Laffey Blasts Raimondo on Pension Reform
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Raimondo has earned praise from some quarters for her firm approach to the pension issue, but Laffey said she got off to the wrong start from even before she took office. “How do you run for office without a specific plan to stabilize the pension funds?” said Laffey, a former Cranston mayor and GOP Senate candidate who GoLocalProv reported is now considering a run for president.
Once in office, Raimondo said she wanted to get a handle on the real numbers before proposing reforms. That, Laffey said, could have been done within days of taking office, rather than months, as turned out to be the case. The focus has now turned to the Pension Advisory Group, which is developing a framework for possible reforms.
‘You got to be kidding me’
“This thing is going to take down the state of Rhode Island,” Laffey concluded.
He said the state’s ailing finances were part of the motivation behind his move to Colorado about a year ago. He said he and his wife asked each other where they wanted to bring up their children. “Colorado is still a pleasant area. There is a lot of growth,” he said.
Laffey: Providence must declare bankruptcy
Laffey also weighed in on the financial struggled of cities like Central Falls and Providence. He said it’s too late to save Central Falls through bankruptcy. But the capital city still has a chance—only if drastic measures are taken, he added.
“Providence can’t come back from where it is today without declaring bankruptcy,” Laffey warned. “The pensions systems have overwhelmed the whole city.”
But ultimately in Providence too Laffey saw eventual failure, saying it will “bring the whole state down” in a couple of years.
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Comments:
Jonathan Flynn
2:38am on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Ego,ego,ego. All hail the ego.
David McDonald
6:50am on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Who cares what Laffey things! Raimondo is trying to change things which is more than most have done.
Buc Kner
6:59am on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
^^^^ exactly..Steve ..go back to shoeing horses, grilling & RUNNING FROM WHOEVER YOU LEFT RI IN FEAR OF???...maybe that guy & "the SEC" ???as to GoLo's photo..Laffey does belong w/the independent Man..yes on top of the SPEAR!! Stay away PUNK!!!
Bob Kumins
8:36am on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Who gives a damn what a Colorado resident has to say?
Lance Chappell
9:00am on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Laffey had a big problem when he inherited the mess in Cranston from then Mayor O'Leary. Cranston was in junk bond status. He pulled it out by cutting spending and increasing taxes. Taxes are hurting Cranston today.
Being so hard on the new General Treasurer is a bit over the top. He should have been hitting hard on Caprio for his "do nothing" administration. Raimondo is now doing circles around Caprio.
Laffey is yesterday's news and as he has moved to Colorado, I don't get the continued concerns. He pushed away from the table, just move on.
David Bibeault
9:37am on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Steve Laffey is absolutely correct - Providence is bankrupt and Rhode Island is bankupt. Drastic changes are necessary but since the public employee unions own the General Assembly and Governor, nothing will be fixed. The unions are well represented on the Pension Advisory Group also..... No profiles in courage here.
michael riley
10:26am on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
I feel Laffey's frustration.....the panel is a joke and makes it very unlikely that RI will have meaningful and timely reform....eventually the system will collapse ...and then we can start over...Mr Laffey still cares about RI some of us do not
Nick Patriarca
11:00am on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
cicilline was intentionally deceitful and part of proviences financial situation for which he remains unaccountable . caprio, saw the gen. treasurers position as a political stepping stone and refused to tackle the pension issuue . raimondo is currently addressing the pension debacle . mr. laffeys comments are not very presidential .
nor is he .
Buc Kner
11:05am on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
why give 2 cents as to Laffey opinions? THE GUY LOST TO CHAFEE...case closed
Will Collette
1:00pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
I'm sure that covering right-wing nuts is an important news assignment. It's a terrible job but somebody's got to do it. And it's nice to see that GoLoveProv now has Steve Beale doing wall-to-wall coverage on every utterance coming from the RI Tea Party, and now Steve Laffey. No matter how stupid.
But Steve, it's important for reporters to not become captives of their subjects. At least try to maintain some semblance of objectivity. Otherwise, people might think you were signed on as Steve Laffey's new publicist/campaign manager.
Dave Johnson
3:09pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Laffey is right. Raimondo is doing nothing - and state finances are a complete disaster. A fiscal tsunami is heading right at us, yet many (especially those on the left) refuse to admit the true scope of this crisis.
Laffey made a smart move by getting away from this corrupt, broken-down state. I have been thinking of moving myself. My other alternative is to join a revolution. I am simply waiting for a suitable revolutionary leader to appear.
- Good luck to us all.
Robin Bugbee
5:05pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
So why exactly should anyone care about what a former mayor who left the state under a cloud and moved to Colorado has to say about our political situation in Providence. And what could possibly be his motivation for going after Ms, Raimondo who has been up front about all of the issues facing us and is doing the best job any statewide officer has done to get the state to solve the pension issue than anyone else in the last 15 years. It took a long time for politicians like Laffey and his friends to create the fiscal mess we now confront. It is not going to be solved quickly but we are making progress and we really don;t need Laffey's help. Why you guys in the press keep asking his opinion or printing the bull he responds with is beyond my ability to understand. Let Steve go back west and run for president. That should be very amusing.
Real Clear
9:24pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
If Laffey is such a successful and insightful public servant, who cares so much about RI, why is he pontificating 2 time zones away? Laugh at me.
Nancy champ
8:41am on Thursday, August 18, 2011
RI voted for Chafee over Laffey b/c they don't want change. I like Linc and supported him b/c of his views on important issues like the Iraq War. But he is no match for the sharks in the legislature and he is so out of touch with how ordinary people live, I don't see him being able to lead this state. Laffey is arrogant and abrasive, but his is essentially right. He should not attack Raimondo, however, as she is at least ACTUALLY TRYING for the first time about pension reform. The fact she is proceeding at a sober pace shows prudence and an effective leadership style. These decisison will affect a lot of people for a long time to come. She is a public servant who is trying to get something done, not just pursue her political career. Hope she stays that way.
kevin sadowski
10:02am on Friday, August 19, 2011
you unions better save that 50% they are giving you for now because the ball raolls fast downhill and you will end up with less or nothing at all just what you deserve. I love were this is going