Rhode Island Politics
As you might remember, I sent a few questions to State Senator Walter Felag on April 30. I guess Hummel was right when he showed us that members of the Assembly do not respond to non-constituents. More than a week later and no response from the Senator. I guess I shouldn’t hold my breath, but…
As Bob Plain reports: Writing on behalf of the 80,000 members of the AFL-CIO, union leaders George Nee and Maureen Martin sent a letter to every member of the legislature asking that ALEC memberships not be funded with taxpayer money. “If the views and priorities of ALEC align with your personal beliefs, then by all…
I was reading Phil Marcelo’s story in the Providence Journal today about the state legislators who had joined ALEC but weren’t too familiar with the organization. One thing near the end that stuck out was Sen. Walter Felag looking into canceling his membership. I decided to steal a page from Andrew’s book and send Senator…
On Friday, Governor Chafee signed the bill that created the unpaid position of state Historian Laureate. Per the ProJo, … the presumptive candidate-in-waiting has been the controversial lawyer, historian and developer Patrick T. Conley. Let’s not forget that in the mighty battle to bring separation of powers to Rhode Island, Dr. Conley testified at length…
Justin live-blogged the Senate Finance Committee hearing of Governor Chafee’s Municipal Relief Package for Ocean State Current. Justin’s coverage of hearings on Smith Hill are a treat for us followers of Rhode Island policy and politics because he includes many interesting and enlightening details and macro items. This time is no exception. Therefore, with great…
Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney made a campaign appearance in Warwick today. Justin liveblogged the event at the Ocean State Current. Anthony Gemma announced a Sunday announcement “regarding his political intentions that will positively impact the political, economic, and cultural fates of Rhode Island and, by extension, the United States of America for the foreseeable…
Yes, as Andrew notes, Ian Donnis points out at On Politics that Senator Ciccone has an arrest record. State Senator Frank A. Ciccone, under fire for threatening comments allegedly made to Barrington police during a road stop last week, was arrested twice in the early 1980s and testified under immunity against the late former state…
How did I miss Item #3 from Ted Nesi’s most recent “Saturday Morning Post”? (Thanks to a friend for pointing it out. H/T John Depetro for invoking an excellent Italian word to describe the senator’s now notorious actions last week.) … The majority leader’s arrest report was released Wednesday morning by Barrington Police Chief John…
One skill that you can learn by watching the local politicians is a nice way to evade any tough questions. Simply don’t answer them. I don’t mean you just sit there and stare at the questioner, but you answer the question you want to answer. On this weekend’s Newsmakers, Governor Chafee was the guest and…
… as Andrew noted on his list, though you wouldn’t know it from the General Assembly’s Bill Status page (which still has both 7315 and 7927 “scheduled for hearing and/or consideration” on March 19). If you very reasonably object to a major enticement – employment – to illegal immigration; if you would prefer private and…