West on Hardball

Darrell West, Vice President and Director of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and former head of the Taubman Center at Brown University, appeared this week on Hardball with Chris Matthews.

West discussed ISIS and the "battle of the billionaires" in the 2014 elections.

See video below

2014 Legislative Scorecard: Zero Legislators Earn Positive Score

The RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity has released their third-annual General Assembly Freedom Index and Legislative Scorecard for 2014.

According to the scorecard, no legislator, chamber, or party scored above a zero.

See Scorecard here

"What we are likely seeing here is a go-along to get-along approach," said Mike Stenhouse, CEO for the Center. "Over the past few years there has been virtually no alternative voice or opposition to counter our state's continued slide away from free-market principles. With a general election in a few weeks, voters must decide whether or not to hold their elected officials accountable, and whether or not these dismal index scores are yet another reason why a Constitutional Convention should be approved."

RI Democratic Party Blasts Carcieri’s Support of Fung

Peter Baptista, the Rhode Island Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign Director, has released the following statement on former Governor Don Carcieri's support of Alllan Fung:

“Trailing in the polls, the hypocrisy of Allan Fung continues. The fact is, Gina Raimondo fought the 38 Studios deal from the beginning but that hasn’t stopped him from running misleading attack ads against her. Now Mayor Fung is actually campaigning with Governor Carcieri, the architect of the 38 Studios deal, who took a risky bet with Rhode Island taxpayer's money and left us all on the hook. At the same time Mayor Fung is calling on the state to default on those bonds. This is more of the same old Rhode Island politics that got us into this mess. Gina has the guts to do what is right for all Rhode Islanders."

Almonte Questions Magaziner's "Family Money" Used in Campaign

Independent candidate for General Treasurer Ernie Almonte is questioning opponent Seth Magaziner's "family money" he used for campaign finances.

Almonte's campaign manager, Evan Petrone, released the following statement:

“Rhode Island General Law prohibits anyone, except the candidate, from contributing or loaning more than $1,000 to a campaign or candidate in a calendar year. Mr. Magaziner admitted the $550,000 he loaned to his campaign came from earnings from his job and 'family money.' Frankly, his response raises more questions than it answers.

Campaign finance laws do not allow candidates to take financial gifts or loans from family and funnel it into a campaign. If Mr. Magaziner’s parents gave him money after he became a candidate, this would be a clear violation of campaign finance law.

If the money came from a family trust, why isn't the trust listed on his ethics disclosure?

But the real question is why it took him so long to answer. He dodged the question, not giving an answer for almost 45 days. This is exactly the kind of behavior one would expect from a second-generation political insider with a sense of entitlement who believes the rules don't apply to him.

 How willing someone is to answer questions truthfully and in a timely manner speaks directly to that individual’s character and integrity. It took almost 45 days for Mr. Magaziner to offer a response to these questions, and even then, his response was so vague that it raised more questions than it answered.

 Transparency is an issue of critical importance to the treasurer’s office. If Mr. Magaziner believes that Rhode Islanders don’t care about truth, timeliness, and transparency, he’s sadly mistaken.”

AFSCME Council 94 Endorse Magaziner

The AFSCME (American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees) Rhode Island Council 94 has endorsed Democratic candidate Seth Magaziner for Treasurer.

“Rhode Island needs a Treasurer who will bring a steady hand to our state’s finances, and ensure that the people who work hard for our state every day have the dignity of a secure retirement,” said J. Michael Downey, Council 94 President. “Seth’s significant investment experience makes him a clear choice for our members and all who care about stabilizing our state’s finances.”