“Saint” Gina? Nope. But the Firefighters Are (Inadvertantly) Making the Case.

Item #11 of Ian Donnis’ TGIF weekly round-up column yesterday refers with skepticism to the hyperbole that some observers use when referring to General Treasurer Gina Raimondo and her spearheading of Rhode Island’s 2011 pension reform.

What is it about Gina Raimondo that leads some reporters down the primrose path to breathless hyperbole?

Donnis is correct to be skeptical. Many of us see the “landmark” pension reform as markedly inadequate as evidenced by the fact that, even with the reform, the taxpayer’s contribution continues to rise every year.

Did it take strength to lead the charge for ANY sort of adjustment to pension benefits, even one that turned out to be as modest as eliminating the COLA? In a state where public union leadership far too often substitutes volume, bluster and bullying for mathematics, insight and reason (and often to the detriment of their rank and file members), yes, it certainly did.

But while she didn’t enact pension reform alone, so doesn’t get either all of the credit or all the blame, the end result did not warrant a lot of praise, much less the cringe-making hyperbole to which the authors of the book that Donnis references – and other commentators – resort.

On the other end of the scale, note to the firefighters. Of course, you have the right to do it. But be aware. Your protesting, to call it no worse, of her campaign events

Union firefighters continue to show their displeasure towards General Treasurer Gina Raimondo.

Raimondo was having a fundraiser at the Federal Reserve Restaurant and firefighters lined up across the street with signs and booed any guest who entered the building.

and her guests is almost certainly generating far more sympathy for Raimondo than it is disapproval.

[Monique is editor of the RI Taxpayer Times newsletter and spokesperson for R.I. Taxpayers. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the organization.]

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