The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that retailers are not required to collect state sales tax from customers, unless they have a physical presence in that state.  As a result, consumers usually don't end up paying sales tax on purchases made on the internet.  Recently, New York tried to get around the Supreme Court ruling by passing a law which would consider retailers with advertising partners or referrers, to have a physical presence in the state.  There is currently a suit pending in the New York courts.

     As part of the budget, Rhode Island's General Assembly passed a similar ...<< MORE >>

     Days after the Rhode Island Supreme Court found that former Senate President William Irons' votes on legislation could not be used against him, Governor Don Carcieri is calling on the General Assembly to put a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot which would prevent the same thing from happening in the future.  In 2004, the Ethics Commission found probable cause that Irons voted on legislation which would benefit both CVS and Blue Cross, after gaining financially from both companies.  The State Supreme Court ruled that Iron's vote in the legislature could not be used against him due to the speech-in-debate ...<< MORE >>

     Last night, the North Providence Town Council voted 6 to 1 to raise property taxes by 17%.  A property tax increase is never good, but when you factor in the effects of the recession and the fact that this 17% increase will be levied on homes with excessive valuations due to the housing bubble, you have a disaster for taxpayers.  It's a tough situation that North Providence's leaders are too incompetent to solve.

     Councilman Paul Caranci was the only member to vote no on the budget.  He also submitted a plan to cut spending and raise revenue, ...<< MORE >>

     Rhode Island has received $3 million in federal stimulus money to build fish ladders in the Pawcatuck and Ten mile rivers.  The project is meant to help fish migrate upstream, which currently requires the help of volunteers.  The project probably wouldn't have been possible without the help of Senator Jack Reed, and federal stimulus dollars.

     These projects were chosen partly because they were "shovel ready," and far along in the permitting process.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration points out that this project may create up to 18 jobs.  Does that seem right?  $3 million in federal stimulus dollars ...<< MORE >>

     Twin River has reached an agreement with lenders that would result in them taking over the facility.  The consensual bankruptcy agreement has certain  stipulations, such as 24/7 gambling and an end to dog racing, which loses money and requires subsidies.  Since Newport Grand was allowed to drop Jai Alai a few years ago, this shouldn't be a big deal.  But then again, the General Assembly doesn't always make sense.

     The Senate voted 25 to 10 to allow 24/7 gambling and to require the continuation of dog racing.  The dog racing requirement means that a money-losing ...<< MORE >>

     The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that Al Franken is entitled to be certified as the winner, over incumbent Senator Norm Coleman.  It is unclear whether Norm Coleman will pursue a Federal appeal, or if Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will certify the election.  Norm Coleman had argued that thousands of absentee ballots were wrongfully excluded, but the Court ruled that,  "because strict compliance with the statutory requirements for absentee voting is, and always has been required, there is no basis on which voters could have reasonably believed that anything less than strict compliance would suffice."

     It ...<< MORE >>

     Johnston decided to raise property taxes by 3% last night, but don't blame them, they're victims too, at least according to them.  First Mayor Joseph Polisena and the Town Council blamed the state for cuts to revenue sharing, then they decided to go after the federal government.  At one point, Councilman Joseph Wells suggested ignoring federal mandates.  His exact words?   "What are they going to do?  Put us all in jail?  Then, just when you think things couldn't get any more surreal, M.C. Earnest Pitochelli decided to bust a rhyme right there at the meeting: He said, "Whitehouse and ...<< MORE >>

     Rhode Island's economy is in rough shape, there's no doubt about that.  The General Assembly needed to address a $590 million budget deficit, the unemplyment rate is currently 12.1%, and the consensus is that we are looking at more budget shortfalls as the year progresses.  Rhode Islanders might be asking themselves if it can get any worse.  Of course it can.  Despite this, we need to focus on the positive: We're in better shape than California.

     If you haven't been following the California budget battle, here are the basics.  The state is facing a $24 billion deficit for ...<< MORE >>

     Last week, House Speaker William Murphy decided to adjourn the House until mid-July for a cooling -off period.  Well, it looks like William Murphy will be cooling off in Switzerland for at least five days while he attends the National Speakers Conference.  I'm sure he won't be working too hard while he's there.  The Speakers seem to have a very entertaining program to look forward to once they arrive.

     If you're one of the legislators or citizens who worked hard to see legislation passed, only to have the House walk out abruptly, ...<< MORE >>

     Rhode Island's General Assembly was faced with a tough budget this year.  Of course, one of the reasons the budget was so difficult was because legislators spent too much and refused to make enough cuts in previous years.  This year, the General Assembly once again cut too little and raised some taxes.  To their credit, they didn't raise the income or sales tax, but some of their increases are already having negative consequences.

     Amazon.com has announced that they are severing ties with Rhode Island businesses, due to the General Assembly's implementation of the "Amazon tax."  ...<< MORE >>

     The Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 in favor of New Haven firefighters who had the results of a promotional exam thrown out because no black ,and only 2 hispanic firefighters passed the test.  Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that, "fear of litigation alone cannot justify an employer's reliance on race to the detriment of individuals who passed the examinations and qualified for promotions,"

     Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg criticized the decision's effect on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and wrote, "Congress endeavored to promote equal opportunity in fact, and not simply in form," she said. "The ...<< MORE >>

     There are some in Rhode Island The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations who would like to change the state's official name to simply "Rhode Island."  Advocates have sought this change for years, but for some reason, it gained some traction this year.  A bill passed the House which would put the question to the voters in 2010.  Changing the state's name is ridiculous, but it will be good to see it on the ballot.  Hopefully, an overwhelming defeat will cause supporters to give it up once and for all, and focus on something more important ...<< MORE >>

     John Lombardi is running for mayor of Providence in 2010.  He hasn't said he is going to run, but his new campaign site leaves very little doubt.  At this point, he only says he is, "very serious" about exploring the possibility.  He has hired a campaign manager, set up an exploratory committee, and launched a new web site.  I would be shocked if he didn't run.

     There have been several possible candidates mentioned for mayor in 2010, but unfortunately, they are all Democrats.  Not only does the Republican party not have a viable candidate on the ...<< MORE >>

     David Cicilline seems to love spending taxpayer dollars on reports.  It might be because they're very official looking and make it look like he's actually doing something productive.  Now, David Cicilline seems to be focused on arts and culture.  You might recall him paying $100,000 to an out-of -state firm to come up with the name "the Creative Capital."   Now, his cultural plan has expanded, along with the cost.

     Here are some of the highlights of the Mayor's cultural plan:

•Creating a Downtown Cultural Authority that would help coordinate marketing efforts for downtown arts and ...<< MORE >>

     Representative Patrick Kennedy left a treatment center yesterday in order to make it back to Washington to vote on the climate bill House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rammed through the House.  Kennedy left at the urging of House leadership, and will head back once his vote is cast.

     The climate bill will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 17 % by 2020, and by 83% by mid century.  That sounds impressive, but it will actually accomplish so much more.  For example, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average consumer will pay between $80 and $110 more ...<< MORE >>

     Law-enforcement officials are criticizing bills which aim to make indoor prostitution illegal by closing existing loopholes.  The House and Senate have each passed different versions of a prostitution bill, but according to law-enforcement officials, neither goes far enough, and may pose even more problems.  The Senate bill (S-0956) would actually replace criminal penalties with civil sanctions, which get progressively worse until a third offense is committed.  Robert Healey, spokesman for the Attorney General's office, had this to say:

“A fine does not equal a conviction,” said Michael Healey, spokesman for Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch. . “So if ...<< MORE >>

     It's unfortunate that citizens don't follow politics and government more closely.  Important business is taking place in the halls of government which affect all of our lives, but it seems that just a small number of people actually seem to care.  Many people have busy lives and don't have the time or desire to delve into the details, so those details tend to slip away, unnoticed. 

     The situation may seem hopeless, but it isn't.  There is a way to increase civic engagement and raise the public's consciousness without even requiring much effort.  How could this be accomplished?  The ...<< MORE >>

     It's official (almost).  In 2010, Rhode Islanders will have an opportunity to vote on whether we should change the state's name from the "The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" to just "Rhode Island."  Representative Harold Metts and Senator Joseph Almeida sponsored the bill, and after many years of trying, they will finally be able to have this issue settled by the citizens of Rhode Island.  I was originally against this bill, but the more I think about it, it seems like a great idea.  Citizens should be allowed to vote on Rhode Island's name.  Then, ...<< MORE >>

     The Rhode Island Senate voted 35 to 0 on a bill which would make indoor prostitution illegal.  The bill also includes penalties for landlords who "knowingly" allow prostitution to occur on their property.  Landlords would face a fine of $100 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense, and a fine of up to $10,000 and three years in prison for a third offense.  Senator Paul Jabour, the bill's sponsor, said landlords are the "silent force" behind the billing, adding that he included landlords in order to "smoke out the skunks and see who's against it."   ...<< MORE >>

     The House Finance Committee has proposed eliminating $55 million in revenue sharing for Rhode Island's cities and towns.  A prudent person would have crafted a budget which eliminated revenue sharing from their revenue projections.  This way, you wouldn't miss it if it were cut, but you would benefit if it was restored.  After all, the elimination of revenue sharing shouldn't be a surprise.

     One town that did act prudently is Cranston.  As Cranston's director of administration stated, “To have budgeted anything would have been completely imprudent.”   Providence City Councilman John Igliozzi echoed a similar sentiment, "I’ve always said assume ...<< MORE >>

     A recent Gallup Poll found that 40% of Americans identify themselves as conservatives, while 35% describe themselves as moderate, and 21% as liberal.  You would think this would be a good sign for the Republican party, but no such luck.  The same poll found that 53% of respondents identified themselves as identifying with Democrats, while just 39% identified with Republicans.  On the bright side, the numbers show there is potential for the Republican party to make huge strides going into the midterm elections next year.  The big question is how?

     Surprisingly, one thing in the GOP's favor might be ...<< MORE >>

     Here is a press release from Providence Mayor David Cicilline:


Statement from Mayor David N. Cicilline Regarding Rhode Island House’s Elimination of Aid to Cities and Towns 
 
 
As anticipated, the elimination of general revenue sharing in the State budget adds to an already serious fiscal challenge facing the city.  This will require some very difficult decisions.   I will continue to press our unions to follow Local 1033’s lead and agree to reasonable and fair contract changes in the area of healthcare and pension reform.  I am also urging the General Assembly to pass legislation to ensure that ...<< MORE >>

     The Rhode Island Senate recently held a hearing on a bill which would criminalize indoor prostitution.  The following letter by Josephine Martell was published in today's Providence Journal and makes some excellent points.  Here is the full text of the letter:
 

 

Bill Will Hurt Women Trapped in Sex Trade by Josephine Martell

The prostitution bill before the Senate, 5044A (which already passed the House), would penalize and criminalize women who are struggling to survive. This legislation, designed to address prostitution in Rhode Island, and purportedly to help women, would do just the opposite by ...<< MORE >>

     The House Finance Committee has cut $1.5 million from the budget, which would have allowed two charter schools to open.  One is the Mayoral Academy in Cumberland, which has been championed by mayor Daniel Mckee.  The second is the Segue Institute for Learning in Central Falls.  The decision to cut funding for these schools was a bad decision.  Not only will parents have fewer choices for their children's education, but Rhode Island may be passed over for part of the $5 billion Race to the Top initiative, which emphasizes charter schools.

     Charter schools have received criticism from teacher's unions, ...<< MORE >>

     According to a recent Gallup Poll, Barack Obama's job approval rating has fallen to its lowest level since he became President.  His rating is currently down to 58%, which is just below his next lowest rating of 59%.  Taken by itself, this number doesn't mean much.  After all, it's only one point below his previous low, and could certainly rebound.  With that said, I plan on keeping my eyes open for a possible trend.

     We have government ownership of Government General Motors and Chrysler, and increased involvement in the financial industry.  The cost of the President's health plan ...<< MORE >>

     According to Japanese news reports, North Korea is planning on firing a missile toward Hawaii on or around July 4th.  The missile which they are planning on use would likely fall short of Hawaii, but the U.S. is already putting missile defense systems into place.  In a related development, the U.S. has sent a destroyer to intercept a North Korean ship which may be carrying nuclear materials or parts for a missile.  North Korea has threatened that it would retalliate if any country attempted to stop or search one of their ships.

     In light of North Korea's recent ...<< MORE >>

     The Rhode Island Senate heard testimony on a bill (S-5496) which would criminalize indoor prostitution.  Among those who testified were employees of some of the brothels/spas who would be put out of business if the legislation is passed.  The women testified that they work there voluntarily, they're not coerced, and no one else is being coerced.  That would seem to pretty much kill the argument that the bill is in response to fears of human trafficking. 

     Since the state already has human trafficking laws on the books, then why is it attempting to criminalize activity that ...<< MORE >>

     There's more bad economic news.  Rhode Island's unemployment rate is up to 12.1%, Massachusetts is up slightly to 8.2%, and the national unemployment rate is up to 9.4%.  Economists are also revising their unemployment predictions higher.  On a positive note, they see the rates as a lagging indicator and feel the economy will start to rebound in late 2009. 

     What I find troubling is the disparity of nearly 4% between Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  Not only is Massachusetts' unemployment rate substantially lower than Rhode Island's rate, but it is also less than the national rate.  I would like ...<< MORE >>

     Superior Court Presiding Justice Joseph Rodgers Jr. announced he was stepping down yesterday after 35 years on the bench.  Fortunately for  him, he won't be affected by any of the new pension changes which may take effect.  He is due to receive a pension of $185,649.  At the same time, Governor Don Carcieri announced his choice of Kristen Rodgers to replace Judge Vincent Ragosta.  That's right, one Rodgers steps down and another on gets appointed.

     I don't know Kristen Rodgers, and from what I read in today's Providence Journal, she seems qualified.  With that said, I find this ...<< MORE >>

     The story has changed!  Now it looks like North Providence didn't use federal stimulus money to meet their biweekly payroll of $2.5 million.  Finance Director Maria Vallee and Director of Administration Rocco Gesualdi actually used money from the fire department's rescue service.  So, why did Mayor Charles Lombardi say that stimulus money was used?   Well, here's his excuse:

“In hindsight,” Lombardi said, “she’s the finance director and she made the right decision.

“I wasn’t around much on Friday,” Lombardi said. “Things happen and I’m OK with that. We don’t get into a situation of micromanaging. …We made ...<< MORE >>

     Here's the proposed House budget for the next fiscal year.  Just one warning: It's 224 pages long.  I haven't had a chance to read the entire budget, but I have read some of it and perused some articles.  Here are my impressions of some of the good and bad points.


The Good
*The corporate tax was not eliminated.  You might be surprised to find this particular item in this section, but let's not forget that eliminating the corporate tax would result in large tax increases for thousands of middle class Rhode Islanders.  I support revamping the ...<< MORE >>

     I have some great news, and I wanted to take a moment to share it with all of you.  I just found out I'm wealthy!  I'm so excited about my new found status, that I'm thinking of making some changes.  I think I'll move from my small house to a large victorian, purchase a new Hummer H2, then invest in some real estate, since prices are so low.  I'm going to do all these things with my wealth.  There's just one problem: I'm not quite sure where it is.

     If I look at my situation, I don't think I'm ...<< MORE >>

     The estate tax, also known as the "death tax," is a topic often discussed by both Democrats and Republicans.  Democrats love it because of its progressive nature, while Republicans feel it is unfair.  In Rhode Island, our debate over the estate tax has largely followed the national script, but are problems are far different.

     Out of all the states that levy an estate tax, Rhode island's threshold is one of the lowest: $675,000.  This level hasn't been changed in years, even though the cost of living has risen substantially since then.  Any attempt to change the estate tax is ...<< MORE >>

     Rhode Island's revenue from taxes, fees, and gambling have dropped 14% over the last 11 months.  The state's unemployment rate for April was 11.1%, and the May numbers are due this Friday.  Here are some other numbers:

•The state’s personal-income tax generated about $798.6 million, a decline of $157.1 million, or 16.4 percent.

•Collections from Rhode Island’s sales-and-use tax totaled $747.7 million, a drop of $27.9 million, or 3.6 percent.

•Transfers from lottery operations totaled $279.6 million, down $16.9 million, or 5.7 percent.

•Money collected through fees, fines, penalties and other “departmental receipts” totaled $233.6 ...<< MORE >>

     Don Carcieri has criticized Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts for questioning the $370,000 being paid to the Lucas Group for "voluntary work."  Here is part of Robert's criticism:


  "I am gravely concerned at the actions of the governor and the Department of Human Services that resulted in a no-bid contract for a personal friend of Secretary Alexander ... Circumventing procurement rules, bypassing contract procedures, misleading the public and employing cronyism at any level is unacceptable, and undermines the public's confidence in government, especially at this crucial time."


     Don Carcieri is correct in pointing out that Elizabeth Roberts ...<< MORE >>

     The state Office of Economic Recovery and Reinvestment is looking into North Providence's use of federal stimulus funds to meet payroll.   Mayor Charles Lombardi initially said he used "questionable" tactics to find the money, but refused to disclose where the money came from.  Later in the day, he admitted that the money was taken from federal stimulus funds.

     This fact-finding mission is going to have to run its course, but as a casual observer, I find it hard to believe there is nothing wrong with his actions.  The money was earmarked for schools, yet was used ...<< MORE >>

     Both Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts and Attorney General Patrick Lynch are seeking an investigation into the $370,000 that was paid to the Lucas Group for "voluntary work."   The Lucas Group's assistance was to be on a voluntary basis, and appears to have received the work without a competitive bidding process, or a contract.  In letters to Gary Sasse and Gary Alexander, Lynch requested copies of all pertinent documents, and asked where the funds for the $370,000 payment would come from.

     Unfortunately, this situation looks like one big inside deal.  To make matters worse, there hasn't been any ...<< MORE >>

     This article jumped out at me, since I'm planning on running for state representative in 2010.  I find it disturbing that winners of Massachusetts legislative races spent twice the amount of those who lost.  It's unfortunate that money often trumps ideas in most elections.  Here is the full text of the article:

BOSTON (AP) -- Winners in last year's legislative races spent twice as much as the candidates they defeated.

That's the conclusion of a report by the Office of Campaign and Political Finance that found winners of Senate races spent on average $88,827 compared to ...<< MORE >>

     The U.S. Conference of Mayors had their annual convention in Providence this past weekend.  There must have been several opportunities for David Cicilline to learn things he can use to help Providence.  Well, I found two more articles he should read.  He might not enjoy them, but he certainly could learn something by reading them.


*Private colleges do their fair share for city by Daniel Egan
This article details the contributions made by colleges and universities, including the PILOT program David Cicilline agreed to a few years ago..

*Avenues to better local government by Steve Hamill
This article points out the priorities cities ...<< MORE >>

     Things will begin to get interesting this Wednesday at 1pm.  That's when the General Assembly will release their proposed budget for the next fiscal year.  I doubt we will see $590 million in budget cuts, so brace yourself for an attempt to raise taxes and fees. ...<< MORE >>

     A recent poll sponsored by the National Organization for Marriage found that 43 percent of respondents are opposed to same-sex marriage, while 36 percent are in support.  Before I go any further, I'd like to let you know that I'm a strong supporter of same-sex marriage, and I'm also suspicious of polling data from either the National Organization for Marriage or Marriage Equality Rhode Island, since they both have a vested interest in the results.  With that said, I find these results questionable, to say the least.

     For one thing, 68% of the individuals interviewed were over ...<< MORE >>

     Providence Police officers overwhelmingly voted "no confidence" in chief Dean Esserman.  The vote wasn't even close: 303 to 134.  The officers have plenty of complaints, including a tendency to insult them with foul language in public, and a tendency to use the internal-affairs division to punish critics.  There are other issues in addition to these complaints:

•That he repeatedly flouts the police labor contract and legally entrenched past practices, such as improperly changing officers’ work hours in non-emergency situations and failing to pay required overtime.

•That he and his district commanders improperly use callback and overtime ...<< MORE >>

     Barack Obama appears to be wrong again.  He said $634 billion would be needed for a down payment on his health-care proposal, but it looks like that number is way off.  Senator Orrin Hatch believes the amount needed will be closer to $1.5 trillion.  Just in case you think this is just an exaggeration from a republican who opposes the plan, Representative Charles Rangel also believes the number will top $1 trillion. 

     So, how will we come up with $1 trillion dollars?  A combination of cuts and taxes, with a focus on raising revenue.  It looks like $400 billion ...<< MORE >>

     I found this picture on Projo.com.  I wonder if I could get one of these signs for my lawn?


...<< MORE >>

     The State of Rhode Island was recently ordered to pay $370,000 to the Luca Group, for "voluntary" work they did on the global Medicaid waiver.  You might be wondering why they were paid anything if the work was "voluntary."  After all, if you volunteer to do something, that means you are donating your labor for free.  Well, according to Governor Carcieri's office, it looks like "voluntary work" is work performed without a contract.  Just out of curiosity, does this mean that nonunion state employees could be characterized as "volunteers," since they don't work under a contract of any kind?   I don't think ...<< MORE >>

     When cities and towns raise taxes, they usually defend the increase by pointing out that it is being done in order to preserve services for its citizens.  Well, how about a town that is planning on raising property taxes, and attempted to levy an additional property tax on its citizens, yet is attempting to reduce basic services.  Does that sound bad?  Welcome to North Providence!

     Mayor Charles Lombardi's latest stroke of genius involves charging citizens for trash collection.  You might be paying thousands of dollars for property taxes, but evidently, it isn't enough to cover trash pick-up.  Under ...<< MORE >>

     I wonder what would happen if the G-8 Summit were to be held in Providence.  Would David Cicilline declare a curfew and order all citizens to stay in their houses?  Probably not, since most of the protesters would be protesting about things that had nothing to do with the mayor.  While there are many different groups planning to protest, the one that has received the most attention is the Providence firefighter's union, Local 799, which is directly targeting David Cicilline.  That can happen when you lack the common decency to sit down and negotiate with a union that has ...<< MORE >>

     Does your employer provide you with a cell phone to use for work?  If they do, you might be getting hit with another tax.  There is talk about taxing a company phone as a "fringe benefit."  That would result in employees being responsible for paying tax on 25% of the annual cost of the phone.  So not only would we have another tax applied to our life, but the tax code would get just a little more complicated.  

     I thought Barack Obama was supposed to be looking out for "working people."  I guess he thinks only those ...<< MORE >>

     Rhode Island's State Senate has approved a bill 31-1 which would require Twin River to continue dog racing if they want to have extended hours on weekends and holidays.  Allowing Twin River to have extended hours makes sense, since it would bring in more revenue for the state and the facility, which may need to file for bankruptcy.  What doesn't make sense is requiring Twin River to continue dog racing.  Newport Grand was allowed to end Jai Alai a few years ago, so why can't Twin River end dog racing?  The reluctance to lose union jobs at ...<< MORE >>

     North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi admits to using federal stimulus money  to help meet the town's payroll.  The funds were supposed to be used for schools, but that didn't stop the mayor.  As the Mayor Lombardi says:


"We did receive some additional funds that were earmarked for the school department and stimulus funds that, it was very risky, but we needed to make payroll because we do have a legal obligation to do that."


     He is correct about having a legal obligation to pay employees the money they earned, but he seems to forget that he has an ...<< MORE >>

     Here are some things going on behind the scenes.  You probably won't care much, but if you visit often, you might.
 

* Are you on Twitter?  If you are, look for me!  My user name is RIRepublican.  It's another great way to get blog updates.

* RIRepublican's traffic has been rising steadily since its inception in September of 2008.  As a matter of fact, according to BlogNetNews.com it is already the third most popular conservative blog in Rhode Island.  Sure, detractors might point out that there are only three conservative blogs in the state that are ranked: This one, << MORE >>

     Mayor David Cicilline is taking to the airwaves.  In what was called a "significant" ad buy, Cicilline is defending his position in negotiations with Local 799, which represents Providence firefighters.  From what I've been reading, nonunion employees will soon be paying 20% of their health insurance, and it is also a goal for other unions.  Expecting the firefighters to pay this percentage isn't unreasonable.  Union President Paul Doughty agrees the firefighters should pay something, but he thinks the 15% veteran firefighters are being asked to pay is too much.  This is ridiculous.  All city employees should pay a minimum of 20% toward their health insurance.

     While I do agree with having Firefighters pay a portion of their health insurance, David Cicilline once again shows he's a failure.  First, Local 799 says David Cicilline hasn't sat down with them to negotiate.  Why not?  These negotiations have dragged on throughout his administration.  Why not sit down and discuss these issues in person?  Second, David Cicilline seems shocked that the firefighters are going to picket the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and federal officials won't attend.  I would have been surprised if they didn't picket!  After all, aren't these the same people who essentially forced him out of the Clinton campaign?  Also, who would expect an Presidential administration with heavy union support to cross a picket line?  Does David Cicilline think before he speaks?  Finally, I find it  distasteful that he is using contract negotiations as a chance to raise campaign funds.  Instead of making radio ads, why not sit down and negotiate?

     Hopefully, the Cicilline circus will come to an end in just 17 months.  I've heard speculation about many possible candidates who are considering a run.  I would encourage them to give it a try because David Cicilline's act is wearing thin.

        

     The Senate decided to hold a bill fsponsored by John Tassoni for further study, which would have allowed  Smithfield to impose a 20% tax on Bryant University.  It looks like yet another city/town is desperate to squeeze every cent out of nonprofits without taking a moment to consider all the benefits they receive. 

     The decision to hold the bill for further study isn't only a win for Bryant, it looks like it could also be a big win for private colleges and universities in Providence.  David Cicilline is counting on two bills which would require a ...<< MORE >>

     The Moderate Party needs your help.  In order to become an officially recognized political party, the group must collect 23,588 signatures.  If you have an opportunity to sign a petition, please help.  I'm a registered Republican and would be glad to offer my signature.  Even if you are not in complete agreement with the Moderate Party's platform, offering your signature is the right thing to do.  Any time we have the opportunity to encourage political participation and a diversity of ideas, we should do everything we can to help. ...<< MORE >>

     I can't think of too many times where I have agreed with Providence mayor David Cicilline, but one of those rare occasions just occurred.  David Cicilline has released the terms of the contract proposal he submitted to the firefighters union.  The big thing is a request that members begin paying for a percentage of their health insurance.  Providence firefighters currently receive free health insurance.  Cicilline has proposed having current firefighter contribute 15% with new hires expected to contribute 20%.  The administration's goal is to have each employee, both union and nonunion, contribute 20%.  That sounds reasonable to me.

     ...<< MORE >>

     Twin River may file for bankruptcy as early as June 26th.  Of course, this won't happen if they can get some help from their creditors (who are owed hundreds of millions of dollars) or the State of Rhode Island (who takes 60% of the profit on video slots).  There is no doubt things are bad at Twin River.  There is also no doubt that Twin River earns quite a bit of revenue and its problems are due mainly to its exorbitant borrowing.  Bankruptcy is a real possibility, but it looks like it is being used by Twin River as a ...<< MORE >>

     On April 15th, more than 2,000 people came together at the State House to protest excessive government spending.  On June 10th, there will be another Tea Party to let our elected officials know that we want smaller government and reduced spending.  Please try your best to attend, and bring some friends and family.  I invited three coworkers to come with me in April, and all four of us will be back on June 10th.  I hope to see you there!


  ...<< MORE >>

     What do you do when you create a $10 million deficit?  Well, if you are responsible for running North Providence, you could push the deficit to the next fiscal year, raise property taxes 14%, hope for a supplemental property tax to further burden citizens, and hope for “creative ways the Senate can come up with to help out the Town of North Providence.”   Here's a novel idea for the financial wizards running North Providence: Make cuts and reinvent local government!

     I hope North Providence residents are watching the disgraceful actions of their mayor and town council.  North Providence ...<< MORE >>

     Vice President Joe Biden and other members of the Obama administration will not be attending the National Conference of Mayors in Providence.  The firefighter's union, local 799, is planning to picket the event and requested that the administration honor the picket line, and they agreed.

     This is unfortunate, since the decision not to attend will probably have a ripple affect on other potential attendees.  That means fewer hotel rooms, fewer customers in restaurants, and less shopping in stores.  I usually disagree with David Cicilline, but I think he's probably on the right side of this debate. ...<< MORE >>

      New Hampshire became the 6th state to legalize same-sex marriage, when Governor John Lynch signed the legislation today.  Iowa, Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont are the other states where same-sex marriage is legal.  Governor Lynch had this to say:


"Today, we are standing up for the liberties of same-sex couples by making clear that they will receive the same rights, responsibilities — and respect — under New Hampshire law,"


     Now that New Hampshire has legalized same-sex marriage, Rhode Island is the only state in New England which does not allow such unions.  As Governor Lynch stated, this is ...<< MORE >>

     Did you know that the United States is one of the largest muslim countries in the world?  Me neither, but Barack Obama claims we are.  Although, like other things, he is wrong about this too.  It appears that the United States has 1.8 million Muslims, which makes it the 48th largest Muslim country.  

     Barack Hussein Obama is trying mightily to boost his Muslim street cred before his trip to the middle East.  He is attempting to paint the United States as a "Muslim country," and his deputy national security adviser said Obama "experienced Islam on three continents...growing up ...<< MORE >>

     It looks like Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, and Barack Obama are comrades.  If you don't believe me, just read these complimentary words from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez:


"Hey, Obama has just nationalized nothing more and nothing less than General Motors. Comrade Obama! Fidel, careful or we are going to end up to his right," Chavez joked on a live television broadcast.


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