Separation of Powers

In addition to the fine points brought up by Justin, I would also add that Mr. Tarantino attacked Achorn for “inuendo” and seeking to “inflame, outrage and slander.” Tarantino wrote that, “Mr. Achorn rants against abuses in government, whether they be actual, perceived or imagined. I prefer to deal with real problems in a productive…

The thing about lawyers — as about salesmen — is their ability to persuade people into forgetting well-formed opinions and garnered knowledge about their occupation. Of course, most lawyers are ethical, and many rise beyond that boundary to become downright admirable. The point is that they’ve honed an approach to addressing problems that one oughtn’t…

As a result of the separation of powers legislation passed in November, legislators are barred from serving on Rhode Island’s executive boards and commissions. Governor Carcieri has proposed a new slate of members for the Rhode Island Lottery commission. Senate President William Murphy, however, claims the lottery commission is exempt from the separation of powers…

This posting builds on a previous posting entitled “Unprincipled, Undemocratic Behavior” and a related posting by Marc Comtois. Both postings noted how House Speaker Murphy and Senate President Montalbano were going to maintain the legislative meddling in certain executive matters in spite of the 78% voter approval in November of the Separation of Powers constitutional…

Also of interest in Achorn’s piece was the possibility of a potential quid pro quo between Montalbano and Murphy and Chief Justice Frank J. Williams. For some time, Williams had advocated that executive oversight, ie. the Governor, be removed with regards to the day-to-day operations (firings, hirings, raises, etc.) of the judicial branch. Interestingly, the…

Ed Achorn of the Providence Journal has published an important editorial in today’s paper that highlights how Rhode Island House Speaker William Murphy and Senate President Joseph Montalbano are, in Ed’s words, “boldly trying to nullify the [78%] landslide vote of November 2” for a constitutional amendment that brings separation of powers to the state.…