Monique Chartier

Tossing 80% of RI Seniors Overboard: The AARP of RI Has Become A Pyranha in Sheep’s Clothing

By Monique Chartier | October 29, 2011 |

Even sharpened up, that cliche may not adequately describe the the duplicitious nature and predatory intent of the AARP’s testimony this week against pension reform. … Many have asked why AARP is engaged in this discussion. AARP Rhode Island’s advocacy on this bill fits into AARP’s broader, national campaign to Protect Seniors from fiscal instability…

Prez of the RI Federation of Teachers: Pension Reform Plan is a Violation of “Civil and Human Rights”

By Monique Chartier | October 26, 2011 |

Damn straight. Fight the power. Leaders of major public unions in Rhode Island used the word “draconian” more than once to describe the changes in pension benefits proposed by Chafee and Raimondo. They contended that public employees’ will lose too much money in retirement while assuming too much risk by having to enroll in 401(k)-style…

At Last, The Lightbulb (A Curliecue, Eco-Friendly One, Of Course) Goes On: The New ProJo Website Is A Kamikaze Mission to Save the Dead Tree Edition

By Monique Chartier | October 25, 2011 |

Major H/T to Ian Donnis for spotting and highlighting this illuminating Dan Kennedy post about the redesign of the ProJo’s website. … the Providence Journal unveiled its new website — a prelude to its long-promised (or long-threatened) paywall. … But this is not a digital strategy — it’s a print strategy, built on the idea…

Pension Reform Takes Hostages (In Addition to Taxpayers) For Ransom: Current Employees Must Continue to Contribute To The Retirement Fund for The Sake of Retirees

By Monique Chartier | October 23, 2011 |

On Friday, General Treasurer Gina Raimondo sat down for an interview with WPRI on Rhode Island’s Subject Du Jour. The indefatigable Ted Nesi is posting it in three parts on WPRI’s blog. This morning, he released Part Two, which brings into focus the burden which current public employees would carry under the pension reform plan…

Wouldn’t an All Day Financial Town Referendum Be More Democratic Than A Financial Town Meeting?

By Monique Chartier | October 22, 2011 |

Currently, the Town of Tiverton determines its annual budget via the Financial Town Meeting. On November 8, Tiverton voters will have the opportunity to consider switching from a Financial Town Meeting to a Financial Town Referendum. [Text of the referendum question here.] Which process is more democratic? Set aside the facility offered by the FTMeeting…

2010 Campaign Intrigue: John Loughlin (Yes, Loughlin) Was Asked To Step Aside for Frank Caprio

By Monique Chartier | October 18, 2011 |

Avid followers of Rhode Island politics are aware that John Robitaille was approached by the Frank Caprio campaign – and, in due course, by a circumspect Frank Caprio himself – about dropping out of the 2010 gubernatorial race so as to avoid the four way race that ultimately got Linc Chafee elected. (Robitaille demurred and…

Who Just Said Sovereignty??? Terry G? Joe B? Oh, It Was the Governor!

By Monique Chartier | October 16, 2011 |

This is interesting. Sovereignty for certain segments of the state’s criminal justice system. A federal appeals court has upheld Gov. Lincoln Chafee’s right to refuse to turn over accused murderer Jason Pleau for federal prosecution that could result in the death penalty. … Chafee issued a written statement late Thursday that said, “I am gratified…

Pension (Half) Reform?

By Monique Chartier | October 15, 2011 |

So the pension reform proposal which General Treasurer Raimondo and Governor Chafee have been working on was leaked to the Providence Journal’s Kathy Gregg late Thursday. Congrats to Ms. Gregg for landing this scoop. Check out Andrew’s post for the projected legislative scheduling of the actual bill (still being finalized), a round-up of recent press…

The Dreamy One Chris Christie Will Endorse Mitt Romney

By Monique Chartier | October 11, 2011 |

FOX broke this a few minutes ago; h/t Fox News Radio’s John Gibson. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, just one week after definitively announcing he will not run for president in the 2012 race, plans to endorse Mitt Romney for the job Tuesday afternoon, Fox News has learned. The event is set to take place…

A Welcome Update on Pension Reform

By Monique Chartier | October 8, 2011 |

[With apologies for prematurely putting up the rough outline of a beta verison of a draft of this post earlier this morning.] Yesterday, in a briefing by Deputy Treasurer Mark Dingley to the State Retirement Board, we got more details as to the pension reform plan to be proposed by the Governor and General Treasurer…