Justin Katz, Bob Plain and Jim Taricani on WJAR’s Sunday morning politics show 10 News Conference.
Thanks to Jim Taricani for having Justin Katz, of the Prosperous Rising wing of the local blogosphere, and me on WJAR’s 10 News Conference this week. We had a good talk about economic development in Rhode Island and whether or not there is a role for government in it; David Cicilline’s reelection campaign and what will define that race; the pre-Paul Ryan POTUS outlook and even a little bit of how we can foster a healthier political debate in Rhode Island.
Here’s the video:
A couple quick thoughts on the show:
- Taricani said Justin and I are “arguably two of the most important bloggers in the state.” I wouldn’t argue that, but I do think we are the two most influential independent and ideological news gatherers/synthesizers around.
- Does Justin really think Anthony Gemma’s campaign is all just a conspiracy to give David Cicilline a good news cycle? I hope not, but it doesn’t bode well for Gemma that his campaign can be confused with a conspiracy theory!
- I said I think the Dems will grab back control of the House. I suppose I should have said they *can win back Congress. They’d need to pick up 25 seats and there are about 50 up for grabs.
- Somewhere Barbara Haynes and Paul Giammarco are cringing listening to all my “ya knows…”
Bob! You got the line wrong! High licensing fees? That’s regressive business taxation, and progressives hate licensing fees! Government intervention in the economy? The whole reason why liberals want to replace property and sales taxes with income taxes is that property and sales taxes hurt the economy by messing around with markets in ways that hurt from the middle class and distribute income upwards! Lower middle class people leaving the state? That’s because we just raised their property taxes to pay for income tax cuts for the rich! Rich people leaving the state? Well, clearly lowering their taxes didn’t work to bring rich people into the state! And cite some of those studies debunking the claim that raising income taxes drives rich people out of the state. Then explain how property tax hikes and layoffs do hurt the economy.
And don’t turn the discussion to Cicilline’s supposed faults, keep the discussion on how much of an embarrassment Gemma is to the Democratic party. And Doherty is not opposed to Citizens United–he supports the decision and has taken money from the group! He flip-flopped on the Bush Tax Cuts. And don’t accept this idea that Cicilline is somehow responsible for the huge deficit Carcieri and Bush handed him. Ask what specific policy decisions the right thinks Cicilline should have made differently in Providence.
Nice job asking Justin to focus on issues, though.
I know my past two posts have criticized you, so I just want to add that I have huge respect for you, and I love the work you’re doing here at RIFuture. I don’t know where the Rhode Island left would be without you. But you shouldn’t let conservatives get away with crap like that.
Also, I’m slightly jealous/bitter nobody invites me on TV.