Monique Chartier

“Deficiencies In Internal Fiscal Controls”: Woonsocket School Committee Brings Down The City (Bonds)

By Monique Chartier | March 8, 2012 |

So Monday night, with the Governor in attendance, Mayor Fontaine broke the disastrous findings of the audit of the school department’s budget. Thanks, in large part, to $4 million in overspending on salaries, the Woonsocket Education Department is projected to exceed their 2012 budget by more than $7.3 million. A budgetary recap is in order…

Really? RI State Gov’t Should Eliminate Internal Audits?

By Monique Chartier | March 7, 2012 |

I’m all for cutting government. But this? A page taken directly from the David Cicilline Handbook On Governing? The Rhode Island Society of CPAs (RISCPA) announced its strong opposition today to Governor Chafee’s proposal to abolish the Rhode Island Bureau of Audits. Under the Governor’s proposed FY2013 budget (House Bill 7323, Article 4), the Bureau,…

Watson Cops A Plea

By Monique Chartier | March 1, 2012 |

… just this afternoon. Posted here in accordance with A.R. policy. Looks like WJAR broke it. Former House Minority Leader Robert Watson pleaded no contest Thursday to a charge of marijuana possession. Watson was arraigned in Washington County District Court. According to a court clerk, Judge Mary McCaffrey imposed the recommended sentence, and if Watson…

The R.I. Republican Strike Force Has Landed

By Monique Chartier | February 29, 2012 |

… and they are poised to storm the Campaign 2012 beach! The formation of the Strike Force was announced last night at Perella’s restaurant in Warren. The volunteer corps (no “e”, Mr. President) will be the boots on the ground in the campaigns of Republican candidates for the General Assembly – to assist with events,…

Providence Journal Lowers The Boom On Us Freeloaders Tuesday

By Monique Chartier | February 26, 2012 |

… so the ProJo itself announced earlier today. Starting on Tuesday, The Providence Journal will begin charging some subscribers for access to the newspaper’s digital editions. I came across the announcement just now while browsing Rhode Island news. But readers of “On Politics” with Ian Donnis and Scott MacKay would have learned about it three…

What Exactly Do You Propose To Do About It?

By Monique Chartier | February 26, 2012 |

It took a moment to grasp the misanthropic message of this bumper sticker, spotted in Cranston recently. When it fully registered, I was shocked. (Yes, that’s a stork off on the right, carrying a “bundle”.)

Hinckley Welcomes Our V.P. “Road” Scholar

By Monique Chartier | February 23, 2012 |

Having presumably raked in a campaign haul for Rhode Island’s junior senator (which will be especially welcome in view of the senator’s latest approval numbers), Vice President Joe Biden has come and gone from Road Rhode Island. A couple of hours before his arrival, however, senatorial candidate Barry Hinckley released this … er, “public service”…

Legalized Theft of Real Property: Rhode Island’s Adverse Possession Law

By Monique Chartier | February 23, 2012 |

Today’s ProJo contained a description of the most alarming threat to the private ownership of real estate that I’ve seen since the Kelo vs New London ruling. A [RI] Superior Court judge has ruled that some neighbors, not Our Redeemer Evangelical Luther-an Church, own a piece of land because they have had uncontested use of…

Inst. for Int. Sport: No, There Is No Doctor In The House

By Monique Chartier | February 22, 2012 |

Whelp, wherever the money went, we learn this evening that it didn’t go to doctors or medical care at the World Scholar-Athlete Games last summer (the ones held in Connecticut because URI had booted the I.I.S. owing to their tab). … A spokeswoman for [I.I.S. Executive Director Daniel] Doyle, Beth Bailey, said Wednesday that a…

Once We’re Done With the One Aspirin Remark, Can We Return To The 1,000 Weeks of Racism and Anti-Americanism?

By Monique Chartier | February 18, 2012 |

Let me affirm up front that Foster Friess’ chestnut observation was notably asinine and unfunny. No, I’m not pasting it here; click on the link to read the comment if you haven’t yet heard it. Mr. Friess needs to stick to his day job and leave the humor to the professionals. Having said that, in…