Marc Comtois

Governor’s Tax Policy Workgroup Report

By Marc Comtois | March 9, 2009 |

Governor Carcieri’s Tax Policy Strategy Workgroup has released it’s report (short version; long version). The ProJo has a story on the report and another on the impact that tax cuts will have on the budget deficit. They even have a poll asking, “Can Rhode Island afford to cut taxes now?” Funny, I don’t recall any…

Laffey WILL NOT Run for Governor in 2010

By Marc Comtois | March 5, 2009 |

Former Cranston Mayor and Senate Candidate Stephen Laffey has announced that he will NOT run for Governor of the State of Rhode Island in 2010. More coming on WPRO’s Dan Yorke show shortly. UPDATE: Laffey spoke to Dan Yorke and elaborated on the reasons why he chose not to run. He stated he based his…

Taxing the Rich and Hurting the Poor

By Marc Comtois | March 5, 2009 |

Apparently we are all well aware that the rich can afford to pay more taxes–“their fair share.” But can the poor afford it? The administration’s recently released budget will limit tax deductions on gifts made to charities by those earning over $250,000 a year, raising (we are told) almost $180 billion over the next ten…

Do We Really Need Legislators Involved in Youth Sports?

By Marc Comtois | March 4, 2009 |

No. We don’t. But the RI Senate is gonna try (S0169) (h/t Dan Yorke): 41-12-1. Legislative findings. – The Rhode Island general assembly finds that parents lack a proper outlet to share concerns and objections about youth sports. The general assembly further finds that there is a need for increased transparency and direction within youth…

Free Health Care for Legislators

By Marc Comtois | March 4, 2009 |

Well, this is “low-hanging” fruit, but it’s still fun to hear the reasoning behind why it’s a good idea to offer free health-care to part-time legislators. A couple years ago, Speaker Murphy–when faced with a bill that would have legislators pay a portion of their health care–tried to say the state Constitution proscribed anything but…

Obama Versus Tax Dodgers

By Marc Comtois | March 3, 2009 |

President Obama is going to go after international tax dodgers (h/t): President Barack Obama’s Treasury secretary says the administration will unveil a series of rules and measures in the coming months to limit the ability of international companies to avoid U.S. taxes. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday…

Warwick City Council Approves Contract

By Marc Comtois | March 2, 2009 |

To no one’s surprise, the Warwick City Council passed contract extensions with the City’s fire, police and municipal workers on Friday. The extended contracts, which will run through June 30, 2012, were approved on votes of 7 to 2, with council members Joseph J. Solomon and Steve Merolla dissenting. Council members who favored the new…

Warwick Contract Update

By Marc Comtois | February 27, 2009 |

Russel J. Moore at the Warwick Beacon has an updated story on the pending Warwick union contracts: The concessions from unions were originally reported in newspapers, and on televisions newscasts and on radio stations to save taxpayers just over $9.7 million. But the actual concessions from the city bargaining units (police, fire, and municipal workers)…

High Taxes Coming

By Marc Comtois | February 27, 2009 |

From ABC News: President Obama’s budget proposes $989 billion in new taxes over the course of the next 10 years, starting fiscal year 2011, most of which are tax increases on individuals. 1) On people making more than $250,000. $338 billion – Bush tax cuts expire $179 billlion – eliminate itemized deduction $118 billion –…

RI House Leadership: “Shut Up and Sit Down!”

By Marc Comtois | February 26, 2009 |

That’s the line WPRO’s Dan Yorke is using to characterize a new effort by the RI House Democratic leadership to stifle free speech (because, you know, they’re barely holding on to control up there….). Yorke was tipped off about this from Rep. John Laughlin and got confirmation in a conversation with Rep. Bob Watson. The…