Rhode Island Politics

Sgouros’s Music to Delusional Ears

By Justin Katz | March 16, 2010 |

Having spent some time in the trenches over the past half-decade, arguing the finer points of Tom Sgouros’s economic analysis, as he compiled it one spun conclusion upon another, I have to say that his candidacy for General Treasurer has been a learning experience. It’s as if, by the time the collection of molded conclusions…

Which Is the Frying Pan, and Which Is the Fire?

By Justin Katz | March 12, 2010 |

Perhaps a more politically savvy operative than myself would see opportunity in it, but I find it discouraging to watch spats between factions of Rhode Island’s ruling party, because neither side will run the state well. It’s a bit like watching two ogres battle over who gets the larger portion of your flesh, with little…

Which Senator Would He Replace?

By Monique Chartier | March 12, 2010 |

It appears that with regard to his political options, Congressman Patrick Kennedy is keeping his powder dry and his campaign fund intact. In yesterday’s Washington Post, … he notes that he is not retiring for good. “I consider it taking a sabbatical,” he says. He will transfer his roughly $500,000 in campaign money to an…

“Sins of the Past” Contribute to Pension Woes

By Marc Comtois | March 11, 2010 |

ProJo has the story: Acting Auditor General Dennis E. Hoyle said…cities and towns need to look at their sometimes generous retirement plans, determine whether they are “sustainable or not” and make changes. He said cities and towns could improve the situation by making full contributions each year, raising employee contributions and transitioning out of defined-benefit…

Any Way to Tax the Productive

By Justin Katz | March 9, 2010 |

A letter by Middletown Republican Town Committee Chairman Antone Viveiros in the Newport Daily News directs attention to H7563, submitted by Rep. Amy Rice (D., Portsmouth). The legislation would add the following language to Rhode Island tax law: Opting out of the domestic production deduction. — All corporations doing business in the State of Rhode…

Connecting the Dots: The PPD Drug Ring

By Marc Comtois | March 9, 2010 |

It’s been a few days since the main players were divulged, so–based on information gathered in various stories–here is an attempt to show the links between the known players in the Providence PD drug ring and others. These links aren’t to be inferred as an accusation against those not charged, but they are interesting in…

General Assembly Waiting for Problems to Fix Themselves

By Justin Katz | March 8, 2010 |

Honestly, I don’t know how Rhode Islanders can read articles like this one without wanting to storm the State House. In brief, the General Assembly is now letting months pass by without resolving this year’s nine-figure budget deficit, and every day of delay makes the task more difficult, thus building political tolerance for the most…

Rhode Island at the National Level: Left and Leaving

By Justin Katz | March 7, 2010 |

You saw this, perchance? Rhode Island’s delegation to the U.S. Senate is the nation’s most liberal, with Democrats Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse tied in the number one spot, with partisans from three other states. All five scored 88 on the liberal composite scale…. It’s difficult to place Rhode Island on the left-right spectrum in…

Once More Into the (Canine) Budgetary Breach

By Monique Chartier | March 7, 2010 |

Scanning ProJo headlines yesterday, Katherine Gregg’s article about Governor Carcieri’s recommendations (more about that in a moment) for the Twin River slot parlor, which include an end to greyhound racing, caught my eye. This morning, while clearing out files, in a happy coincidence, I came across the clipping below from the July 11, 2003 front…

A Toll on the Governor’s Race

By Justin Katz | March 4, 2010 |

For my call in to the Matt Allen Show, last night, the topics were the proposed toll on the Sakonnet River Bridge and Board of Regents Member Angus Davis statements against Lincoln Chafee and the importance of maintaining a strong chain of authority for necessary reform up every rung of government. Stream by clicking here,…