Monique Chartier

Mitt Nails Illegal Immigration: “Our problem is not 11 million grandmothers” (And Other Gems)

By Monique Chartier | January 29, 2012 |

From the Republican debate Thursday night. Mitt Romney speaking. [Thanks to Roy Beck at NumbersUSA for the transcription.] I think I described following the law as it exists in this country, which is to say, I’m not going around and rounding people up and deporting them. What I said was, people who come here legally…

Latest Tax Rankings: Why The Nuclear Tax Hike Option Should Be Completely Off The Table, Not Simply At The Bottom of The List

By Monique Chartier | January 28, 2012 |

While Majority Leader Mattiello’s expressed intent is appreciated, “The last thing you want to do is raise taxes,” House Majority Leader Nicholas Mattiello said at a Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the R.I. Convention Center. “We have not gone there in the past and we hope this year we will not go there.…

Where’s My Debrox? He Couldn’t Have Said That Everyone Needs to Play By the Same Set of Rules

By Monique Chartier | January 26, 2012 |

From the President’s State of the Union address: or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, and everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. Seriously??? The person who has issued over 1,200 waivers to his own, signature healthcare law is talking about everyone playing…

Oh Darn – Guess We Have To Lower the Federal Tax Rate

By Monique Chartier | January 25, 2012 |

… even federal employees are apparently finding it difficult to stay current. About 98,000 federal, postal and congressional employees owed $1.03 billion in unpaid taxes at the end of fiscal 2010, according to records provided by the Internal Revenue Service. No word on whether they also canvassed President Obama’s cabinet for tax compliance.

“Not Widespread” – Minimizing the Need for Voter I.D. By Cranking Up The Voter Fraud Threshold

By Monique Chartier | January 24, 2012 |

Rep Charlene Lima (D-Cranston) has put in a bill to repeal Rhode Island’s new voter id law. What’s interesting is that, in her arguments, Rep Lima is attempting to shift the metric by which the need for voter i.d. is measured. Until now, opponents of voter i.d. have argued against its implementation by attempting to…

Non-Functioning AND AutoReply E-Mail – Are You Sure You Want to Hear From People, Representative?

By Monique Chartier | January 21, 2012 |

Terry Gorman of RIILE shared the following contradictory reply which he received from Rep Charlene Lima’s e-mail. From: Rep. Lima, Charlene To: riile2 Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 16:53 Subject: Out of Office AutoReply: Weekly Update: New Poll and Stealing Democracy DO TO TECHINICAL DIFFICULTY THIS EMAIL ADDRESS IS NOT FUNCTIONING Thank you for contacting…

The Court Rules Against Pawtucket and Another Bale of Straw Is Thrown Onto Everyone’s Back

By Monique Chartier | January 14, 2012 |

Thanks to WPRI’s indefatiguable Ted Nesi for the heads-up. Rhode Island’s largest public-sector union declared victory Friday in a lawsuit against Pawtucket, just hours before the mayor revealed the city is running an unexpected $2.3 million deficit. Superior Court Judge Sarah Taft-Carter ruled Jan. 5 that Pawtucket cannot force retired teachers to start sharing the…

Rick “Mr. Consistent” Perry On Venture Capital Funding of Political Campaigns

By Monique Chartier | January 14, 2012 |

This gem from the Laura Ingraham Show; transcript via Real Clear Politics. (Good interviewing, Laura.) Ingraham: You know I am going to raise the issue of Texans for Public Justice, their analysis of your campaign contributions since 2000 you have received more than $7 million from private equity firms and private investment firms. Are any…

Why Did Hillary Deny Our Involvement In the Latest Nuke Scientist Assassination?

By Monique Chartier | January 12, 2012 |

Yesterday, the fifth Iranian nuclear scientist in two years was assassinated. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wasted no time hustling to a microphone. “I want to categorically deny any United States involvement in any kind of act of violence inside Iran,” Clinton said at a Wednesday news conference. Former US Ambassador to the UN John…

Redistricting – Charlie Hall Pinpoints Who Benefits From

By Monique Chartier | January 10, 2012 |

… and who is disadvantaged by the 68,000 voters to be gratuitously moved from RI-2 to RI-1. (It’s a “compromise”, dontcha know.)