Patrick Laverty

Want a Million Dollars?

By Patrick Laverty | November 4, 2012 |

Apparently the state of Rhode Island doesn’t. The state is owed $1,245,200 as of August, and possibly more by now. According to a monthly report from the RI Board of Elections, more than 250 politicians, candidates and Political Action Committees (PAC), both past and present, owe amounts ranging from as little as $25 to as…

What Comes Around Goes Around

By Patrick Laverty | November 3, 2012 |

It’s been interesting watching the RI Democratic Party Spokesman Bill Fischer bounce back and forth between arguments for his various clients. For months we’ve heard him talk about how Brendan Doherty won’t talk about the issues and just wants to distract with senseless, meaningless things. Then lately, Fischer tells us all about the alleged campaign…

Cicilline is Right

By Patrick Laverty | October 28, 2012 |

I don’t always see eye to eye with the decisions and policies from Congressman David Cicilline and his campaign and maybe some would say that I can even be critical at times. However, now I found something where I think I completely agree with him. I saw this posted on Twitter yesterday by his campaign…

Allegations of “Pay to Play”

By Patrick Laverty | October 20, 2012 |

It’s very interesting to see what happens when very powerful politicians finally face a challenger who is willing to call them out for various things. House Speaker Gordon Fox has an opponent, Mark Binder, who is calling him out on a few different things. First was the allegation that the General Assembly’s Public Communications Director…

“Everyone Knew”

By Patrick Laverty | October 19, 2012 |

How many times have we heard our incumbent legislators tell us that they had no idea the $75 million addition to the EDC was for 38 Studios? Many times. Even Senator Daniel DaPonte, the Senate Finance Chairman, claimed during his Newsmakers debate that this was done “above my pay grade.” In the first hour on…

I’m Paying For What?!?

By Patrick Laverty | October 18, 2012 |

Apparently I’m paying for the Burrillville-Glocester Youth Soccer Association. Excellent, can my child play there? Or how about the Elmwood Little League, where do I sign up? There’s also the History Warren Armory, I’ve helped pay for that. Maybe I’ll stop by the Richmond Community Center for some afternoon activities. And when I’m sick, I’ll…

Not So Fast Mr. Speaker

By Patrick Laverty | October 17, 2012 |

Today, RI House Speaker Gordon Fox put out a letter to members of his district. Andrew has already asked one question about it. If there is no political hay to be made about the 38 Studios debacle, then what is fair to talk about? Specifically, Speaker Fox wrote: It is disappointing that there are people…

Debates, Independents and Answering Matt

By Patrick Laverty | October 10, 2012 |

Well this must really be absolute crazytown. When I’m on the same side of an issue as Bob Plain and opposite from WPRO’s Matt Allen, it really makes me wonder if I’ve been replaced by aliens or something. Tonight on his radio show, Matt was debuting the new and more crotchety Matt Allen. A changed…

College Loans and Defaults

By Patrick Laverty | October 7, 2012 |

I had a discussion recently with GoLocalProv.com writer Dan McGowan after his article on college loan debt and we got onto the topic of whether that debt might ever be dischargeable through bankruptcy. I do think we’ll see a time when bankruptcy clears out loan debt and if Obama returns to the White House, he…

The Powerful and Powerless General Assembly

By Patrick Laverty | October 5, 2012 |

I had been planning to write a post like this but maybe later in the year. However, a letter to the Providence Journal by Mark Binder has sort of accelerated that. Binder is an Independent candidate for House District 4, the seat currently occupied by House Speaker Gordon Fox. On his web site, Binder illustrates…