Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics
Friday, May 20, 2011
Each week, GoLocalProv gives an insider's look at who's on a roll and who's rolling downhill in Rhode Island politics.
Who’s Hot
Steven Pare -> As bad as things are in Providence, it’s refreshing to see the Public Safety Commissioner (at right) continue to get things done. Already he’s committed to cracking down on pension fraudsters, ended most of the take-home car privileges at the police department, and now he’s helping make late night trips to Haven Brothers safer by pushing for staggered closings at some of the city’s nightclubs.GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
John Loughlin & Brendan Doherty -> It’s not a surprise that both Loughlin and Doherty find themselves way out in front of Congressman David Cicilline in the latest Channel 12 poll. What is a surprise is how low their unfavorables are. Loughlin, who is pretty conservative by Rhode Island standards, is only at 16 percent negative. More impressive is Doherty, who hopes to flip and flop his way to Washington, at just five percent.
Lincoln Chafee -> The governor has been relatively quiet since Speaker Gordon Fox (and the rest of the state) put the kibosh on his sales tax plan. But for a guy criticized for being beholden to public employees, he deserves credit for calling on state workers to pay more toward their pensions.
Ken McKay -> Well, hot might not be the word. Alive is more like it. After seemingly going into hiding as his party crumbled over the past few weeks, the GOP chair is making the rounds again, blaming Democrats for everything but the potholes in Providence. McKay does deserve credit for pointing out how ridiculous yet another study on the pension system is. He’s right. The legislature seems to just be putting off another tough decision.
Karen Meyers -> Everyone ought to give the new anchor at ABC6 a big welcome to Rhode Island. No word yet if she’s already filed for her disability pension.
Frank Ferri -> Great week for Rep. Ferri. Gave an impassioned speech on the House floor before the civil unions vote, and is also calling on the state to stop relying on tuition for funding. Bottom line: If you want an educated workforce, you can’t continue to price people out of earning a college degree. It just doesn’t make sense.
James Sheehan -> Kudos to Sen. Sheehan for standing up to Steve Laffey last weekend. Sheehan was right. Why should Rhode Islanders listen to a guy who was only in the state so he could make a scene for his movie?
Who’s Not
Scott Avedisian -> Generally, when you claim to have surplus at a time when many of your residents are struggling to pay bills, raising taxes isn’t necessary. Not for Warwick’s mayor (at left), who is pushing for both a property tax hike and the car tax. So much for that Republican nomination for Senate in 2012, Mayor Avedisian.
David Cicilline -> If ever a Democrat wanted to step up to take a chance at a sitting incumbent Congressman, now is the time. At 57 percent unfavorable, calling Cicilline vulnerable is the understatement of the century. But who will run? Gemma? Segal? (Bill or Patrick) Lynch? Here’s an interesting name: How about Cumberland’s Dan McKee?
Pension Vigilantes -> There’s a new group of “civilians” trying to sniff out every fraudulent disability pension in the state. And while everyone likes a watchdog, witch hunts tend to be driven by personal agendas, and that’s not what this state needs.
Civil Unions -> Well, it passed with overwhelming support. But is there anyone out there that is actually happy about it? On one side, you have folks screaming about not getting same-sex marriage. On the other you have the “gays are icky” crowd. Nobody seems to have won here.
Bishop Tobin -> At least the cranky Bishop didn’t get his way. And as far as we know, lightning has yet to hit any of the state reps that voted in favor of civil unions last night.
Central Falls -> Nothing is going right for Central Falls and this week was just the exclamation point. And while there might not be any one person to blame, it is painfully obvious there has been brutal mismanagement of that town in every way.
Robert Phillips -> Let’s enforce new taxes, raise beach prices, issue more parking tickets and make life totally unpleasant for everyone. But we’ll drop cigarette prices so that guy a Seekonk can get his nicotine fix for a buck less. Only in Rhode Island.
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- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
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- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
