 41.9% of the nation’s personal income came from private wages and salaries in the first quarter, down from 44.6% when the recession began…
THIS really is Rhode Island, isn’t it? Dirty lawyer brother of medium city mayor makes contacts in prison thanks to his past links with organized crime. A friend from the camp gave him the names of two inmates who would take care of him: Rex Cunningham and Blind Eddie. Cunningham, a tough-guy from Springfield, Mass.,…