Topics
City/Town Government
Newsflash: Poll Shows Rhode Island Voters Don’t Like Other Guys’ Politicians
The poll results put out by the Hassenfeld Institute at Bryant University are unsurprising and really don’t tell us anything new.
If You’re Going to Bribe State or Local Officials, Make Sure You Have a Solid Retainer Arrangement
Former Central Falls mayor Charles Moreau is about to be set free “after serving half his two-year sentence” on corruption charges (background available from Michelle Smith of the Associated Press, here), as a result of a First Circuit Court of Appeals opinion from June of last year. Two key factors made the decision in USA vs. Fernandez directly relevant to the Moreau case.
1. Moreau was apparently convicted of accepting not a “bribe” but a “gratuity”. What’s the difference? The First Circuit quotes a 1999 Supreme Court opinion to explain…
[F]or bribery there must be a quid pro quo — a specific intent to give or receive something of value in exchange for an official act. An illegal gratuity, on the other hand, may constitute merely a reward for some future act that the public official will take (and may already have determined to take), or for a past act that he has already taken.
2. The court then notes the structure of Federal statute…
§ 201(b) targets (primarily) federal officials, while § 666 targets non-federal officials who happen to have a connection to federal funds. It is reasonable to assume that the federal government viewed corrupt federal officials involved in the receipt of bribes as more culpable.
…where § 201(b) makes “bribes” and “gratuities” illegal, while § 666 (yes, that’s really the number) makes only “bribes” illegal.
According to Ms. Smith’s report, with the gratuity conviction no longer valid in the First Circuit because Moreau was a local and not a Federal official, Moreau and the prosecutors have made a deal where he will plead guilty to a bribery charge, in return for a sentence of time served.
If you need one sentence to explain to your friends and neighbors the law that led to this outcome, this should do: While it’s illegal to engage in a la carte bribery of state or local officials in the US, you’re OK under Federal law if you’re able to buy them off on a retainer basis.
Mayor Angel Taveras’ Office Neither Confirms Nor Denies that He is Contemplating Giving a City Building to a Private Organization
Ocean State Current-Anchor Rising contacted the office of Providence Mayor Angel Taveras with regard to the prospect of the City of Providence giving a city building (246 Prairie Avenue) to a private organization …
Congress
Akash Chougule: CBO in February, Confounding Liberals and Vindicating Conservatives
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) spent February releasing research findings that showed the flaws of progressive policies.
Chafee Admin Won’t Let Rhode Islanders Keep Cancelled Health Insurance Policies That May or May Not Have Been Cancelled and May or May Not Still Exist
What does it mean if you’re barred from keeping a plan that may not exist?
10 News Conference Wingmen, Episode 7 (Shutdown, Pensions, and More)
Andrew Morse discusses the federal shutdown and Rhode Island politics with Bob Plain for a full half hour of News 10 Wingmen.
Culture & Family
Tax Policy, Migration, and the Battle of Good and Evil in Rhode Island, Part 2
Jason Becker poses some questions to Justin on tax policy, government services, and the migration of Rhode Islanders.
Tax Policy, Migration, and the Battle of Good and Evil in Rhode Island, Part 1
Jason Becker poses some questions to Justin on tax policy, government services, and the migration of Rhode Islanders.
Why the “Skills Gap” Talk Is Offensive
The government’s constant drum beat that it needs more resources and authority to shape the lives of its people is nakedly offensive.
Economy
Irreconcilable Views on Data and the Fix
Jobs and employment data allow different interpretations and come back (as every issue around here seems to do) to competing political philosophies.
Akash Chougule: CBO in February, Confounding Liberals and Vindicating Conservatives
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) spent February releasing research findings that showed the flaws of progressive policies.
RI Legislators Try to Cure the Illness with the Disease
Representative Raymond Hull’s legislation to make business decisions for Cox Communications is a fine example of why Rhode Islanders are suffering.
Education
Coming up in Committee on February 11 and 12: The Worst Institutional Design in Education History?
1. S2265/Bud. Art. 20: Completion of a full Dilbert cycle of Rhode Island’s education bureaucracy, where one board that was created by merging together two previous boards is re-reorganized into one board with two “councils”, each council being given basically the same responsibility as one of the original boards. (H Health, Education and Welfare/H Finance joint meeting; Tue, Feb 11, as Bud. Art. 20 & S Education/S Finance joint meeting; Wed, Feb 12, as S2265)
Akash Chougule: School Choice Can Bridge the Gap
One policy that would serve President Obama’s objective of reducing income inequality is school choice.
So the “Dual Role” Has Become An Excuse to Give the President of CCRI A Hearty Raise?
This week, GoLocalProv‘s Kate Nagle shined a multi-part spotlight on various spending items at CCRI, the Community College of Rhode Island, one of three state colleges/universities and, accordingly, annual recipient of many millions of state tax dollars. We have yet to hear why, for example, it is prudent and appropriate that college funds are used [...]
Environment
Climate Change??? YES! … Oh, Wait, Wrong Climate, Gov
Yesterday, Governor Chafee signed an Executive Order creating a state Climate Change Council.
When Pesky Facts Get In the Way of Building a Certain Consensus
To second and amplify everything Justin has said: for seventeen years, there has been no global warming trend, despite an inexorable rise of man-generated CO2. This is a development that was not predicted by global warming scientists, whose mantra has been: man-generated greenhouse gases will cause the planet to warm. This seventeen year pause has [...]
UPDATE – Third Icebreaker (and Cracking Ice) Will Hopefully Be the Charm for the Global Warming “Explorer” Ship Trapped in Antarctic Ice
As you may have heard, an explorer ship has been trapped in ice in the Antarctic since December 24. Everyone on board, scientists, tourists and crew, is fine at this point. In addition to commemorating the one hundredth anniversary of the expedition to the Antarctic led by Australian explorer Douglas Mawson, one of the goals [...]
Gambling
Beware Statists in Libertarian Clothing
Some libertarians have been encouraged to see the liberalization of laws on social issues, but they should go beyond the cliché that politics makes strange bedfellows and wonder why they have the company they do.
Betting the House for Rhode Island
Legislation submitted last week would allow people to gamble their assets (such as houses and investment accounts) at the new state-run casino.
Ballot Questions for the Voters
A brief analysis of the referenda questions that will appear on this November’s ballot in RI suggests that the state would be better off reordering its priorities, rather than expanding debt and doubling down on casinos.
General Assembly
A Bill to Narrow Religious Freedom, Cynically Presented as a Compromise
H7837: Defines additional criminal penalties and civil remedies for assaults intended to interfere with “obtaining or providing reproductive health services” or with “exercising or seeking to exercise…[the] right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship”. (H Judiciary; Tue, Mar 11)
This bill does not go as far as the Massachusetts law currently being challenged at the US Supreme Court, which prohibits let’s-call-them “unauthorized” individuals from standing within 35 feet of the entrance of an abortion clinic; the first section of this bill applies only to actions which involve “force”, “the threat of force” or “physical obstruction” intended to interfere with “obtaining or providing reproductive health services”.
Supposedly the second section of the bill treats “force”, “the threat of force” or “physical obstruction” intended to interfere with the “right of religious freedom” on equal footing — but it doesn’t.
The protection for “obtaining or providing reproductive health services” does not mention any specific location, yet the protection for freedom of religion does. Protection for “religious freedom” is applied only to “a place of religious worship”, meaning that, for example, if someone wants to say a prayer before, during or after a rally at the statehouse, this particular law provides no barrier to someone else deciding to use the threat of force to intimidate them into not doing so.
The narrowing of the basic definition of religious freedom, into something that only happens at places that the government decides are “places of religious worship”, is an unacceptable and cynical component of this bill. Don’t fall for this bill being some sort of compromise.
Coming up in Committee: Nineteen Sets of Bills Being Heard by the Rhode Island General Assembly, March 11 – March 13
1. On Tuesday, March 11 the House Judiciary Committee will hear a series of bills related to the issue of abortion:
- H7222: Prohibits state and local governments from interfering with “a woman’s personal decision” about becoming pregnant, having an abortion “prior to fetal viability”, or an abortion in the third trimester of a pregnancy “to protect the life or health of the woman”.
- H7223: Repeals the requirement of spousal notification of an abortion, currently in RI law.
- H7303: Requires that an obstetric ultrasound be performed on a pregnant woman before she can give informed consent for an abortion.
- H7330: Non-binding resolution stating that the House of Representatives “recognizes that the existence of a fetal heartbeat is evidence of the existence of human life”.
- H7383: Bans abortions for sex-selection, with a provision that “nothing in this chapter shall be construed to proscribe the performance of an abortion because the unborn child has a genetic disorder which is sex-linked”.
- H7403: Prohibits health insurance purchased from the Rhode Island health benefits exchange with state or Federal funds from covering “induced abortions, except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term or where the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest”.
- H7472: Adds an exception to the Medicaid/RIte Start ban on abortion coverage, allowing coverage in cases of “pregnancies resulting from rape or incest”.
- H7779: Repeals the prohibition on “health insurance contracts, plans, or policies” offering coverage for abortions except by “optional rider” with a separate premium.
- H7854: More specifically defines prohibited partial-birth abortion procedures.
- H7890: Provides funding of abortions through “public assistance” programs administered and/or financed by the RI department of human services.
2. Non-expiring contracts for municipal employees. H7464 says local contracts with police officers and firefighters would not expire “until such time as a successor agreement has been reached between the parties or an interest arbitration award has been rendered”; H7465 says municipal contracts with teachers and other municipal employees would not expire “until such time as a successor agreement has been reached between the parties”. (H Labor; Tue, Mar 11)
3. H7467: Allows retired police officers and firefighters to go to arbitration, to seek enforcement of the contract that was in place at the time they retired. (H Labor; Tue, Mar 11)
4. H7345: Allows cities and towns to issue bonds for an amounts up to 5% of their budgets to obtain loans from the “municipal road and bridge revolving fund administered by the Rhode Island clean water finance agency” without obtaining the approval of their electors, amended to allow this in calendar year 2014 only. (S2399 is the unamended version, which presumably will be amended during the committee hearing). (S Finance; Tue, Mar 11)
5. On Tuesday, March 11 the Senate Finance Committee will hear the HealthSource RI budget, i.e. the budget for Rhode Island’s state-funded Obamacare exchange (see p. 65 here). Also, on Wednesday, March 12 the House Finance Committee will hold its hearing on the departmental budget of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, which is the single largest major category in the state budget (about $2 billion, including state and Federal funds).
Rhode Island’s “Landmark” Pension Reform Still Leaves State Pension System in “Critical Status” By State’s Own Standard
The proposed “settlement” of Rhode Island’s 2011 pension reform law (has anyone explained yet how a law can be mediated?) is currently in the hands of rank and file union members. If they give the green light (has anyone explained yet how a non-ballot can equal a “yes” vote?), it goes to the General Assembly for consideration.
But let’s go back to the 2011 pension reform itself. First, look at this three page PDF, compiled by the state of Rhode Island, which lists “Locally Administered Pension Plans in Critical Status”; i.e., municipal pension systems. See the note in the box on the bottom left of each page?
Government
10 News Conference Wingmen, Episode 21 (Forcing Businesses to Stay)
Justin and Bob Plain discuss legislation to force utilities to maintain customer service centers within the state, and Bob illustrates that applying economics really isn’t a priority for the Left.
If You’re Going to Bribe State or Local Officials, Make Sure You Have a Solid Retainer Arrangement
Former Central Falls mayor Charles Moreau is about to be set free “after serving half his two-year sentence” on corruption charges (background available from Michelle Smith of the Associated Press, here), as a result of a First Circuit Court of Appeals opinion from June of last year. Two key factors made the decision in USA vs. Fernandez directly relevant to the Moreau case.
1. Moreau was apparently convicted of accepting not a “bribe” but a “gratuity”. What’s the difference? The First Circuit quotes a 1999 Supreme Court opinion to explain…
[F]or bribery there must be a quid pro quo — a specific intent to give or receive something of value in exchange for an official act. An illegal gratuity, on the other hand, may constitute merely a reward for some future act that the public official will take (and may already have determined to take), or for a past act that he has already taken.
2. The court then notes the structure of Federal statute…
§ 201(b) targets (primarily) federal officials, while § 666 targets non-federal officials who happen to have a connection to federal funds. It is reasonable to assume that the federal government viewed corrupt federal officials involved in the receipt of bribes as more culpable.
…where § 201(b) makes “bribes” and “gratuities” illegal, while § 666 (yes, that’s really the number) makes only “bribes” illegal.
According to Ms. Smith’s report, with the gratuity conviction no longer valid in the First Circuit because Moreau was a local and not a Federal official, Moreau and the prosecutors have made a deal where he will plead guilty to a bribery charge, in return for a sentence of time served.
If you need one sentence to explain to your friends and neighbors the law that led to this outcome, this should do: While it’s illegal to engage in a la carte bribery of state or local officials in the US, you’re OK under Federal law if you’re able to buy them off on a retainer basis.
The Revolution in Ukraine
Two weeks ago the question was how far would the government go beyond Russian-style anti-protest laws in restricting the civil liberties of the people, in order to protect the economic arrangements of a few. We learned at the start of this week that the Ukrainian government then in place was willing to murder its own citizens, rather than let them have the same options for making their way in the world that an average European has. This is the attitude of an unfree government, one that believes that people are disposable when they impede government priorities.
Because the Ukrainian people are standing firm, they are taking meaningful and necessary steps to show their government and the world that it is government that becomes disposable, once it becomes harmful to its citizens, and the people rise up to demand that it change its priorities as a result. Free people everywhere have common cause with those seeking freedom in Ukraine — literally today — to help ensure that the government there respects this reality, as Ukraine attempts to move forward.
Governor
Climate Change??? YES! … Oh, Wait, Wrong Climate, Gov
Yesterday, Governor Chafee signed an Executive Order creating a state Climate Change Council.
Working Toward a “People’s Pledge” in RI
The “People’s Pledge” is an agreement between political candidates that lessens the effect of outside, indirect spending on a political campaign. The three Democratic gubernatorial candidates all seem willing to discuss such a pledge in Rhode Island.
Minimum Wage Bidding War By Raimondo & Taveras Swiftly Rebuked By Latest Unemployment Rate
On Thursday, citing his mother’s employment history (how could you say no to his mother, you hard-hearted person???) , gubernatorial candidate Mayor Angel Taveras announced at a press conference that a hike to $10.10/hour of the state’s minimum wage should be phased in by 2018. A couple of hours later, General Treasurer Gina Raimondo, who, [...]
Healthcare
Akash Chougule: CBO in February, Confounding Liberals and Vindicating Conservatives
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) spent February releasing research findings that showed the flaws of progressive policies.
10 News Conference Wingmen, Episode 16 (Chafee & Tea Party)
Justin and Bob Plain talk Chafee’s State of the State and the influence of the Tea Party in Rhode Island.
RI Center For Freedom & Prosperity: “State Cannot Afford Operation of HealthSourceRI”
As readers may know, ObamaCare RI, a.k.a., HealthSourceRI (funny that they had to give it a different name), was created via Executive Order by Governor Chafee with federal funds that disappear next year. HealthSourceRI has turned into the consummate bloated, expensive and unnecessary governmental bureaucracy without even accomplishing one of its important claims of increasing [...]
History
The Revolution in Ukraine
Two weeks ago the question was how far would the government go beyond Russian-style anti-protest laws in restricting the civil liberties of the people, in order to protect the economic arrangements of a few. We learned at the start of this week that the Ukrainian government then in place was willing to murder its own citizens, rather than let them have the same options for making their way in the world that an average European has. This is the attitude of an unfree government, one that believes that people are disposable when they impede government priorities.
Because the Ukrainian people are standing firm, they are taking meaningful and necessary steps to show their government and the world that it is government that becomes disposable, once it becomes harmful to its citizens, and the people rise up to demand that it change its priorities as a result. Free people everywhere have common cause with those seeking freedom in Ukraine — literally today — to help ensure that the government there respects this reality, as Ukraine attempts to move forward.
Timely Thoughts on Veteran’s Day
Even after 150 years, the Gettysburg Address refocuses our attention away from a president and toward those who’ve sacrificed for the cause of a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
“Romans were blinded to what was happening to them by the very perfection of the material culture which they had created.”
Eileen Power on the Fall of Rome – Selections from Chapter 1 of Medieval People: The decline of Rome preceded and in some ways prepared the rise of the kingdoms and cultures which composed the medieval system….No observer should have failed to notice that the Roman Empire of the fourth and fifth centuries was no [...]
Immigration
Activists and Lawmakers Set to Challenge In-State Tuition for Illegal Aliens
Another round is looming in the dispute between members of the RI General Assembly and the attorney general over in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.
Rhode Island, nos trata a todos como extraños
Al igual que un conductor que no sabe donde los edifi cios que solían ser, los que no conocen los canales secretos del gobierno de RI tienen tres opciones.
Lower Unemployment in Alabama Corresponds with Immigration Law
Correlation is not causation, but Alabama’s employment picture has improved in the wake of its stringent immigration law.
Infrastructure
Tax Policy, Migration, and the Battle of Good and Evil in Rhode Island, Part 2
Jason Becker poses some questions to Justin on tax policy, government services, and the migration of Rhode Islanders.
Tax Policy, Migration, and the Battle of Good and Evil in Rhode Island, Part 1
Jason Becker poses some questions to Justin on tax policy, government services, and the migration of Rhode Islanders.
The Story of the Budget
The flow of money through the State of Rhode Island’s budget illustrates the perpetual scam that is government budgeting and should inspire Rhode Islanders to realize that they are allowed to make the machine run the other way.
Legislation
10 News Conference Wingmen, Episode 21 (Forcing Businesses to Stay)
Justin and Bob Plain discuss legislation to force utilities to maintain customer service centers within the state, and Bob illustrates that applying economics really isn’t a priority for the Left.
RI Legislators Try to Cure the Illness with the Disease
Representative Raymond Hull’s legislation to make business decisions for Cox Communications is a fine example of why Rhode Islanders are suffering.
The Pension Settlement from the Retirees’ Perspective
Straightening out the pension reform settlement agreement is no easy task, but it appears that 21,000 retirees are in a position akin to that of regular Rhode Islanders year in and year out.
Media
Journalism in Defense of the Status Quo
To the Providence Journal, the only thing anybody needs to know about the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity is that we can’t disprove allegations that we’re just a phony front group for the forces of evil.
Rhode Island’s Problem: Lack of Vision, Lack of Responsibility
The two most disturbing aspects of the Town Council meeting in Tiverton, last night, speak directly to the corruption of Rhode Island, more generally.
Changing the terms of debate doesn’t seem possible… until it seems inevitable
Libertarians and moderates who don’t think the Left’s strategy with same-sex marriage is transferable to economic issues should consider Rolling Stone and Shakespeare.
Musings & Announcements
Just to See If We Can
A point of risk and strain on a construction site gives some indication of how we should approach 2014.
Katz in Today’s ProJo: Participation In Boycott of WPRO Is Evidence That the Person Is Not Fit to Hold Office
Ed Fitzpatrick’s column in today’s Providence Journal is about the public union led attempt to boycott WPRO until they fire John Depetro. As preamble, I repeat my own take on this brouhaha: I don’t agree with Depetro’s use of those epithets. They were nasty and unnecessary. However, if Depetro had made his comments about the [...]
A Theory of Success; Confession
It’s easy to lump people into categories of their visible life circumstances, but life and luck aren’t so easily defined.
National Security
Government United in Surveillance, People Divided
An opportunity for unified action by all Americans looks likely to be thwarted by the discord that the government and political agents have sowed.
PolitiFacting in the Service of Extremism Is a Vice
The journalists at PolitiFact RI appear to be okay with military presumptions against Americans provided it’s in opposition to the Tea Party.
First Draft of the President’s Syria Resolution
Multiple media sources have published the first draft of the resolution on attacking Syria that the President will send to Congress for approval.
Pensions
Rhode Island’s “Landmark” Pension Reform Still Leaves State Pension System in “Critical Status” By State’s Own Standard
The proposed “settlement” of Rhode Island’s 2011 pension reform law (has anyone explained yet how a law can be mediated?) is currently in the hands of rank and file union members. If they give the green light (has anyone explained yet how a non-ballot can equal a “yes” vote?), it goes to the General Assembly for consideration.
But let’s go back to the 2011 pension reform itself. First, look at this three page PDF, compiled by the state of Rhode Island, which lists “Locally Administered Pension Plans in Critical Status”; i.e., municipal pension systems. See the note in the box on the bottom left of each page?
The Pension Settlement from the Retirees’ Perspective
Straightening out the pension reform settlement agreement is no easy task, but it appears that 21,000 retirees are in a position akin to that of regular Rhode Islanders year in and year out.
10 News Conference Wingmen, Episode 20 (Pension Reform Mediation)
Justin and Bob Plain discuss the pension mess (and Justin adds a bit of after the fact textual elaboration).
Political Theory
Irreconcilable Views on Data and the Fix
Jobs and employment data allow different interpretations and come back (as every issue around here seems to do) to competing political philosophies.
RI Legislators Try to Cure the Illness with the Disease
Representative Raymond Hull’s legislation to make business decisions for Cox Communications is a fine example of why Rhode Islanders are suffering.
Progressive Policy and Acceptable Suffering
Josh Barro’s willingness to break a few eggs for the minimum wage omelet raises questions about the Congressional Budget Office’s economic assumptions.
Politics
Akash Chougule: CBO in February, Confounding Liberals and Vindicating Conservatives
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) spent February releasing research findings that showed the flaws of progressive policies.
Rhode Island’s “Landmark” Pension Reform Still Leaves State Pension System in “Critical Status” By State’s Own Standard
The proposed “settlement” of Rhode Island’s 2011 pension reform law (has anyone explained yet how a law can be mediated?) is currently in the hands of rank and file union members. If they give the green light (has anyone explained yet how a non-ballot can equal a “yes” vote?), it goes to the General Assembly for consideration.
But let’s go back to the 2011 pension reform itself. First, look at this three page PDF, compiled by the state of Rhode Island, which lists “Locally Administered Pension Plans in Critical Status”; i.e., municipal pension systems. See the note in the box on the bottom left of each page?
Newsflash: Poll Shows Rhode Island Voters Don’t Like Other Guys’ Politicians
The poll results put out by the Hassenfeld Institute at Bryant University are unsurprising and really don’t tell us anything new.
Sports
Shut Down the NCAA
The NCAA handed down a one half of one game suspension for current Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel for taking money for autographs. However, they have a bit of a history with giving out much longer suspensions for lesser offenses. It’s time to shut down the NCAA.
Taxation
Rhode Island’s “Landmark” Pension Reform Still Leaves State Pension System in “Critical Status” By State’s Own Standard
The proposed “settlement” of Rhode Island’s 2011 pension reform law (has anyone explained yet how a law can be mediated?) is currently in the hands of rank and file union members. If they give the green light (has anyone explained yet how a non-ballot can equal a “yes” vote?), it goes to the General Assembly for consideration.
But let’s go back to the 2011 pension reform itself. First, look at this three page PDF, compiled by the state of Rhode Island, which lists “Locally Administered Pension Plans in Critical Status”; i.e., municipal pension systems. See the note in the box on the bottom left of each page?
Mayor Angel Taveras’ Office Neither Confirms Nor Denies that He is Contemplating Giving a City Building to a Private Organization
Ocean State Current-Anchor Rising contacted the office of Providence Mayor Angel Taveras with regard to the prospect of the City of Providence giving a city building (246 Prairie Avenue) to a private organization …
Pension Reform “Reform”: The Telltale Smile; Whither “Truth In Numbers”; Deliberately Deceptive Timing
Preamble Be sure to check out some of the very good coverage and analysis of the proposed pension reform “settlement” in the press. The ProJo story here. The WPRI story here. Arlene Violet’s column in Thursday’s Valley Breeze, “Stop the pension reform ‘reform’”, went to press before Friday’s slyly timed press conference but it is [...]
Unions
Rhode Island’s “Landmark” Pension Reform Still Leaves State Pension System in “Critical Status” By State’s Own Standard
The proposed “settlement” of Rhode Island’s 2011 pension reform law (has anyone explained yet how a law can be mediated?) is currently in the hands of rank and file union members. If they give the green light (has anyone explained yet how a non-ballot can equal a “yes” vote?), it goes to the General Assembly for consideration.
But let’s go back to the 2011 pension reform itself. First, look at this three page PDF, compiled by the state of Rhode Island, which lists “Locally Administered Pension Plans in Critical Status”; i.e., municipal pension systems. See the note in the box on the bottom left of each page?
RI Legislators Try to Cure the Illness with the Disease
Representative Raymond Hull’s legislation to make business decisions for Cox Communications is a fine example of why Rhode Islanders are suffering.
Journalism in Defense of the Status Quo
To the Providence Journal, the only thing anybody needs to know about the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity is that we can’t disprove allegations that we’re just a phony front group for the forces of evil.
Welfare
Progressive Policy and Acceptable Suffering
Josh Barro’s willingness to break a few eggs for the minimum wage omelet raises questions about the Congressional Budget Office’s economic assumptions.
10 News Conference Wingmen, Episode 16 (Chafee & Tea Party)
Justin and Bob Plain talk Chafee’s State of the State and the influence of the Tea Party in Rhode Island.
The Story of the Budget
The flow of money through the State of Rhode Island’s budget illustrates the perpetual scam that is government budgeting and should inspire Rhode Islanders to realize that they are allowed to make the machine run the other way.