Governor

A water drop and ripples

McKee is doing exactly what King George did.

By Justin Katz | December 27, 2021 |

This complaint in the Declaration of Independence came to mind while reading Democrat Governor Dan McKee’s executive order on the calculation of unemployment insurance fees for businesses: For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. Here’s the relevant text from McKee’s order: References to…

No Indication McKee Administration Conducted Analysis of Impact of Vaccine Mandate

By Monique Chartier | December 27, 2021 |

On October 1, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee ordered the enforcement of a vaccine mandate on Rhode Island healthcare workers. Governor McKee’s vaccine mandate would almost certainly sideline healthcare workers (who did not get vaccinated), though the number would not be knowable at the planning stage. And there would be a corresponding impact on public…

An IV drip

An Open Letter to Governor Daniel McKee with COVID Solutions

By Michael Chippendale | December 22, 2021 |

Governor McKee’s commands will not help hospitals, schools, businesses, or the people of Rhode Island, but a different approach is possible.

A water drop and ripples

Did we tip Magaziner off to a political opportunity?

By Justin Katz | December 21, 2021 |

This isn’t exactly a difficult political opportunity to identify, but it’s fun to wonder whether somebody on Seth Magaziner’s campaign team listened to my weekly segment with John DePetro, yesterday: We must address the dangerous hospital staffing shortage that has created a state of crisis in emergency rooms and other care delivery facilities across the…

A skull screams amidst hands

Politics This Week with John DePetro: Shouting into the Echo Chamber

By Justin Katz | December 20, 2021 |

John and Justin marvel at the inability of RI insiders to address the obvious problems facing the people they say they represent.

Cash under a medical mask

Even the stuff state lawmakers are proud of is wrong.

By Justin Katz | December 16, 2021 |

Sometimes I have to wonder whether I’m one of only a few people in the state who read about the policy doings of legislators and the governor and see the wall-to-wall violations of good government… and propriety. The waves of borrowed cash that the federal government has injected into the veins of our incompetent and…

A dragon statue & medical mask

States of emergency shouldn’t be used to manage viruses.

By Justin Katz | December 16, 2021 |

Rhode Island Republican House Minority Leader Blake Filippi lays out the simple steps of his argument that Democrat Governor Dan McKee is acting outside of his authority by continuing the COVID state of emergency: A thread on the lawlessness of @GovDanMcKee’s emergency powers: §30-15-9 used to allow the Governor to declare an emergency with no…

Actors pose in front of a curtain

Politics This Week with John DePetro: On the Political Theater of the Incompetent

By Justin Katz | December 13, 2021 |

John and Justin review instances of political theater in RI and the harmful effects the reactions are having.

The State House rotunda at Christmastime

Politics This Week with John DePetro: Campaign Season Starts Early!

By Justin Katz | December 7, 2021 |

John and Justin delve into the already-thick snow drifts of political campaign season.

Blake Filippi's official portrait

Filippi was right to resist the lure of a relatively open campaign space.

By Justin Katz | December 4, 2021 |

Political observers in Rhode Island shouldn’t be surprised by this announcement from Rhode Island House Minority Leader Blake Filippi: Representing the People of Charlestown, Block Island, South Kingstown and Westerly is the best job, one which I hope to continue in the years ahead. I look forward to helping the Republican nominee for Governor, and…