Monique Chartier

Another Winter Impelled Shortcut to Resist: Burning Briquettes Under the Engine Block

By Monique Chartier | February 5, 2011 |

… to pre-heat the engine oil (even if it is insanely cold out). Here’s one way not to try and start your vehicle in cold weather: Don’t place burning charcoal briquettes under the engine. Workers at the Summit County Landfill found out the hard way Tuesday morning as temperatures were in the minus double digits.…

Murphy & Williamson Played Hide And Seek With 2009 Pension Analysis – Disclosure Issues? What Disclosure Issues?

By Monique Chartier | February 4, 2011 |

Could this be the kind of thing that has brought the SEC to Rhode Island? (H/T WPRO’s John Depetro.) More than two months have gone by since a pension study commission appointed by House Speaker William J. Murphy took a series of votes aimed at creating a new – and for taxpayers, significantly less expensive…

If We Take RTTT Funds But Don’t Implement RTTT Mandates, Isn’t that a Little Shady (or Worse)?

By Monique Chartier | January 31, 2011 |

WPRO’s Dan Yorke said it outright last week. An article on WPRI’s website today references it a little more obliquely. The rumor is that Governor Chafee wishes to accept Race to the Top funding for the state without implementing all of the conditions that accompany it. More specifically, it’s purported that he’d like to duck…

How Big is the Real Unfunded Pension Liability, Madam G.T.? We Had an Answer in October

By Monique Chartier | January 30, 2011 |

… though even it may have been too optimistic. In her interview yesterday with Kathy Gregg, General Treasurer Raimondo points out that the assumed rate of return on the state’s pension fund is almost certainly not realistic. She goes on to ask the logical question. Over 10 years, she said the state has averaged 4.4…

Alarming Pension (Non) News from the New General Treasurer; An Alarming, Pension Related Development from Moodys

By Monique Chartier | January 30, 2011 |

General Treasurer Gina Raimondo has been looking at the state’s pension fund books. She notes to the ProJo’s Kathy Gregg one bit of good news: the return on investment of the pension fund in 2010 was 12%. Unfortunately, that annual return rate was very much an anomaly. This is compounded, as we know, by years…

Cantor: No Bailout OR Bankruptcy for States

By Monique Chartier | January 25, 2011 |

You’ve probably heard about states’ – specifically not excluding Rhode Island’s – cash flow problems in which unfunded pension liabilities feature prominently. A federal bailout redux would kick the can down the road ease the problem for another year, though even the most tax-n-spend-happy state politicians have wisely been pessimistic about such a development. You…

Deploying Powder Against Powder?

By Monique Chartier | January 23, 2011 |

No question, snow removal can be a pain. But tempting as it may be, Abington police ask that you resist … shortcuts. [H/T Dave Barry’s blog.] An Abington man is being charged with creating bombs at his former address in Abington after police had been told the man was blowing up snow banks to avoid…

Somebody Check the Temperature in Hades: Fox Approves of Gist

By Monique Chartier | January 22, 2011 |

Exclusively in today’s GoLocalProv: … The future of Education Commissioner Deborah Gist remains unclear under Governor Lincoln Chafee, given their very public differences over such issues as charter schools. Fox readily admits that Gist is a controversial figure—which is just what he says Rhode Island needs. “I think she’s tackling some sensitive issues, but I…

Charlie Hall With the Latest from the Chafee Communication Team

By Monique Chartier | January 20, 2011 |

Courtesy Oceanstate Follies.

Bummer, Man: Building Owner Refuses to Sell to Bill Lynch and His Grass Gang

By Monique Chartier | January 19, 2011 |

The Valley Breeze – exclusively, it appears – broke this on their website today. PAWTUCKET – Owners of the TK Club are saying they’ve rejected a bid by a group of city politicians and businesspeople to purchase the building for a marijuana distribution center. Instead they’ve unofficially accepted a separate bid from a buyer who…