Rhode Island Politics
Following up Justin’s earlier post, WPRO’s Dan Yorke took Rep. John Loughlin to task for adding his name to the Rice letter and thereby seeming to endorse the overall “it’s not the legislature’s fault” message that it tries to spin. Loughlin admitted his mistake and told Yorke he would be retracting his name from the…
Rhode Island is not alone in facing budget deficits as many other states (if not most) are in the same predicament. As a recent study by the Cato Institute shows, a lot of the deficit problems stem from generous public employee compensation packages. State and local governments face large budget deficits as revenues have stagnated…
If you felt a dip in the collective intelligence of Rhode Island life, yesterday, it was probably because the General Assembly is back in session, gleefully lighting the fuse of 2010 with no indication that legislators intend to turn the state around. The first spark came with a veto override bonanza, including the legislation that…
John Kostrzewa explains that Rhode Island’s economy is done harm by “inconsistent, zig-zag public policy decisions that have kept business owners, investors and people from locating” in the state. He’s talking about tax policy, there, but he goes on: … for yet another year, political leaders have put off the hard choices until well into…
Just in from the governor’s office: Governor Donald L. Carcieri today announced that Ioanna Morfessis has chosen not to accept the position of Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (EDC) due to a personal family matter. The Governor spoke with Ms. Morfessis late Tuesday afternoon. “While I am disappointed that Ioanna will…
Governor Carcieri’s reaction Tuesday on FOX Business, principally to the price that states will pay for health care reform but also to the federal largesse that would soon ensure its passage in the Senate, inspires it. … You said it very well. I mean, this looks like Let’s make a Deal. I don’t know what…
I’ve got a piece in the current Providence Business news that takes issue with some well-intentioned strategies for reforming Rhode Island (ignore the title given to the essay; it’ll only confuse): The citizenry — the bought and paid, the apathetic, the ideologically blinkered — is ultimately the problem, and changing its civic habits must be…
To help cities and towns close budget gaps which might crop up in part by a proposed reduction in state aid, Governor Carcieri has suggested that municipalities around Rhode Island negotiate a 3% reduction in teacher salaries. Carcieri said he wants teachers to make the same sacrifice state workers are making. He wants every district…
… I’d wonder whether we had an effect on this issue. Governor Carcieri has vetoed the apprenticeship gift to large, union contractors legislation: In accordance with the provisions of Section 14, Article IX of the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island and Section 42-1-4 of the Rhode Island General laws, I transmit, with my…
Monique and Matt covered budgets and leadership on Wednesday night’s Matt Allen Show. Stream by clicking here, or download it.