July 2, 2013 – RI Future

July 2, 2013July 4, 2013

Progressive Dems thank delegation for Farm Bill

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Each month, members of the Progressive Democrats of America across the country send letters to our national representatives. Last month, our top priority was killing the Farm Bill because of its draconian cuts to food stamps. In a surprise victory, the Farm Bill went down in the House.

By voting against the Senate bill, Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse were crucial players in one of progressives’ few national wins. We’re very proud of their leadership.

Below is an example of the letters we sent to our congressional delegation, cosponsored by the George Wiley Center:

Thank you for voting against the Senate Farm Bill because of its irresponsible cuts to food stamps! Your leadership is inspiring. All around the country, members of the Progressive Democrats of America are delivering letters to their Representatives and Senators urging them to join with you and Senator Reed to stand up for the voiceless millions going hungry in America. We cannot afford to lose this fight.

In a fit of austerian cruelty, the heartless budget cutters in the House propose to slash $20.5 billion from this vital program. Democrats cannot let this happen. If Washington insists on intellectually bankrupt austerity policies that keep millions out of work through no fault of their own, surely the least Congress can do is let the unemployed eat. We urge you to stay strong and continue to oppose any farm bill that cuts food stamps.

Also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), food stamps are one of the most effective government programs. Average benefits provided under SNAP are only $133.41 per person per month—not even $1.50 per meal. Yet nutritional assistance is among the most powerful economic stimuli, with benefits that flow directly and immediately into the economy, boosting aggregate demand and creating jobs. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack confirmed, “Every dollar of SNAP benefits generates $1.84 in the economy.” Conversely, decreasing SNAP would cause increased health care costs and incite crime, diminish productivity, stunt childhood development, and impose other collateral damage on innocent American families.

We are proud to be represented by the two Democratic Senators who refuse to vote for a farm bill that cuts this critical lifeline. Please keep fighting!

Thank you for your time and attention,

The Rhode Island Progressive Democrats of America and the George Wiley Center.

July 2, 2013July 2, 2013

ProJo changes it’s mind on child care benefits

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Rhode Island gets a good glimpse of how the Providence Journal editorial page may change now that Ed Achorn has assumed the helm.

This morning’s piece about a bill that would let child care workers bargain collectively with existing public sector unions carried the headline: “Another R.I. fiasco.” This is a stark contrast to the paper of record’s May 6 editorial on the similar subject that was headlined “Early childhood potential.”

The headline isn’t the only difference in the two pieces. The more recent piece is just anti-organized labor hyperbole while the one from May 6 was a measured endorsement of the concept.

Today’s op/ed suggests, in the first sentence, that people who support this legislation don’t love the Ocean State. The May 6 editorial had a very different opening: “For several years, Rhode Island Kids Count has provided invaluable data on the state’s children.”

Hyperbole is one thing. Misinformation is something else entirely. “It can only make government more costly and intrusive, fueling the flight of the state’s educated people in their prime earning years,” according to the Providence Journal as of today.

But actual economic analysis shows there is likely to be much economic benefit. This 2003 study funded by the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce states: “for every public and private dollar spent on regulated child care, $1.75 is returned to the Rhode Island economy – a net positive return that almost doubles investments.”

It’s well worth noting that the SEIU crafted a more intellectually honest argument for the bill than today’s Projo op/ed did to oppose it. Watch this video:

But if the ProJo editorial board needed any evidence whatsoever that this bill can do more than simply spend money it didn’t have to look any farther than its own archives. Ostensibly, it was even written – or at the very least read – by the very same group of thinker/writers, minus the recently retired Bob Whitcomb.

The video pretty much communicates what the paper of record believed last month when it wrote, “…Rhode Island’s child-care workers could use an upgrade. Most earn fairly low pay, making it difficult to further their education.”

The Journal can both believe and publish what it wishes, and a center right editorial page may even benefit a center left constituency. But progressive viewpoints are not only largely absent from the paper of record’s editorial voice, they are often misrepresented. That may benefit my business model, but it isn’t very good for Rhode Island news consumers.

This post has been updated to fix an error. The post originally said the first editorial endorsed the bill. It did not.

July 2, 2013

Let’s debate anti-abortion vanity plates next session

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The state General Assembly is moving so quickly to pass the litany of legislation held until the final hours of the session that the House of Representatives accidentally passed the wrong bill last night.

“…an hour or so after the committee approved the bill, members were quietly summoned by text message back to the hearing room for an unannounced meeting, where they were told they had inadvertently voted on the wrong version,” reported the Providence Journal last night at about 9 p.m. “Copies of the reworked bill are not yet publicly available, but the lead sponsor, Rep. Arthur Corvese, D-North Providence, said it steers the money to “CareNet-RI” in Providence, instead of the Knights of Columbus. The vote this time: 6 to 4.”

This alone is reason enough for Governor Lincoln Chafee to veto a bill that would divert public money for license plates to an anti-abortion, faith-based organization. (In fact, this alone is reason enough for a full-scale reform of the legislative budget process!)

But there are many other reasons that Rhode Island shouldn’t begin politicizing license plates.

“Essentially, the state has now partnered with a church to further a purely religious enterprise,” writes Steve Ahlquist, who first reported on this bill in early May. “This is a clear violation of the First Amendment, a violation of church/state separation, and an insult to anyone in Rhode island, on either side of the abortion issue, who might be actually concerned with women’s health and family planning options.”

Last night, in a must-read report on the Senate and House vote, he wrote: “at the point the state starts funding ‘non-government funded’ crisis pregnancy centers they cease to be ‘non-government funded.'”

These are just some of the reasons that supporters of the new license plates are wrong to say they are “no different” than sports or nature license plates, as did Warwick Republican Joe Trillo.

Here’s a passage from the online ProJo post that pretty well illustrates another reason why it should be vetoed: the bills supporters don’t seem to have a contextual understanding of the issue:

During the earlier House Finance Committee debate, Rep. Patricia Morgan, R-West Warwick, said, “We have plenty of special license plates out there. We allow a lot of groups to have them so they can advocate causes they believe in.This is a good cause for people to advocate for.”

Asked if she was aware of any other plates that advance social or religious issues, she said: “I honestly don’t know.”

Republicans and conservative Democrats are essentially arguing that these anti-abortion vanity license plates aren’t expressly unconstitutional, and they may well be right. But there are all sorts of policy implications – in addition to not being a violation of the Bill of rights – that should be vetted before the state starts turning license plates into a taxpayer subsidized political bumper sticker.

July 2, 2013July 2, 2013

Governor Chafee: Veto anti-abortion license plates

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Before reading the rest of this piece, whip out your cell phone and call Governor Chafee and tell him to veto the “Choose Life” license plate bill.

Here’s his number: (401) 222-2080

Then email the governor, to remind him of your opposition: governor@governor.ri.gov

Cool. If you haven’t done as I have asked, keep reading, because chances are by the end of this piece, you will want to.

The “Choose Life” license plate bill passed by both houses in the General Assembly yesterday was an example of outrageous legislative hubris combined with laughable incompetence.

Right from the start, in a last minute effort to get away from the church/state implications of giving money to the all-male and Roman Catholic Knights of Columbus, the beneficiary of the State’s largesse was switched to a pregnancy counseling center called CareNet, an Evangelical Christian, faith-based pregnancy crisis center located at 433 Elmwood Ave, a piece of property owned by the Cathedral of Life Christian Assembly.

Essentially, the state has now partnered with a church to further a purely religious enterprise.

This is a clear violation of the First Amendment, a violation of church/state separation, and an insult to anyone in Rhode island, on either side of the abortion issue, who might be actually concerned with women’s health and family planning options. The license plates will do absolutely nothing to reduce abortions in our state. The General Assembly had an opportunity to pass legislation that would reduce unintended pregnancies in our state by funding an expanded family planning program, scooping up $9 in federal funds for every $1 put up by the state, but they punted.

Instead the unbelievable “Choose Life” license plate bill has passed and it’s an insult to any American who actually thinks the Constitution has value. It’s doubly insulting to women.

So what can we do about it?

Turns out there’s plenty we can do.

First, call Governor Chafee and ask that he veto this bill. Here’s his email and phone number: governor@governor.ri.gov (401) 222-2080

Use both, and let your friends know.

Second, if you have time, you can go to the State House and stand with Planned Parenthood tomorrow from about 1pm to 6:30pm. As it says on the event’s Facebook page, “Meet us outside the House chambers on the 2nd floor of the State House. Wear pink or your Planned Parenthood shirt. We will provide signs and shirts to those who don’t have gear.”

Tomorrow, believe it or not, is Rhode Island’s version of the Wendy Davis filibuster. A clear victory on this issue will send an important message to the General Assembly that the citizen’s of Rhode Island want our legislators to tackle real problems, and not fool around with funneling money to their religious allies.