RI Campaign Update – AG Candidate Responds to ‘Attack Ad’
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Cicilline criticizes RIPTA rate increases. Fernandez Responds to Kilmartin ad. Debate week continues on ABC 6…. and much, much more from the campaign trail.
Cicilline Criticizes RIPTA Rate Increase
Congressional hopeful David Cicilline yesterday issued the following statement criticizing proposed rate increases for RIPTA.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“Ironically, today's across-the-board fare increase from the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority comes on the same day that our state's Department of Environmental Management declares an Air Quality Alert day due to unhealthy levels of ozone in the atmosphere. By making it harder for people to afford public transportation but encouraging them to take the bus to improve air quality, our state is sending mixed signals to hardworking men and women,” Cicilline said.
“As Mayor, I established the Transit 2020 study group that called for robust investment in a public transit system for the metro area and tied transit investment to economic development. If elected to Congress, I will fight hard for serious reinvestments in our infrastructure, including the creation of a National Infrastructure Bank to rebuild our bridges, roads, schools and transit like we did with the Works Progress Administration.”
Fernandez Responds to Kilmartin Ad
Attorney General candidate Joe Fernandez responded to primary opponent Peter Kilmartin’s new ad, which criticizes his record as Providence City Solicitor and faults him for not prosecuting Mayor David Cicilline’s brother when he wrote bad checks to the city.
“Representative Peter Kilmartin’s attack ad rebuts itself. It IS the Attorney General’s job to prosecute corruption. It’s been confirmed time and again that it was under the Attorney General’s jurisdiction to prosecute the check scandal, and it was the Attorney General’s office that passed on prosecuting the Mayor’s brother,” Fernandez said.
He added: “The truth is that Joe Fernandez followed ethics rules by recusing the law office, removed the collection agent responsible, brought in an outside auditor to investigate the matter to its fullest, and put in new safeguards to keep it from ever happening again.
Representative Kilmartin’s pre-emptive strike against the truth should make it clear to everyone just how committed the status quo is to defending its privileges. Joe Fernandez’s stellar record of taking on corruption and his vision for changing the way this state does business scares them. And it should.”
Taveras Urges Costantino to Fight Carcieri on Budget Deficit Plan
Providence mayoral candidate Angel Taveras called on primary opponent Steven Costantino, who is the House Finance Chairman, to oppose Gov. Don Carcieri’s plan to use federal education money to fix the state’s budget deficit.
“Governor Don Carcieri is right that the General Assembly passed a budget with a one hundred and seven million dollar ($107,000,000) hole,” Taveras said. “But he is wrong to use $32.9 million in targeted education funding to close the budget deficit left by the sponsor of the budget: Finance Chairman Steven Costantino. The state should not bail out Chairman Costantino's bad budget decisions with money intended for our children.”
Loughlin Decries Increase in Federal Spending
Republican Congressional candidate John Loughlin issued the following response to news that federal spending had reached record levels.
“Today the U.S. Census Bureau reported that federal spending increased a record 16 percent to $3.2 trillion in 2009. Like all Americans, I’m shocked by the amount of money our government is spending,” Loughlin said. “Instead of adding jobs, the only thing this new spending has added is more debt. We need to set a new course for America that keeps the size of government in check. Otherwise, we’re sticking our children and grandchildren with a bill they can never afford to pay.”
Raptakis Says Mollis TV, Radio Ads Are ‘Misleading, Exaggerated Lies’
Lou Raptakis called Secretary of State Ralph Mollis a “liar” and accused him of “making ridiculous claims” about his administration's accomplishments. Mollis says he helped get 22,000 new businesses started, but Raptakis said that number includes corporate entities, not necessarily new businesses. He also said Mollis’ claim that he brought voter registration up to 700,000 people is exaggerated and includes 58,623 inactive voters.
Little Says He Will Be an Environmental Advocate
Chris Little said he would be an advocate on environmental issues if he is elected Attorney General. Little, who is the Moderate Party candidate, said he would do everything in his power to fight projects that threaten the water, land, air, and quality of life in Rhode Island. “The citizens of this Ocean State, who cherish our great resources, should insist that I energetically combine the roles of investigator, prosecutor and advocate in defense of those resources,” Little said.
Debate Week Continues on ABC 6
The three Democratic candidates for the Second Congressional seat met for a debate last night on Cox Channel 5. The debate was sponsored by ABC 6 and the League of Women voters and featured incumbent Jim Langevin and primary challengers Betsy Dennigan and Ernest Greco. Candidates for Providence mayor will debate tonight at 8 p.m. on Cox Channel 5. For more information, click here.
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