RI Governor ’10

RE: The Unthrilling Election

By Marc Comtois | October 1, 2010 |

On Matt Allen’s show earlier this week, Justin did a good job of explaining why there doesn’t seem to be any excitement surrounding this year’s RI Governor race. Basically, Democrats are getting hammered across the rest of the nation and the energy is on the side of the Tea Party/GOPers, which leaves our oh-so-Democratic state…

The Civics Interview with John Robitaille: “Is it by design or by accident that government has been growing as if on autopilot?”

By Carroll Andrew Morse | September 30, 2010 |

Question 4 to Republican Party Gubernatorial candidate John Robitaille: The combined state and municipal budgets for Rhode Island have grown steadily (adjusted for inflation) over the past 10 years, a period of time which includes September 11, 2001 and its immediate aftermath, the end-of-the-financial world as we knew it in 2008, and the relative lull…

The Civics Interview with John Robitaille: “What do you believe are the basic limits on what powers government can acquire over time?”

By Carroll Andrew Morse | September 30, 2010 |

Question 3 to Republican Party candidate John Robitaille: Much of the history of the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution has been defined by the fact that the Federal government gets to decide the scope of that Amendment and has over time tilted the playing field in favor of claiming more power for itself. Currently,…

The Unthrilling Election

By Justin Katz | September 30, 2010 |

On last night’s Matt Allen Show, Matt and I pondered why there seems to be little excitement around Rhode Island’s gubernatorial race. Stream by clicking here, or download it.

The Civics Interview with John Robitaille: “Are we living in a society that believes that financial-industry needs take precedence over democratic voice?”

By Carroll Andrew Morse | September 29, 2010 |

Question 2 to Republican Party Gubernatorial Candidate John Robitaille: One set of criteria in the new fiscal stabilization law that can trigger a municipal takeover by the state involves decisions made by bond-rating agencies. The 1990s RI Supreme Court opinion which will likely be used to justify this new law begins with the statement that…

The Civics Interview with John Robitaille: “Are we living in times so extreme that basic principles of democratic government need to be shoved aside?”

By Carroll Andrew Morse | September 29, 2010 |

Rhode Island’s media and civic organizations have done an excellent job giving the 2010 Gubernatorial candidates forums to present their views to the public. However, there has been at least one noticeable gap in the questions put to the candidates so far: questions involving some particular recent and longer-term state-level developments that relate to the…

The Civics Interview with Ken Block: “Is it by design or by accident that government has been growing as if on autopilot?”

By Carroll Andrew Morse | September 28, 2010 |

Question 4 to Moderate Party Gubernatorial Candidate Ken Block: The combined state and municipal budgets for Rhode Island have grown steadily (adjusted for inflation) over the past 10 years, a period of time which includes September 11, 2001 and its immediate aftermath, the end-of-the-financial world as we knew it in 2008, and the relative lull…

The Civics Interview with Ken Block: “What do you believe are the basic limits on what powers government can acquire over time?”

By Carroll Andrew Morse | September 28, 2010 |

Question 3 to Moderate Party Gubernatorial Candidate Ken Block: Much of the history of the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution has been defined by the fact that the Federal government gets to decide the scope of that Amendment and has over time tilted the playing field in favor of claiming more power for itself.…

The Civics Interview with Ken Block: “Are we living in a society that believes that financial-industry needs take precedence over democratic voice?”

By Carroll Andrew Morse | September 27, 2010 |

Question 2 to Moderate Party Gubernatorial Candidate Ken Block: One set of criteria in the new fiscal stabilization law that can trigger a municipal takeover by the state involves decisions made by bond-rating agencies. The 1990s RI Supreme Court opinion which will likely be used to justify this new law begins with the statement that…

The Civics Interview with Ken Block: “Are we living in times so extreme that basic principles of democratic government need to be shoved aside?”

By Carroll Andrew Morse | September 27, 2010 |

Rhode Island’s media and civic organizations have done an excellent job giving the 2010 Gubernatorial candidates forums to present their views to the public. However, there has been at least one noticeable gap in the questions put to the candidates so far: questions involving some particular recent and longer-term state-level developments, that relate to the…