Rhode Island Politics

How Partisanism Is Supposed to Function

By Justin Katz | September 29, 2009 |

From the RIGOP: The Rhode Island Republican Party has today filed an Ethics complaint against Attorney General Patrick Lynch stemming from his acceptance of gifts from industry associations that he regulates. Attorney General Patrick Lynch has violated Regulation 36-14-5009 of the Code of Ethics, which prohibits public officials from receiving a gift of more than…

Rhode Island Politician Inclined to Run to Big Brother

By Justin Katz | September 28, 2009 |

The Providence Journal today published a very disappointing op-ed from Rep. John Loughlin (R, Tiverton, Portsmouth, Little Compton) that Monique posted on Anchor Rising back in March to some extensive commentary. Loughlin’s premises are that we have a moral obligation to fulfill the pension expectations of public employees and teachers who are vested in the…

Radio Alert: RI Senate President on WPRO at 9:00 am

By Monique Chartier | September 28, 2009 |

Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed will appear on the John DePetro Show this morning. Click here to stream live. Though Tara Granahan wasn’t sure a few minutes ago whether the Senate President would be taking calls, some questions may suggestion themselves from this interview with the ProJo’s Katherine Gregg.

Tom Ward on Whitehouse’s Pro-ACORN Vote – What Was His Prior Job Title?

By Monique Chartier | September 27, 2009 |

After concurring with Justin’s doubts about bonuses and the definition of profits at Twin River, Valley Breeze Publisher Tom Ward contrasts a notable item on Senator Whitehouse’s resume with his vote a couple of weeks ago to continue funding ACORN. Rhode Island’s former chief law enforcement officer, ex-Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse, voted to continue funding…

Playing Politics in the State’s Center of Politics

By Justin Katz | September 25, 2009 |

The in-boxes of Rhode Island’s state senators have been the battleground, of late, for a political spat between Sen. Leonidas Raptakis (D, Coventry, East Greenwich, Warwick, West Warwick) and Sen. Daniel DaPonte (D., East Providence, Pawtucket): Raptakis wrote to Senate President Theresa Paiva Weed to suggest that the legislature should reconvene (PDF). DaPonte wrote a…

Contrasting Healthcare Fora

By Justin Katz | September 24, 2009 |

I’ve just received word that I will be allowed to do my liveblogging, YouTubing thing at Congressman Patrick Kennedy’s limited-attendance healthcare forum, on Saturday. We can then compare and contrast the candidate, audience, and message with State Representative John Loughlin’s healthcare town hall meeting in Tiverton on Wednesday.

Disappointing First Definition

By Justin Katz | September 23, 2009 |

So we’ve all supported the right of the Moderate Party to form, and it’s been an interesting process. Now that Ken Block has achieved the milestone of officiality, however, the big question is what the group actually means by “moderate.” The 4E marketing — economy, ethics, education, and the environment — is tantamount to declaring,…

Democrats’ Use of the Office of Governor

By Justin Katz | September 21, 2009 |

As evidence of the suggestion, in this morning’s vlog, that Rhode Island Democrats mainly utilize the governor’s office as a scapegoat, I present Travis Rowley’s calling out of Senator John Tassoni (D., Smithfield) for his obvious attempts to hand the General Assembly’s garbage to the governor: Perhaps worse than their inability to fiscally restrain themselves…

Vlog #7: Draft So-and-So

By Justin Katz | September 21, 2009 |

Whether it’s an off-season taste or the initiation of the 2010 election season on Anchor Rising time will tell, but my vlog this week concerns the practice of “drafting” candidates for office; specifically for governor:

Gov Orders Defunding of ACORN-RI

By Monique Chartier | September 18, 2009 |

Press release of an hour ago: With the recent revelations of alleged fraudulent and potentially illegal activity by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) being reported across the country, Governor Carcieri today ordered all department directors and state agencies to immediately identify and cease any payments being made directly to ACORN-RI or…