Rhode Island Politics

Apparently, the Governor had commissioned a study of Rhode Island’s infamously convoluted structure for hiring, firing and compensating state employees. In that article from Wednesday’s Providence Journal in which she reports that legislative leaders will be briefed soon about the findings of the study, Kathy Gregg also secured this comment from one of the potentially…

I’m just amplifying Tim White’s latest WPRI report on the use, and possibly, abuse of state-owned vehicles for top politicians, titled “Taxpayer Taxi.” My immediate reaction is probably the same as everyone else’s, why the heck do they have state-owned and even chauffeured cars? Seriously? Here are all the people who we are paying to…

Rhode Island’s real Economic Development Corporation, a.k.a., the Rhode Island General Assembly, goes back into session in less than two months. Recently, newly Elected Speaker Gordon Fox pointed to one of his top priorities for the session. So let’s frame this latest ranking, brought to our attention by GoLocalProv, Providence ranks 94th among all U.S.…

In response to Justin’s response, I emailed him this below. We figured I should share with all. We’re having separate discussions with a little overlap. It seems his central point is that RI voters are ok with spending like drunken sailors. I agree. We’ve seen that every two years. I thought to myself a while…

To be blunt, I think Patrick’s analysis relies too heavily on one of the two clichés about Rhode Island politics that ought to be discarded. Last night wasn’t the RIGOP’s fault, in any institutional way. It isn’t some strategic error that’s led to the party’s status. It’s the society in which the RIGOP has to…

[11:19] Matt Allen on WPRO is saying all the major networks all calling the Presidential race for Barack Obama. [10:58] MN called for Obama by NBC. Obama in OH 50-48, with 2/3 of the vote reporting, and 70% of Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) left to report. Obama’s Electoral College lead looks pretty solid at this point.…

[9:52] Ted Nesi: “Cicilline up by nearly 10,000 votes now with 88% of precincts reporting.” [9:44] Multiple sources reporting that Cicilline is opening up a 3% or so lead. [9:40] Cicilline ahead of Doherty, 47.3-46.3, 59% percent of precincts in. And there are still a bunch of “delayed” Providence votes to arrive. [9:36] Multiple sources…

[8:59] Check that; Ted Nesi tweets: “Cicilline, Doherty separated by just over 100 votes with nearly half of precincts in”. [8:55] 29% of precincts in District 1, Cicilline ahead of Doherty 47.8-45.9, from BoE result. [8:48] Justin Katz, via Twitter, proposes a new state motto. [8:46] Bill Haberman on WPRO just reported that all 7…

I might come back and update this post as the day goes on. I voted at the same time today as I did on primary day. On primary day, I casted the seventh ballot at my precinct. Today, I casted the 184th. Where were you people?! Seriously. Do you realize that many elections are decided…

Kudos to WPRI’s Tim White for catching this. Rhode Island teachers were absent from school more than their colleagues anywhere else in the country, according to a report by a national think tank. The findings – released Monday by the Center for American Progress (CAP), a liberal think tank in Washington, D.C. – examined data…