Rhode Island Politics

House Judiciary Committee – Hearings of Interest Today

By Monique Chartier | April 8, 2009 |

At the Rise of the House, 4:30-ish, in Room 313 at the State House. (True, all bills and resolutions before the General Assembly are of interest!) House Bill No. 5298 BY Palumbo, Corvese, Malik, Gablinske, Jacquard ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – THE RHODE ISLAND TAXPAYER AND CITIZEN PROTECTION ACT OF…

“What Do We Need to Do to Get Out of This Mess?”

By Justin Katz | April 8, 2009 |

If you’re available on the morning of Saturday the 25th, you might consider joining me in North Kingstown, as a member of the the audience of Operation Clean Government’s spring public affairs forum, which is intended to probe “the RI fiscal train wreck.” There’s a breakfast beforehand, at 8:45 a.m., with the main event being…

2009 Supplemental Budget: Gov Refuses to Sign

By Monique Chartier | April 7, 2009 |

… nor will he veto it. Citing the absence in the budget of statutory pension reforms which are absolutely necessary to ensure sustainability Governor Carcieri has returned H5019 Sub A to the General Assembly, permitting it to become law without his signature. Additionally, his letter to the G.A., available

Chafee Likely to Run for Governor

By Marc Comtois | April 7, 2009 |

Ian Donnis has been admirably ferreting out hints for a while and now the ProJo has a story about it, so I suppose we should mention the likely entrance of former Senator Chafee into the Governor’s race. There.

Anchor Rising’s Top 10 Right-of-Center Rhode Islanders: On the Cusp

By Justin Katz | April 6, 2009 |

What’s particularly interesting about compiling a ranking of Rhode Islanders on the right is that there turned out to be such a close grouping that most of the list is subject to change with ease: Joe Trillo’s run for governor will surely increase his prominence and, therefore, his ability to affect the news cycle. Harry…

AFT Flyer: Find the Fib

By Monique Chartier | April 4, 2009 |

This flyer, in PDF form, urged the removal from the FY2009 budget of those articles which would have bestowed much needed management tools (i.e., lifted costly mandates) on cities and towns. Sent to several state legislators, it apparently did the trick as the matter has been pushed off to FY 2010. There is a major…

Loughlin in a Rat-a-tat-tat

By Justin Katz | April 4, 2009 |

There seemed to be something different about the pacing of Newsmakers, last week, when Rep. John Loughlin was on. The questions came at a rapid-fire-pace. I think John did well, in that environment, although his answer didn’t quite address what I would have liked to hear on the (now moot) question of delaying the financial…

Governor, Veto This Budget!

By Justin Katz | April 3, 2009 |

The best indication that Governor Carcieri’s decision on whether to veto or sign the General Assembly’s modified supplemental budget comes in today’s Projo story on the Senate’s vote yesterday: “It was an issue that without making restorations in municipal aid, the House apparently was not going to be able to pass a budget,” [Senate Finance…

Anchor Rising’s Top 10 Right-of-Center Rhode Islanders: 2, 1

By Justin Katz | April 3, 2009 |

It isn’t until one attempts to score people’s influence and power that it becomes clear what separates the tiers — and what an opportunity and responsibility having the spotlight can be. By virtue of their offices, our top 2 are well ahead of the rest of the pack, and unless conservatives (or otherwise right-of-center players)…

Snippets from the House Debate & Vote on the FY09 Supplemental

By Monique Chartier | April 2, 2009 |

… which started early afternoon and ended around 10:00 pm. I attended the last two hours. A substantive description, courtesy the ProJo, of the budget as it will go to the Senate is available here. > One of my favorite moments during the debate last came when Gordon Fox snapped at Bob Watson, “Sit down…