Monique Chartier

Tom Ward: Pinpointing the Two Big Weaknesses in the G.A.’s Draft Budget

By Monique Chartier | June 19, 2009 |

From Valley Breeze publisher Tom Ward’s on-line only editorial of yesterday. • The pension “Cost of Living Adjustment” (COLA) cuts are minimal, and a joke. Those in the private sector would have to save well over a million dollars by age 60 to have anything even approaching the largesse of a state pension. Pension proposals…

… So Calling a Female General “Ma’am” Would Be Disrespectful?

By Monique Chartier | June 18, 2009 |

In a hearing room, Tuesday, on Capitol Hill. Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was testifying on the Louisiana coastal restoration process in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He began to answer one of Boxer’s questions with “ma’am” when Boxer immediately cut him off. “You know, do me a favor,”…

Gov’s Reaction to the G.A.’s Budget Bill

By Monique Chartier | June 17, 2009 |

Governor Carcieri’s office has issued this statement about the 2010 budget bill (PDF) passed late today by the House Finance Committee. While the budget does make some very difficult choices and includes pension reform, it does not include much needed structural changes that will move the state forward and make us competitive to create jobs…

“The Federal Government … Is the Health Care Equivalent of Bigfoot”

By Monique Chartier | June 16, 2009 |

Fred Thompson pointed out this afternoon that even the Chicago Tribune has doubts about President Obama’s proposed expansion of the federal government as a health care insurer. But we do know a few things about government-run health plans. We draw upon decades of experience with Medicare, the government’s plan for the elderly, and Medicaid, which…

Re: Dave, You May Want to Get a Ruler

By Monique Chartier | June 15, 2009 |

It had to be serious if even NOW was taking the side of Governor Palin and her family. Drudge is reporting that tonight on his show, Dave Letterman sincerely apologizes … especially to the two daughters involved, Bristol and Willow, and also to the governor and her family and everybody else who was outraged by…

Dave, You May Want to Get a Ruler

By Monique Chartier | June 14, 2009 |

No doubt, they were tasteless and crude, even about an eighteen year old, as he thought, and not a fourteen year old. They were also not particularly funny. But what reflects most poorly on David Letterman in his telling jokes about Sarah Palin’s daughter is that it demonstrates a lack of consistency on his part.…

False Emergencies, Real Dollars

By Monique Chartier | June 12, 2009 |

Mayor Cicilline has repeatedly expressed concern for the burden of the taxpayer. I’m sure I speak for taxpayers everywhere when I say “thanks”. My question is, does his concern manifest itself anyplace other than the expired firefighters’ contract? Let’s be clear. I’m the first to ask for a fair contract between municipality and valued public…

The Next Step in Government’s Ambivalent Relationship with Tobacco

By Monique Chartier | June 12, 2009 |

President Obama now has on his desk a bill permitting the FDA to regulate tobacco. After the bill becomes law, tobacco-product manufacturers must register with the FDA and provide a detailed product list. They also must pay user fees to cover the cost of the new regulation. The FDA can evaluate health claims made by…

John Loughlin Declares for District One

By Monique Chartier | June 11, 2009 |

The Ocean State Republican has the press release. Rep. Loughlin’s solution for Rhode Island’s substantial public pension liability is here. Check out his profile on Project Vote Smart. (H’mm, he voted in favor of voter i.d.) Visit his page on the Rhode Island House of Representatives web site which includes “latest initiatives and legislative activities”.…

“Free Speech” Zones in Providence

By Monique Chartier | June 10, 2009 |

First of all, ya gotta love the name. Some spin meister someplace was on all sixteen cylinders when s/he thought of that term for curbing the speech of protesters by herding them away from the action. “Free speech zones” have featured at the national conventions of both the Democrat and Republican parties, where the phrase…