Johnston mayoral candidate Peter Filippi presents the Ocean State Current with copies of the mailings that have been send to his home. Filippi is convinced that is opponent, Joseph Polisena, the incumbent Democratic mayor, is at least partly responsible. Polisena denies the allegations.
The Republican mayoral candidate in Johnston says he’s being pushed out of the race; others say he’s raising legitimate question about union benefits.
Rhode Island has received national attention to implementing pension reforms that address unfunded liabilities. But the action has not been matched at the local level where retirement plans are set to implode
West Warwick for all; the essence of education reform; declines in people births; declines in business births; the easy street to dependency.
Bob Plain’s petit four of class warfare; CA’s bid for more pension fund dollars; a martial metaphor for regionalization; a downturn for the never-recovered; Coulter v. View mention of RI.
The RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity’s General Assembly Freedom Index shifts the good-government-advocate spotlight, with some results that run across the grain of public perception.
The narrative of the candidates; death panels and pension boards; the endgame of government debt; an enemies list.
Days off from retirement in Cranston; the conspiracy of low interest rates; sympathy with the Satanic Verses; the gas mandate; and the weaponized media.
Today it’s debt and gambling, from bonds to pensions to entitlements, with consideration of regionalization, ObamaCare, and campaign finance.
A spokeswoman for Treasurer Gina Raimondo offers some sparing details on her office’s hedge fund strategy, but the outlook for adequate investment returns continues to be gloomy.
Even more context for President Obama’s Roanoake speech produces even worse context, in Justin’s view.
GOP Congressional Candidate Michael Riley says RI Treasurer Gina Raimondo’s hedge fund strategy might make sense, depending on execution.
The latest national unfunded pension liability estimate of $4.6 trillion ought to spark conversation about the meaning (and value) of risk.
Rhode Island taxpayers have been fleeing the state since 2003, bringing their money and productivity with them; the trend can definitely be reversed, but it’s a choice that residents will have to make.
An attempt to consider whether Treasurer Gina Raimondo’s investment assumptions are reasonable leads to deeper (frightening) considerations.
Various national organizations have attempted to calculate unfunded liabilities for Rhode Island and other states across the nation. The differences are dramatic and indicate reason for concern.
A New York Times mention of Woonsocket’s problems has the state buzzing; Justin suggests that everybody should look a little more deeply into the heart of Rhode Island’s problems.
In a mildly whimsical video blog, Justin explains pension fund discount rates and the risk associated with shooting too high.
Dept. of Revenue Director Gallogly comments on pension issues and communities on the brink of state oversight.
Addressing city’s pension shortfall, Woonsocket budget commission faces another $7 million annual deficit, addressing $46 million gap over five years.
As public officials debate the appropriate next steps for Woonsocket, the city’s local pension plan provides an example for caution.
General Treasurer Gina Raimondo expresses concerns about a bill to bring Central Falls and other struggling pension systems into MERS.
Justin writes live from the RI Senate Committee on Finance, including Central Falls retirees and a path to MERS.
Using a police windfall award to (possibly) eliminate pension problems may seem like common sense, but when the dynamics of government are considered, Justin suggests rationality goes in the other direction.
It is definitely a matter of concern that 38 Studios may cost RI some large portion of the debt that it guaranteed, but Justin suggests a little perspective might be in order to learn from the experience.
Legislation bringing Central Falls and other municipalities into MERS limits pension cuts to 25% and may set precedent for repeated state bailouts.
A bill by Sen. Crowley and the Dept. of Revenue would allow cities and towns to use the state oversight process to move retirees into the state-run MERS pension system.
The General Treasurer’s office clarifies, for the Current, a chart showing a brief period of pension investment returns below expectations.
New methods of math education remind Justin of the math that professionals and politicians are using, even now, to conceptualize pension funds.
Polemics can give a sense of the debate concerning reasonable predictions, and investment returns are no different.