An Epic Economic Fail
The experiment to build our economy with tax breaks for the wealthy continues to be an epic failure. A healthy middle class grows the economy, not giveaways to rich and powerful. We’re gearing up for another year at the State House to ensure all residents pay their fair share in taxes, not just you and [...]
Blame Gina Raimondo? Not So Fast, Progressives
Regular readers of the blog know that Treasurer Raimondo has become a lightening-rod for criticism of the state’s recent changes to the public employee pension system. As a tactic, I’ll admit it’s a good one, simultaneously riling up the base and drawing media attention to the union and retiree’s position. It’s also the first salvo [...]
No Shield Against the Results of Public Speech
So the other day I received this email shortly after an article I wrote appeared in RI Future (I’ve only edited it due to some sentence breaks: Sam; Publishing the contents of the OP discussion list serve on -line with links at RI Future blog is a violation of our safety/security policies. Of course, anyone is free [...]
Feds v. States: Who Decides Death Penalty Fight
Can the Feds order a state to execute a man? This is the question that the Supreme Court may ultimately answer regarding Jason Pleau, arrested last year for killing a man during a robbery. What appeared to be a routine case in Rhode Island, a state of one million people that averages about 30 murders [...]
Homeless Bill of Rights Passes General Assembly
To applause from the gallery on both sides, the Homeless Bill of Rights passed out of the General Assembly and now heads to the Governor’s desk for signing. Officially titled the Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act, it was introduced in both chambers back in January. A revised version passed the Senate on May 2nd. [...]
As Legislature Spends Money, Cities Feel Pinch
I see from the Providence Journal that the new state-appointed budget commission has decided that the city council and Mayor Fontaine were exactly right to request permission from the state to impose a supplemental tax increase on their citizens. Last week, after an impassioned speech by Rep. Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, the House rejected Woonsocket’s request. This [...]
Governor Chafee On RI: ‘We’ve Hit Rock Bottom’
In an Economist article entitled “Bankruptcy in Rhode Island“, Governor Lincoln Chafee is quoted as saying “We’ve hit rock bottom in this state”. And, frankly, I don’t know how to take it. The article is about the municipal budget problems that are cropping up across the Rhode Island. Essentially, as we well know, Rhode Island is [...]
Electoral Abstinence: Choosing None of the Above
Thousands of Rhode Islanders went to work today (or looked for work) instead of to the polls. Maybe they were going to vote, but then decided they just wanted to go home. Or maybe they didn’t like the candidates. Or maybe they just didn’t know where their local polling place was. They’ll all be counted [...]
Budgeting for Disaster VI: DMV Manages for Success
One part of the Department of Administration that gets a lot of press is the Department of Motor Vehicles, which is actually a unit of the Department of Revenue. DMV, of course, gets press because people don’t like it, and the lines are long, and it’s in an inconvenient place, and so on and on. [...]
Chafee: State Aid Cuts Put Poor Towns in Peril
Governor Chafee said former Governor Don Carcieri and the General Assembly put struggling communities in peril when they cut some $195 million in state aid to cities and towns. “It’s no wonder Providence is in trouble, it’s no wonder Pawtucket is having a trouble making payroll, it’s no wonder Central Falls went into bankruptcy,” he [...]
Progress Report: Whitehouse fights Super PACs, Gemma on Jobs, Chafee Muni Bill, Medical Marijuana and more
Rhode Island progressives, indeed progressives across the country, should be happy Sheldon Whitehouse is a Senator. Not only has he sponsored the Buffett Rule tax code improvement that would prevent millionaires from evading paying taxes on their earnings, he’s also leading the fight against Super PACs and the Citizen United SCOTUS decision, the Projo reports [...]
Rep. Lima to Introduce Voter ID Repeal Legislation
Watch for Rep. Charlene Lima to introduce legislation today to repeal the Voter ID bill that passed last session and was signed by Governor Chafee. She has been circulating the legislation in the House and has about 15 co-sponsors. It will likely be coming today in tandem with her press statement which was not completed [...]
Rhode Island, Humanism and the Death Penalty
Recently, Humanist and philosopher John Shook said it very simply, and I have to agree with him: Humanism cannot support the death penalty. His full article is linked and I would suggest that everybody with an interest in justice read it, but one part bears repeating here: Humanism stands for valuing the lives of all, [...]
Pragmatic and Progressive, Driver’s Licenses for All Residents
This week the Governor made the progressive case for issuing driver’s licenses or driving permits to state residents, regardless of their immigration status: Responding to questions about a vote by the Board of Governors for Higher Education to approve in-state rates for undocumented students, Chafee said being able to drive would help people who need [...]
At the “Civil Rights Under Attack” Forum
The RI Mobilization Committee sponsored an interesting array of speakers Wednesday night at the Beneficent Church in downtown Providence centered around the theme of Civil Rights. First up was Iman Ikram Ul-Haq, from Masjid Al-islam mosque, North Smithfield, who talked about Islamophobia. The Iman made some interesting observations about the recent attacks in Norway and [...]
Thou Shalt Not Kill, Except…
Its been about two months since Governor Chafee signed the bill that posthumously pardoned John Gordon, the last man executed by the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. During the hearing a great many people spoke eloquently about the terrible injustice of a man who (in hindsight) was so clearly innocent that he propelled [...]
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