Marc Comtois
Last week I called it “refreshing” when the news came out that Providence was looking to convert 9 public schools to public/charter hybrids. Some were understandably skeptical, but, as I responded, I was encouraged because the idea “indicates a change in mindset, even if a little bit, from the same ol’/same ol’.” Education maven Julia…
The House of Representatives–on a bi-partisan voice vote–passed the “Buffet Rule Act”, which allows anyone to voluntarily pay more in taxes. Under the legislation, which would still need Senate approval, taxpayers could check a box on their taxes and send in a check for more than they owe to the IRS. “If Warren Buffett and…
Conservative Democrat Senator Michael McCaffrey won his primary last week. Conservative Democrat Representative Jon Brien lost his primary last week. The difference: union support. Both have stated they are against gay marriage. Both are (I believe) pro-life. Yet, the NEA, AFSCME, the local carpenters union and others endorsed McCaffrey. Brien lost to a firefighter with…
Veronique de Rugy (h/t) explains the supposed “cuts” in sequestration: The sequester is an automatic budget enforcement mechanism triggered when the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction fails to enact legislation to reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion over the sequestration period. Instead of simply passing appropriated funds to the agencies, the U.S. Treasury “sequesters”…
The U.S. Embassy in Tunis: CNN is tracking events throughout the Middle East. More disturbing pictures (and story) from the Benghazi Consulate in Libya are here.
Refreshing (via ProJo): Providence schools superintendent…Susan Lusi, together with Providence Teachers Union President Steve Smith and School Board President Keith Oliveira, are promoting the idea of district-operated charters, which would give principals greater say over what happens in the classroom without sacrificing union protection for teachers…. Given the us-versus-them attitude toward charter schools, Lusi was…
By all accounts, Voter ID went pretty well yesterday in Rhode Island. But all right-thinking people know it’s election reform* is not needed. Heck, look at Maryland (h/t)…. Wendy Rosen, the Democratic challenger to Republican Rep. Andy Harris in the 1st Congressional District, withdrew from the race Monday amid allegations that she voted in elections…
Just a follow up on yesterday’s post regarding the Senate-29 Democratic primary race between incumbent Michael McCaffrey and challenger Lisa Pisaturo, which McCaffrey won by 6% in a low turnout election. A Pisaturo win would have undoubtedly been taken as a sign that the Rhode Island electorate was ready to embrace gay marriage. But what…
The local media and gay marriage advocates are tabbing Rhode Island Senate District 29 in Warwick as “one to watch” as a mini-referendum on gay marriage in the state. David Scharfenberg sums it up: Laura Pisaturo, a lesbian lawyer who backs same-sex nuptals, is facing off against Senator Michael McCaffrey, a Warwick Democrat who opposes…
When it happened, I was sitting at work, much as I will be today. I had a wife, a 2 year old and a 1 year old. As it would turn out, I wasn’t personally–directly–affected by the tragic events on 9/11. That puts me in the majority. Yet, like everyone, my life and that of…
