Rhode Island Politics

The Pot Calling the Market Black

By Justin Katz | August 13, 2009 |

Somewhere in the mire of Rhode Island’s approach to legalized medical marijuana is a lesson about the way in which various forces operate in our legislature: Law-enforcement officials are uniformly opposed to the program that allows an illegal drug to be legally grown and distributed to licensed patients. They also are troubled by the lack…

Staley Cheats with His Wand

By Justin Katz | August 12, 2009 |

At about minute forty-four of the podcast of Dan Yorke’s interview with RISC Chairman Harry Staley, Dan poses the “magic wand” question that I’d answered in a union-busting way, and Harry answers as follows: More than anything else, I would like to effect a change in the citizens of Rhode Island from the terrible apathy…

The State’s Spending Practices

By Justin Katz | August 11, 2009 |

Former state representative Carol Mumford deserves a hear, hear for her op-ed in yesterday’s Providence Journal: Those who believe that Rhode Island is a poor state would be surprised to know that during most of my 10 years in office, the state’s revenue increased at the approximate rate of 3.5 percent a year. While our…

Policy Baubles to Distract from the Pocket Picking

By Justin Katz | August 9, 2009 |

Tom Sgouros used his just-about-regular column in the reputedly right-wing Providence Journal, yesterday, to promote his new book. Obviously 800 words is insufficient to synopsize such a work and present much depth from the arguments that appear therein, but one thing Sgouros accomplishes is to convey his role in the left-wing–labor alliance in Rhode Island:…

Be Regional Differences What They May, Yankee Republicans Must Be Made to See Their Own Drift

By Justin Katz | August 8, 2009 |

To be sure, Jon Scott doesn’t articulate anything that followers of the intra-Republican debate ’round here haven’t heard, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t treading precarious ground: “New Yankee Republicans” are fiscally conservative, believe in our nation and our troops but have little passion for social issues. “Live and let live… just don’t make me…

Challenges Must Be Issued in Woonsocket

By Justin Katz | August 7, 2009 |

Amidst all the talk about what can and might be cut in Woonsocket, this paragraph stands out: The 40 no-pay days were intended to save about $5 million. Council President Leo T. Fontaine questioned why the committee considered that approach, saying it was a violation of federal labor law. Schools Supt. Robert J Gerardi Jr.…

Re: Board of Elections Dismisses Lynch Complaint

By Justin Katz | August 7, 2009 |

Few folks probably pay much attention to the campaign finance controversies that pop up from time to time, and it’s difficult to get riled up about numbers so small. That presumes, of course, that the rules and penalties are applied equally; otherwise, minor errors and infractions are suggestive of the more systematic corruption that we…

A Fireside Chat with Dan

By Justin Katz | August 6, 2009 |

Alright, there wasn’t really a fire, but since we’re talking radio, I like to imagine that there was one. Dan Yorke and I had that sort of conversation, yesterday, on 630AM/99.7FM WPRO. Those who missed it or who would like to revisit something (for kind or scurrilous reasons) can stream the whole segment (about an…

Board of Elections Dismisses Lynch Complaint

By Carroll Andrew Morse | August 6, 2009 |

Cynthia Needham of the Projo’s 7-to-7 newsblog is reporting that the Rhode Island Board of Elections has dismissed the state Republican Party’s complaint against Attorney General Patrick Lynch, for reporting over $9,000 in campaign expenditures as “petty cash”. The dismissal was based on an amended filing submitted by the Lynch campaign…The Board of Elections Thursday…

The Thing About a Wand

By Justin Katz | August 5, 2009 |

Back in my Dungeons & Dragons days (Surprised? I didn’t think so.), the gang at day camp had a surplus of Dungeon Masters, and they would compete for the role by making various promises, among which was my procurement of a three-wish sword. In a lesson on the desirability of being desirable, the subsequent bartering…