Rhode Island Politics
Mr. Michael Dimascolo Office of the RI State Fire Marshal 118 Parade St. Providence, RI 02909 Mr. Dimascolo, It has come to my attention, from several sources, that during a recent class you were giving for Deputy Fire Marshals, you had the audacity to make the statement that Fire Marshall Denis Larocque, of West Warwick,…
While I would disagree with his characterization of the proposed budget that came out of the House Finance Committee last week, Dr. Michael E. Migliori raises an interesting point in today’s Providence Journal about State Rep and Providence school teacher Steven Smith (D-Providence/Johnston). It was illuminating to see the photograph of Rep. Steven Smith, president…
I have to admit that NEA head Bob Walsh’s proposal to give the public sector pension system “equity” from the state lottery instead of this year’s cash contribution confused me. Most prominently, I don’t see how a government that habitually spends hundreds of millions of dollars over its revenue can be presumed to need a…
The Democratic Primary campaign for Governor is on over at RI Future, and that blog’s owner and creator Matt Jerzyk is already taking shots at Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts — for being too far to the right! Well, we now have our second (likely) 2010 gubernatorial candidate ([Elizabeth Roberts], in addition to Frank Caprio) who…
This component of the RI House budget plan is nuts: he plan also includes funding for 100 of 400 slots slated to be eliminated from the early childhood education program, Head Start. In addition, the budget restores health care coverage for all but 1,000 of more than 7,000 adults slated to lose coverage under a…
With the economic crisis in Rhode Island, there is much talk (e.g., my recent post and Ian Donnis) about what it will take to generate real change and economic growth in the state. Leonard Lardaro, professor of economics at URI, offers his thoughts in a ProJo editorial Only RI Cure: Cut spending and taxes, where…
At a Providence City Republican Committee meet-the-candidates-event last evening, Providence GOP Chairman Dave Talan offered a firsthand observation on the importance of the Republican party fielding full slates of candidates, every election cycle…I like to tell a story from two years ago about my meeting with Representative Stephen Costantino from Federal Hill. On Primary Day…
The Ocean State Republican is reporting that Jon Scott will run for Congress against Patrick Kennedy in Rhode Island’s first Congressional district this cycle…Jon decided to gear up for a follow-up run for United States Congress (District 1), against Rep. Patrick “Patches” Kennedy. He is planning a very serious campaign which we are pleased to…
According to the Providence Journal, Bob Walsh of NEARI has been prowling the halls of the General Assembly peddling a “plan” to solve this year’s budget deficit. His protégé Pat Crowley has posted a version of it on the left-leaning RI Future blog. Though his proposal is coated in sugary language, should the General Assembly…
Today’s Providence Journal article on organized labor in the state is must-reading. This passage is particularly telling: But organized labor also has a strong voice in discussions about over health-care cuts for the poor, reduced benefits for foster children, environmental causes like such as recycling, and even gay marriage. Rhode Island unions have formed unique…