September 25, 2012 – RI Future

September 25, 2012September 25, 2012

Dems to Doherty: Why Is Romney ‘Fantastic’ Again?

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Earlier today the Cicilline for Congress campaign released a new commercial, which features Republican congressional candidate Brendan Doherty telling supporters that Mitt Romney will be “fantastic for Rhode Island.” The 30-second spot asserts that Doherty is wrong about Mitt Romney and “wrong for Rhode Island.”

In response to the commercial Doherty told 630 WPRO: “Having been the Governor of the state of Massachusetts he understands the New England region very well and how we need to bring New England states in line with some of these other states that are doing better and one of the ways we need to start is infrastructure,” said Doherty.

“We were somewhat confused by Mr. Doherty’s response today, given the fact that there is virtually no mention of rebuilding America’s crumbling bridges, roads or schools in Mitt Romney’s 150-page jobs plan,” said Bill Fischer, spokesperson for the RI Democratic Party. “Mr. Romney has called the 2013 Republican budget proposal that reduces transportation spending by 25 percent over the next ten years a ‘bold and exciting effort.’ In contrast, Congressman Cicilline supported a Democratic alternative that maintained robust funding for important transportation priorities, including highways, transit systems and rail.”

In February of this year, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood (a former Republican Congressman) called the Republican budget “the worst transportation bill I’ve seen during 35 years of public service.” It’s estimated the Republican plan would have cut more than $228 million in transportation funding for Rhode Island over five years.

“The fact is that the Republican agenda would have a devastating impact on our country’s infrastructure, slashing spending for schools, bridges and roads, while giving away massive tax breaks to the very richest Americans. Rhode Island voters should be deeply concerned about Doherty’s support for Romney’s infrastructure plan,” added Fischer.

September 25, 2012September 25, 2012

Wednesday: Register to Vote in Burnside Park

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New Leaders Council (@NLC_RhodeIsland) and the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s Office have teamed up to host a voter registration drive and give out voter IDs.

If you need an ID to vote or if you need to register to vote, we’ll be in Burnside Park, Kennedy Plaza, in Providence on Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. Be sure to register before Oct. 6 to be eligible to vote in the 2012 presidential elections! Make your voice heard!

If you need a voter ID, please bring one of the following: student ID, employee ID, credit or debit card, military ID, public housing ID, health club ID, health insurance plan ID.

The New Leaders Council recruits young men and women from outside traditional power structures and works to train and support them with the skills necessary to be civic leaders in their communities and workplaces. The NLC institute provides fellows with leadership trainings in business, media and communications, campaign management, fundraising, community organizing, and political strategy. These fellows then serve as a network of communication and support as they move into their careers throughout the country. To learn more or to apply to be a 2013 fellow with the NLC RI Chapter, please visit www.newleaderscouncil.org

September 25, 2012September 25, 2012

TV Ad Ties Doherty to Romney, Republicans

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Driving home the point that Brendan Doherty would side with conservative Republicans instead of Rhode Islanders if elected to office, Congressman David Cicilline has a new TV ad out today that illustrates this.

In a press release, Cicilline campaign manager Eric Hyers added, “At the end of the day, Brendan Doherty wants Republicans in control of Congress and Mitt Romney setting the agenda in the White House. In fact, he thinks Romney would “be fantastic for Rhode Island. Rhode Islanders will have a clear choice this November between re-electing President Obama and Congressman Cicilline so we can get our state back on the right track, or voting for Mitt Romney, Brendan Doherty, and the Washington Republicans who got us into this mess to begin with.”

The release goes on:

In January 2012, Doherty formally endorsed Romney for President in January 2012, describing him as a “proven leader.” In the same month, Doherty traveled to New Hampshire to campaign for Romney and was later introduced to the Republican presidential nominee by former Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri.

The ad also outlines areas where Romney and Doherty agree on policy – including their support for repealing President Obama’s historic health care reform law, as well as their mutual opposition to reproductive freedoms for women and the Buffett Rule that would require millionaires to pay at least the same tax rate as the middle class.

September 25, 2012September 25, 2012

Check Out the Voter Handbook in Your Mailbox

Be on the look-out for the election guides that will hit your mailbox this week.

The 32-page Voter Information Handbook includes descriptions of every statewide ballot question and bond issue as well as information about the state’s new Voter ID law, special accommodations for voters who are elderly, disabled or visually impaired and polling place changes.

State law requires the us to publish and mail the handbook to every residential household in Rhode Island prior to every general election. The mailing is timed to beat the Oct. 7 deadline to register or re-register if you have moved or changed your name since the last time you voted as required by state law.

November’s ballot will include races for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives as well as many General Assembly seats and local offices. In addition, there will be two questions that would amend the state constitution to allow an expansion of gaming at Twin River and Newport Grand and five bond issues authorizing the sale of $209 million in bonds for uses including affordable housing, clean water, the environment, higher education and the construction of a new Veterans’ Home and renovations to existing facilities.

Because many cities and towns have moved their polling places due to redistricting, the handbook also outlines how you can use our website to confirm the location of your polling place ahead of time.

Beginning this year, voters will also be asked to show an ID when they vote at the polls. Poll workers will accept a wide range of common photo IDs including a R.I. driver’s license, RIPTA bus pass, U.S. passport, college ID and employee ID. The guide includes a complete list of IDs that will be accepted at the polls as well as a schedule of community outreach events where voters who do not already have a photo ID can get one for free.

Most importantly, no eligible voter will be denied the right to vote. Voters who do not bring an acceptable ID to the polls can vote using a standard Provisional Ballot. If the signature they give at their polling place matches the signature on their voter registration, their ballot will be counted.

September 25, 2012

Progress Report: Economic Development Void in RI; GOP Fans Father-Daughter Dance Flames; James Diossa

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downtown from providence river — Downtown Providence from the Providence River. (Photo by Bob Plain)

It seems RI Future and RIPEC agree on at least one thing. “Rhode Island does not have a clear vision of how to expand its economy or a governmental structure that helps create jobs, encourage companies to expand, attract businesses and develop workers’ skills,” reports the Providence Journal about RIPEC’s report on the EDC this morning. We may not agree what to do about it, though. We think the state should invest more heavily into this sector.

The Cranston School Committee last night agreed to petition the state legislature to lift the state ban on father daughter dances. The reality is few people are actually worked up about this and the name isn’t a longstanding tradition in Cranston. It’s just about local Republicans trying to drum up animosity using the ACLU as their boogieman.

Good luck to Central Falls City Councilor James Diossa, who launches his campaign for mayor today.

Here’s Gina Raimondo on NPR’s Talk of the Nation yesterday talking about Rhode Island’s early effort to reform public sector pension benefits.

URI professors, who are teaching without a contract right now, are among the lowest paid college professors in the region, according to the ProJo this morning … yet political pressure from the Chafee Administration prevented them from getting an already-agreed upon pay raise. Stay tuned.

Here’s why Romney is losing.

Hilarious Saturday Night Live skit on some of the questions undecided voters are still asking.

On this day in 1957: “Under escort from the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, nine black students enter all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.”

And on this day in 1690, the first newspaper was published in the new world. It was called Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick.

September 25, 2012September 25, 2012

Rhode Island Custodians Consider Going on Strike

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About 600 janitors in Rhode Island may go on strike at the end of the month if they aren’t able to negotiate a new contract that would guarantee them more hours and better wages, said Rachel Miller of the SEIU 615.

They work for CVS, Citizens Bank, Textron, TF Green Airport, Fidelity, Bank of America and FM Global, she said, “yet they are having to work two and three jobs just to get by.”

The 600 Rhode Island custodians are organized with SEUI 615. There are 14,000 custodians in New England who may go on strike when their current contract expires on September 30.

According to a press release from the SEIU:

Fair wages and the opportunity to work increased hours can mean the difference between a good, middle class job and living in poverty. Many janitors are offered only 20 hours a week and janitors in Rhode Island earn as little at $39 a day. Workers are working harder and having to supplement with other income just to make ends meet. New England now has an opportunity to go forward—towards good jobs and stronger communities—instead of backward to poverty wage jobs that do not support their families and neighborhoods.

The custodians voted to authorize a potential strike on Saturday. Here’s a video of the vote: