Who Matters: Bond Traders Or Rhode Islanders?

Local labor unions are protesting all of Gina Raimondo’s public appearances to call attention to their cuts to their retirement security she shepherded through in 2011. But their appearance in front of the Bond Buyers conference this morning was especially poignant because many think Raimondo represents Wall Street first and foremost, and Rhode Island is the only state in the nation that has a law that puts the financial interest of the bond market over the interest of the state.

So I asked Paul Valletta, of the Providence fire fighters union, Mike Downey, of Council 94, and Governor Chafee what they think of this. (I would have asked Raimondo but she only had time for one question from me – she’s welcome to add her thoughts in the comments below, or we could do a follow up interview.)