Rhode Island Politics

The Signage War

By Justin Katz | September 25, 2010 |

I’ve wanted to mention: Over the past few weeks, I’ve been driving up and down a number of the main roads in the East Bay, particularly on Aquidneck Island and east of the Sakonnet River. In the balance of yard signs, I have to say that it isn’t even a contest between the Republicans and…

The Missing Tools – Why Car and Property Taxes are Going Up in Too Many Cities and Towns

By Monique Chartier | September 25, 2010 |

In an e-blast yesterday, the John Robitaille campaign helpfully supplied the list for which I have been hunting since the end of the last G.A. session: all of the local budget control tools which the General Assembly refused to supply to cities and towns. (One item only from the list made it into law: a…

Remembering the Pain

By Justin Katz | September 23, 2010 |

On last night’s Matt Allen Show, Andrew noted that voters tend to forget, by November, all of the things that upset them throughout the year and suggested that Anchor Rising can help to remedy the situation. Stream by clicking here, or download it.

What the Pension Reform Vote Tells us About the Current State of the Legislature

By Carroll Andrew Morse | September 22, 2010 |

The “Article 16” vote, which apparently was the litmus test for organized labor’s support of sitting legislators, was a vote on limiting cost-of-living increases to the first $35,000 of benefits for state employees, teachers, judges and “justices” who retired after September 2009 (see pg. 138). Before the full article was voted on, there was also…

But Don’t Tar Everybody, Especially When Independence Is the Message

By Justin Katz | September 21, 2010 |

However one feels about specific, statewide campaigns, it’s worth remembering that candidates (especially those running as Republicans) are individuals worthy of assessment on their own merits. It remains critical to bring new faces and political balance to the General Assembly, especially in light of the proven union influence on policy, there. The Clean Slate Web…

Nothing from Nothing Leaves Nothing

By Marc Comtois | September 21, 2010 |

Did you hear about the controversy surrounding the Republican candidate for Lt. Governor pulling out in favor of an independent? Crickets. That’s the response I’ve gotten from an informal survey of non-political types. That about says it all, doesn’t it? So, while in-the-know political observers (including us) continue to entertain ourselves with this tempest in…

Unnecessary Division

By Justin Katz | September 21, 2010 |

I suspect that those who orchestrated Heidi Rogers’ move of withdrawing from the race for lieutenant governor in order to ensure an easier path for independent candidate Robert Healey did not anticipate such controversy: Kara D. Russo, who lost the Republican primary for lieutenant governor, filed a legal complaint with the state Board of Elections…

Doing Well in the General Assembly

By Justin Katz | September 20, 2010 |

The spin is bad enough: House Speaker Gordon D. Fox said that while Republicans talk about a need for balance, Democrats can talk about accomplishments — pension reform, a budget deficit that recently turned into a surplus and passage of an education-financing formula, to name a few. Pension reform has been pitiful and inadequate. The…

Half-Truth-O-Meter

By Justin Katz | September 19, 2010 |

As difficult as it may be for me to come to the defense of Patrick Lynch, I have to point out that the PolitiFact folks are doing exactly what they accuse Lynch of doing, here: Our Truth-O-Meter can’t predict the future, so we don’t know if the jobs estimates being projected by either Lynch or…

RIGOP “All In” for Healey as Lt. Guv

By Marc Comtois | September 17, 2010 |

According to the ProJo, GOP Candidate for Lt. Governor Heidi Rodgers is going to pull out, leaving the way clear for Cool Moose Party Candidate Bob Healey. Rogers said she was dropping out to give Healey a better chance of winning because “Bob Healey and I believe in the same vision for the office of…