Again in Providence, it seems that police want to go after a symptom and not the cause. In 2002, then-mayor Cianci closed down two downtown Providence pizza places because drunk rowdies assaulted a police officer outside the establishments. At that time, Cianci recommended that the businesses be closed down due to the behavior of people outside, on the sidewalk. Sure, makes sense, right?
And in other news, the House Oversight Committee, chaired by Representative Michael Marcello is going to begin investigating what happened with the state’s credit union crisis, the burning of the Gaspee and the Dorr Rebellion. Hey, why not? I mean, we shouldn’t be rushing into these things.
Ethical hardship in the governor’s office; IRS scandal… drip, tick, drip, tock; missing culprits in racial division; getting out of the pension business.
IRS targeting, news media nonchalance, and the interweaving of private political groups with government illustrate a system at all levels designed to exclude and counter people of different views.
Undermining the civic structure of the United States is a bit more serious of an act than should be compartmentalized in balance with endearing sci-fi references.
A deeper look at precedent suggests that the Ethics Commission should not erode its authority to give the governor his way on the Commissioner of Higher Education, and the public should reverse the erosion of its own authority.
An update on the Commissioner of Higher Education ethics issue doesn’t cast the state executive in any better light, and marketing materials for the RI ObamaCare health benefits exchange don’t present young men as parts of families.
Governor Chafee’s intended appointment of Eva-Marie Mancuso as Commissioner of Higher Education appears to violate the state Code of Ethics, given that she’s chairwoman of the board that will (or won’t) appoint her.
Taxpayers in Little Compton feel as if they’ve been thrown under the bus and plan to prove it to elected officials.
Every year at the end of the General Assembly session, we see late nights and Representatives getting a little hot under the collar, both literally and figuratively. For some reason, our legislature thinks it’s a good idea to hold all the important bills until the last minute when everyone is tired and just want to go home.
Interpreting the travel of the Sakonnet River Bridge toll legislation is apt to make a Rhode Islander even more cynical.
A tweeted summary of the history of the legislative implementation of Sakonnet River Bridge tolls.
Banning dog bans. Is that really the best use of our General Assembly’s time? Is the whole economy fixed? Are we just chugging right along now with low unemployment and high wages, similar to South Dakota? Nope. We’re worried about banning dog bans. And will this open up liability for the state?
The unexpected twists of the RI House budget debate indicate much deeper changes in Rhode Island’s political landscape, and voters should pay attention.
Justin’s back at the State House for round 2 of the House budget debate.
If House leadership is allowed to move to reconsider bills when they don’t like the results, but rank-and-file members who differ with leadership aren’t — and are even punished for trying to do so — then the Rhode Island legislature cannot be said to be functioning as a democratic decision making body. This can only be fixed with a combination of substantial rules reform, including a rule that committee members cannot be removed from their positions without their consent (as is the case in the Rhode Island Senate) and a liberalizing of discharge petition rules as well as the removal from their positions of representatives who have a history of disrespect for the democratic process.
Justin writes live from the floor of the House on budget night.
The Roosevelt Society’s inaugural event, featuring “conservative black chick” Crystal Wright, raised the central challenge of the American Right… even though nobody seemed to see it.
As the big debate in the House on the 2014 budget looms on Tuesday signaling the winding down of the legislative year, the odds of any change to Rhode Island’s current, undesirable status quo coming out of this General Assembly session look increasingly narrow. Rotten business climate, corresponding unemployment rate, resultant tax revenue and the […]
Justin writes live from House Finance on budget-introduction night.
A couple of Saturdays ago, I was interested and a little startled to hear WPRO’s John Loughlin state that, operating budget-wise, Rhode Island has one of the most expensive state legislatures.
“Arguing about process is an inside game that will not create economic security for one Rhode Islander and, in this economic environment, is counter-productive.”
Len Lardaro’s attack on the credibility of the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity ought to come with doubts about his Credibility Index.
The basic arguments for Rhode Island joining the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact for Presidential elections haven’t changed. They have never made sense and still don’t.
“I believe she will do everything possible to continue to push her corporate, right wing agenda”
Civilian Control of the Government
38 Studios but 1 Witness
6 Economic Development Bills, 4 No Votes
2 National Security Appointments
On a quest for a dubious (and already accomplished) goal
Chafee switching to the Democratic party and what that means for Taveras and Raimondo.
Governor Chafee has not announced this decision but, when contacted, Christine Hunsinger would neither confirm nor deny this apparent leak. H/T Mark Steyn filling in for Rush. From the Washington Post. Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I) intends to run for reelection as a Democrat, according to two people familiar with his decision, a move […]