Mark Binder
Dis-funding the Arts
NOTE: This article has been slightly revised based on new information received. Please pardon me if I lead with a shockingly “artistic” word that wouldn’t be printed in a family newspaper… What the fuck is the State of Rhode Island doing by removing the sales tax on “the arts” and then proposing to borrow $35 [...]
Deborah Gist Q&A doesn’t tell the truth
Education is grounded in telling the truth. The Rhode Island Commissioner for Education is lying to us about the NECAPs. In a recent op-ed piece (read it here) she asked and answered a slew of questions with misinformation, sleight of hand and outright deception. Following these questions that she asked herself are my answers, which are [...]
To: RI congressional delegation Re: Syria
You have been given a rare opportunity in a time of crisis to thoughtfully direct the United States before military force has been applied. Since the Vietnam War, Presidents have usurped the responsibility of Congress to declare war. It is a welcome challenge that you face. That the Assad government in Syria has crossed a [...]
The Old One – the horror beneath Providence
The Narragansett Indians called it “Clths Slaaag,” which Rhode Island’s founder Roger Williams translated as “The Old One.”
Pretty, creative state seeks businesses wanting same
The idea that Rhode Island’s government is good at picking business winners and losers is bankrupt—even setting aside 38 Studios. While cutting taxes and offering incentives may draw corporations, they flee when publicly funded freebies are withdrawn or lowballed by another state (see Bank of America, the “Superman” building, Metlife and CVS’s recent rumblings). Here [...]
Things To Do At The State House, Early 2013 Edition
Ok, so Marriage Equality is a half step away from becoming law. The General Assembly has gotten things rolling quickly for a change. But Marriage Equality isn’t enough.
Speaking to the Speaker
Winners in political races have it easy. They thank everyone and move forward. The Silver Medalists analyze what went wrong and fade into the shadows. Is it possible to write a post-election column as the loser and not sound self-serving, shrill or sour? I’m going to do my best. From the beginning, this race was about [...]
Reforming the Legislature
Ask 100 people about Rhode Island’s government and 105 will say it’s broken, and probably not fixable. Phase 1: Attack the Assumptions From day one, my campaign for House District 4 has been about challenging that truism. It was clear to me at the start that the Speaker of the House used his power to [...]
RI Future, Gordon Fox Serve Those in Charge
Maybe Gordon Fox was a progressive once, and certainly every so often he throws out something that seems progressive, and yes, he’s kept anti-abortion legislation from coming to a vote, but really his reign is all about the money and the power.
Rethinking the Proper Role for the State Politician
There’s a “What can you do for me?” mentality about politics that I doubt anyone in Rhode Island will dispute. People say over and over again, “The legislature stinks, but my guy is ok.” And then they vote for the incumbent. Sitting legislators have the power of the budget to fund and disburse. Line items [...]
Mark Binder Takes Campaign to TV
“Are you a credible candidate?” I’ve heard that question again and again and again. What it’s code for is, “How much money have you raised?” (And “Do you own a car?”) I learned during my first campaign that the press and media have a Woodward and Bernstein relationship to money. (Remember the scene from All [...]
The Public Education / Transportation Challenge
I’ve found a way for the Providence Public School System to save more than $400,000 annually in transportation costs. Every month, the School Department buys thousands of RIPTA bus passes, which it distributes to high school students from low income families or who live more than three miles from their school. In May of 2012, [...]
I’m not Bruce Bayuk, and Other Tidbits from the Trail
When I started this column, Bob suggested that I stick to “Progressive political issues.” This column is one exception. It’s going to be a collection of political shenanigans, conversations with constituents, notes and anecdotes from the trail so far. The Article that Was/Wasn’t… I’ve been noticing a lot of divergence between the Providence Journal’s paper paper [...]
In Search of the Cleaner Campaign Contribution
Several years ago, when I ran my first political campaign against Patrick Kennedy, the first thing the reporter from the Providence Journal asked was, “How much money have you raised?” I asked him why he wanted to know, and he told me the truth: You can measure fundraising. You can count the dollars. It dates [...]
Reinvigorating Education
Looking for ways to attract businesses? Improve education. Want to reduce crime? Improve education. Open opportunities? Education. The key to improving our state is reinvigorating our public schools—especially schools that serve urban or lower-income communities. Businesses say they want educated workers. Executives and employees want to send their children to good schools. According to the [...]
The Influence Trap
Whenever a government makes a decision to spend money, or designs a regulation to right a wrong, it creates a business opportunity. If you reject, as I do, the Tea Party trend toward “all government taxation and spending are bad,” then you are left with a few questions. How do you protect the system from [...]
A Positive Business Message for Rhode Island
Rhode Islanders often forget how many advantages we have. I’m relatively new. I’ve only lived here (on and off) for more than 20 years, but I still remember the thrill of discovering this wonderful state. It was the late 1980s and everyone was depressed. I left New York to come here and found that everything [...]
Progressive vs. Old School
Bob Plain asked me to keep the focus of this blog on the progressive aspects of my campaign. (And thanks, Bob, for standing up for the rights of the free press — particularly in an election.) I’ll do my best, but the writer in me also thinks that the strange things you need to do as [...]
On Your Mark: Binder To Blog About Candidacy
On Wednesday, I filed the papers to become a candidate for State Representative from the Fourth District in Providence, RI. I’m running against House Speaker Gordon Fox. Today, I’m blogging about it. Welcome to the third turn of the 2012 political race. This blog will follow my campaign. I’ll be writing about the challenges, triumphs [...]
No Reckoning: The RI Corruption Video Game
This morning, former Red Sox Pitcher Curt Schilling blamed the State of Rhode Island for the failure of his video game company. According to the Providence Journal, he blamed the state for not giving him more tax breaks. Additionally, the Journal reported, Schilling has lost “33 pounds in the past 45 days, which he calls [...]
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