Is Rhode Island Turning More Conservative?

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Kate Nagle, GoLocal News Editor

 

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The former chairman of the Rhode Island GOP is touting what he sees as some recent major victories for conservatives in the state -- but is Rhode Island really turning more conservative?

Smiley wrote on Facebook on Friday, "Recently I've questioned whether "we", the loose knit group of conservative activist in Rhode Island (many of whom are right here on my Facebook Friends list), are getting anywhere. Yesterday I realized that we are getting somewhere."

"Master Lever" - gone. "Casino Gambling in Newport" - stopped. Deep Water Wind cable on Narragansett Beach - Stopped. Pawsox move to Providence - stopped. Tolling the Sakonnet River Bridge - reversed. Coventry Fire mess exposed. Stopped the pro Union Firefighter "end around" at the Statehouse. Creation of a separate privileged property tax group based on "Affordable Housing status". Yesterday I heard that the RI Convention Center has eliminated 8 jobs to cut its dependency on the RI Taxpayers. Maybe we don't realize it because it's like holding back the tide, but lift your heads high, rededicate yourself to to the job, we are moving forward," continued Smiley.

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Kristina Contreras Fox with the Young Democrats of Rhode Island -- and others -  countered that some of the issues listed by Smiley weren't just the conservatives' domain.  

"Let's remember that Progressives and radicals didn't want the [PawSox] stadium either," said Fox, who is the 1st Vice President of the Young Democrats of America. "I think a lot of times its a matter of how you spin it.  As for the master lever [elimination] win being conservative, I'm a Democrat, and I want to see people voting Democrat, but I wanted to see people paying attention to down ticket races.  Let's face it, even without the lever, people can vote straight-ticket still." 

"But perhaps where we differ is we're doing everything we can do in terms of voter education and barriers to participating in voting," said Fox.  "If you want to talk about progressives, [Secretary of State] Nellie Gorbea is passionate about those values, and walking the walk, about making the voting process more accessible.  So for me it's not conservative versus progressive, I ask is it something that will help our state?  The reason I'm as a Democrat is  I see the Democrats are working to put forward policies that will help all folks."

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Governor Gina Raimondo

New Leadership Landscape

Governor Gina Raimondo and Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello both follow more liberal predecessors in Lincoln Chafee and Gordon Fox, which Progressive Democrats are quick to point out.  

"Most people in Rhode Island have no idea how right-wing the [Democratic] legislature is on core level issues," said Sam Bell with the Progressive Democrats.  "Most of the top leaders are anti-choice -- everyone assumes they're pro-choice."  

"I think it's interesting that Smiley pointed out [the defeat of table games at] Newport Grand as well as a win for conservatives," said Bell.  "The progressive Democrats were a driving force behind the movement.  Newport is actually one of the places we've been able to have success unseating primary opponents."

"The electorate that elects Republicans in Rhode Island is generally not a bunch a right wing tea partiers, but people who want an alternative to the entrenched Democratic machine," said Bell. "Take the stadium issue. I think it was helpful we had the GOP General Assembly members opposed, but at its core, it was a largely and effort against corporate welfare, and nationally the Republican party is supportive of corporate welfare.  I think a lot of the Republicans in Rhode Island are first and foremost against the Democratic machine here."

Smiley in turn further explained his rationale behind his list of wins. 

"The inside view of each of these wins is that the Legislature knows it can no longer afford the course we've been on and now they are looking to move "right" while not letting their own constituents know that's what is happening," said Smiley. "If they find out, they'd know that their Reps, Senators, and other Politicians have been wrong and need to be replaced."

"There's certainly a lot of conservative feelings in Rhode Island," said Democrat Fox.  "As liberal as our cities may be, the suburbs have their land lines, and people have bee raised with values that have come down for centuries, that are more conservative. So yes, it's about recognizing the common ground -- it's not necessary conservative versus progressives.  Don't get me wrong, I think the Democratic way is the way to do it, which is to say a broad cross-section from all walks for life to come to a solution to bring everyone up. It's not rising tide lifts all boats, what about the people who don't have boats, and can't get to water."

Grassroots Efforts

Mike Stenhouse with the "free market" Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity said he thought the wins articulated by Smiley had a common element at their core -- grassroots organizing.  

"If you really want to think about it, Obama brought into light the importance of  community organizing," said Stenhouse. "What his win taught us is that the behind the scenes grassroots power can supersede the status quo.  

"So you're seeing people getting their mojo -- and often it's often being supported by coordination from groups like ours, and others," continued Stenhouse. "The stadium brought a wide swath of groups.  The master lever wasn't just conservatives.  People are being coalesced by organized groups into a potent political force.  This is what government should be about -- is the voice and will of the people, and away from special interests."

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Both Bell and fellow Progressive Democrat Jonathan Jacobs acknowledge the big split between conservatives and progressives is over tax policy.  

"Conservative policies are not inherently anathema or detrimental to the goals and ideas of progressive politics. There is certainly an overlap when the ultimate objective prioritizes people over profits. I think both political ideologies agree on weeding out corruption. Both agree on improving the economy," said Jacobs.

"The difference is perception. Progressives view taxes as an investment for which they want to see a fair return," continued Jacobs.  "Conservatives view taxes as always too high and always going to waste. Progressives  embrace "We the People ..." Conservatives embrace "What's mine is mine, and I earned it."

Smiley countered with his conservative vantage point.

"RI is running out of choices. RI is proving that it can't afford Liberal policies. Overly generous Union contracts, overly generous Social services, overly generous immigration policies," said Smiley. "Liberal policies cost more than RI can afford."
 

 

Related Slideshow: The 10 Most Politically Powerful at RI State House

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#10 - Sen. Da Ponte

The Senate Finance Chairman pushed hard in 2014 for corporate tax reform -- and combined reporting -- and was recently reappointed to his fourth term at the helm of the committee that vets the state's budget. With House Speaker Mattiello's talking about eliminating the state income tax on social security, a budget deficit and the prospect of diminishing gaming revenue, Da Ponte will have his work cut out for him chairing the powerful Senate committee. 
 

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#9 - Rep. DeSimone

One of the most powerful political players in Providence, the Majority leader wields his influence at the state house as part of Speaker Mattiello's team. Serving in the chamber since 1992, DeSimone rose to his current position with the ouster of former Speaker Gordon Fox in 2014. He will be a pivotal player at the State House for the City of Providence (and new Elorza administration), as the state grapples with a projected $200 million budget deficit, and Providence needs a strong advocate to appeal for what it can.  
 

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#8 - Bob Goldberg

The former Minority Leader continues his position as one of the state's top lobbyists, representing a wide range of clients that last year included Lifespan, GTech, Johnson and Wales, and CVS Health, to name a few. Year in, year out, Goldberg -- who is married to RI Supreme Court Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg -- parlays his State House knowledge and connections for his well-funded clients, who in the past have included Twin River when it successfully pushed for table games on the ballot in 2012.

(Goldberg pictured at right.)

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#7 - Bill Murphy

The former Speaker of the House continues to wield unparalleled influence as a lobbyist and behind-the-scenes king maker.  While he last served as the state's most powerful elected official until 2010, Murphy's ability to exert control at the State House was evidenced by backing now-Speaker Mattiello when the battle to replace Gordon Fox took place.  Murphy's lobbying clients range from the corrections officers to payday lending to Twin River.

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#6 - Sen. Paiva Weed

The Senate President, who has been at the chamber's de facto top post since 2008, faced a strong challenge this past election season from Newport's Mike Smith, who had been an outspoken opponent against a table games expansion at Newport Grand -- a decision which Paiva-Weed ultimately came to following the rejection of a host agreement by the Newport City Council.  Paiva Weed in her opening address of this year's General Assembly session promised to make jobs and the economy her top priorities, followed closely by education.  With the school construction moratorium schedule to expire in May, watch to see how Paiva-Weed works with the House and Raimondo administration to address the burgeoning infrastructure needs.
 

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#5 - Sen. Ruggerio

The Senate Majority leader was first elected to the chamber in 1984, after four years in the House, and was Senate majority whip from 2003 to 2010. An administrator for the New England Laborers Labor Management Co-op Trust, Ruggerio's labor ties have helped cement his position of power in the Senate. Despite two arrests, Ruggerio has emerged relatively unscathed, advancing the legislation establishing the I-195 Redevelopment Commission, and pushing for increased parking in downtown Providence by the Garrahy judicial complex

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#4 - David Cruise

Governor Raimondo's newly chosen Legislative Director should prove to be much more than that.  While Raimondo tapped former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley staffer Stephen Neuman to be her Chief of Staff, the out-of-towner might bring in a fresh perspective, but Cruise knows the lay of the land. Having a Rhode Island political resume that includes serving as a State Senator, Governor Sundlun's Chief of Staff, and top roles at the RI Resource Recovery Corporation and as a traffic court magistrate, Cruise's policy role, while his official one, will be just one in his advisory capacity for the newly elected Governor.  
 

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#3 - Leo Skenyon

The Speaker of the Houses's Chief of Staff is the gatekeeper -- and like his predecessor before him, Frank Anzeveno (under former Speaker Gordon Fox), Skenyon is the key to access the Speaker. Skenyon, a former top aide to Governor Bruce Sundlun and U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell, had most recently been the Traffic Tribunal Clerk.  The former Chief of Staff to Senate-Majority leader Jack Revens in the 1980s, Skenyon has been at the helm before in orchestrating the chamber's top office.  Skenyon enters his first full session at the post along with Mattiello as the agent behind the state's biggest power broker.  

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#2 - Gov. Raimondo

The state's 75th governor -- and first woman at the helm -- marks the first return of a Democratic head-of-state since Governor Bruce Sundlun entered the office in the winter of 1991.  Raimondo however won with just 40.7% of the vote, which gave her the plurality, but not a mandate.   Bringing in a number of outsiders for key positions, and shaking up multiple Department directors, the Raimondo administration looks markedly unlike any in recent years.  How successful Raimondo is in pushing through her agenda in the first six months will go a long way to determining how powerful she will be in the next four years. 

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#1 - Speaker Mattiello

The Speaker of the House has always wielded the most power in Rhode Island, and Speaker Mattiello is now the de facto head of state for the second -- and first full -- year.  Mattiello emerged from the 2014 session earning plaudits from a wide range of supporters for pushing through a cut in the corporate income tax and changes to the estate tax.  Now, as a new General Assembly has just gotten underway, Mattiello is eying eliminating the state income tax on social security, before the Governor has submitted her budget proposal.  Look to see what the Speaker can -- and will -- accomplish in 2015.  

 

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