Rhode Island Politics

Myopia Versus the Long View in Rhode Island

By Justin Katz | May 11, 2009 |

Self-described newcomer to local politics, Brian Gough, has a letter on the Sakonnet Times Web site criticizing reformers’ efforts. Individuals’ understanding of the appropriate actions of elected representatives, particularly those in leadership roles, may vary, and differences of opinion aren’t necessarily worth the expenditure of much heat. But Mr. Gough’s snap assessment of the sides…

Attorney General Belatedly Enters the Irons Fray

By Monique Chartier | May 3, 2009 |

… pointing out that the RI Supreme Court 1.) has messed up 2.) by skipping past grounds to exonerate William Irons. The attorney general argues the high court need not take up the constitutional question at all, that the Ethics Commission itself issued an advisory opinion that gave Irons the OK to cast legislative votes…

The Sort of Too-Easy Legislation That Has to Stop

By Justin Katz | May 1, 2009 |

Two General Assembly press releases from yesterday provide examples of the deceptively simple actions to which our state government is prone that are strangling to business and economic environment. The first comes from Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed (D – Jamestown, Newport): Rhode Island law prohibits health insurance companies from adjusting the premiums charged to…

Taxes and a Possible Taxer

By Justin Katz | April 30, 2009 |

Andrew briefed the audience of the Matt Allen show last night on the nature of Rhode Island taxes and fees, along with some notes on the bungling beginning of Lincoln Chafee’s gubernatorial run. Stream by clicking here, or download it.

Operation Clean Government Panel Audio (Continued 3)

By Justin Katz | April 28, 2009 |

Picking up from the end of the previous string of audio, the following audio is as described on Anchor Rising’s live blogging of Operation Clean Government’s spring forum: WPRO’s Dan Yorke asks how leaders can accomplish a major change in Rhode Island: stream, download (57sec) URI economics professor Leonard Lardaro suggests that we have to…

Operation Clean Government Panel Audio (Continued 2)

By Justin Katz | April 26, 2009 |

The following audio continues where the related post left off, in keeping with Anchor Rising’s live blogging of Operation Clean Government’s spring forum: WPRO’s Dan Yorke asked where the side that’s supposed to counterbalance special interests has been, to some confusion over whether he means elected representatives or voters, with short responses from General Treasurer…

Operation Clean Government Panel Audio (Continued)

By Justin Katz | April 26, 2009 |

As some have already noted in Anchor Rising’s play-by-play, some significant and interesting things were said at Operation Clean Government’s spring forum. Last night, I posted audio of Governor Carcieri’s unscheduled speech; thereafter, the panel took the stage: OCG President Arthur “Chuck” Barton introduces the panel, points out some significant people in the audience, and…

Update to “E-Verify and Rhode Island’s General Officers”

By Monique Chartier | April 25, 2009 |

Original post of the stances (or lack thereof) of RI’s General Officers on e-verify. One of the many interesting details that Justin reported from the Operation Clean Government event this morning is a switch by General Treasurer Frank Caprio on the matter of e-verify. Treasurer Caprio has gone from Rorschach test (neutral) to supportive. Pass…

The GOP Chairman Hits the Right Note on Controversy

By Justin Katz | April 25, 2009 |

Deliberately skirting the content of the news story, I’d like to note that I think RI-GOP Chairman Gio Cicione hit precisely the correct note regarding the drunk driving Democrat legislator: “I have trouble getting myself outraged about this,” state Republican Party chairman Giovanni Cicione said. “The guy should be a little more open about the…

Rhode Island’s (Excessive?) Generosity: First Hand Testimony

By Monique Chartier | April 25, 2009 |

One of the things I admire about Michael Morse over at Rescuing Providence is that he calls them as he sees them. From one of his reports posts of a couple of weeks ago. She’s twenty-four and homeless, and has been for four years. She has kids back in Ohio, had to leave them there…