Those who love political sword fights should keep their eyes on the coming battle over who controls the flood of federal stimulus money soon to be washing ashore here in the Biggest Little State in the Union.
While the state constitution clearly makes the General Assembly the appropriating authority for state spending, this infusion of special federal aid is a unique situation. Gov. Donald L. Carcieri is moving forward under the assumption his office will be doling out stimulus money that does not come with strings attached. He recently established a three-person Office of Economic Recovery and Reinvestment to oversee the distribution.
But legislative leaders do not plan to go quietly into the night. Their position could be summed up thusly: the governor can propose spending, but the system of checks and balances requires legislative oversight.
Stay tuned.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
You can't make me.....
In 20 years of covering state politics I have run into all kinds of personalities. And you can be sure there is no lack of ego under the Statehouse dome.
Elected officials often depend on the media to alert their constituents what they're doing. And, of course, they also would rather we not report on some things they don't want their constituents to know they're doing.
But last Tuesday I had an unprecedented run in with a local lawmaker, one that caught me totally by surprise.
As I have for every one of the 20 state-of-the-state speeches I've covered, I sought reaction to the speech from Newport County legislators. Logistically it can be difficult trying to round up 11 local lawmakers after the speech when they all probably want to start their trip back to the county. So before the speech begins I try to touch base with as many as I can to remind them I'd like to get their take on the speech.
I always try to be balanced for the story, making sure I talk to both Republicans and Democrats. This year, unlike years past, Newport County has only one Republican legislator, Rep. John J. Loughlin II, R-Tiverton, so I thought it important to make sure I was able to talk to him.
Before the speech I approached Loughlin at his desk and said I needed to get his reaction after the speech. Loughlin immediately - and, I thought, jokingly - expressed disbelief that I would want to talk to him since I hadn't thought it important to report that he had been elected whip of the Republican minority caucus. I retorted that I didn't think it was important - intending to joke back with him.
In fact, I didn't think it important. The whip's job is to know the pulse of the caucus, find out how members might vote on any particular issue. Now let's see ... Loughlin obviously knows his own mind so that means he has the task of keeping tabs on the other five members of the caucus. Sounds tough.
In the same vein, I didn't feel it important to note that Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr., D-Bristol, who also represents part of Portsmouth, was elected a Deputy Majority Leader. Those are political posts that just aren't that interesting to readers.
Anyway, Loughlin continued, holding a sheaf of papers, copies of articles in other newspapers. "The Pawtucket Times talked to me. The Warwick Beacon talked to me. The Kent County Daily Times talked to me. But no Newport Daily News."
Now I wasn't sure if he were joking or not and the speech was getting ready to start so I walked away. After the speech, Loughlin was walking out of the chamber as part of the governor's official escort party and I tapped him on his way by me, reminding him I wanted to speak to him and he just said, "I'm escorting. I'm escorting."
After I talked to some Democrats, who made it a point to talk to me before they left, I went searching for Loughlin and found him coming out of the House Minority office on the first floor of the Statehouse. I called out to him, saying I still needed to talk to him.
"I dont' have time. I'm leaving," Loughlin said.
"I'll walk out with you. We can talk on the way," I replied.
Loughlin insisted he didn't have time. Now I was suspicious. I asked him what was going on and he said nothing. So I tried to talk to him again, as we were walking along a corridor. He kept saying he didn't have time to talk. I tried once more asking him what the story was. "No story," he replied.
Finally he said in a saracastic tone, "It was a great speech." When I asked for more details he once again refused. I said, "Fine, John. Have it your way."
His reply: "Have it my way? No, have it your way."
Loughlin, who I have not had problems with before acted like a petulant child. I can only guess what his concerns were, but he obviously irked I didn't report on his whip election. I do know he has, in the past, expressed disagreement with opinions I've expressed in my columns, but never in a confrontational way.
I thought John Loughlin was bigger than that. I hope he was just having a bad day.
Elected officials often depend on the media to alert their constituents what they're doing. And, of course, they also would rather we not report on some things they don't want their constituents to know they're doing.
But last Tuesday I had an unprecedented run in with a local lawmaker, one that caught me totally by surprise.
As I have for every one of the 20 state-of-the-state speeches I've covered, I sought reaction to the speech from Newport County legislators. Logistically it can be difficult trying to round up 11 local lawmakers after the speech when they all probably want to start their trip back to the county. So before the speech begins I try to touch base with as many as I can to remind them I'd like to get their take on the speech.
I always try to be balanced for the story, making sure I talk to both Republicans and Democrats. This year, unlike years past, Newport County has only one Republican legislator, Rep. John J. Loughlin II, R-Tiverton, so I thought it important to make sure I was able to talk to him.
Before the speech I approached Loughlin at his desk and said I needed to get his reaction after the speech. Loughlin immediately - and, I thought, jokingly - expressed disbelief that I would want to talk to him since I hadn't thought it important to report that he had been elected whip of the Republican minority caucus. I retorted that I didn't think it was important - intending to joke back with him.
In fact, I didn't think it important. The whip's job is to know the pulse of the caucus, find out how members might vote on any particular issue. Now let's see ... Loughlin obviously knows his own mind so that means he has the task of keeping tabs on the other five members of the caucus. Sounds tough.
In the same vein, I didn't feel it important to note that Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr., D-Bristol, who also represents part of Portsmouth, was elected a Deputy Majority Leader. Those are political posts that just aren't that interesting to readers.
Anyway, Loughlin continued, holding a sheaf of papers, copies of articles in other newspapers. "The Pawtucket Times talked to me. The Warwick Beacon talked to me. The Kent County Daily Times talked to me. But no Newport Daily News."
Now I wasn't sure if he were joking or not and the speech was getting ready to start so I walked away. After the speech, Loughlin was walking out of the chamber as part of the governor's official escort party and I tapped him on his way by me, reminding him I wanted to speak to him and he just said, "I'm escorting. I'm escorting."
After I talked to some Democrats, who made it a point to talk to me before they left, I went searching for Loughlin and found him coming out of the House Minority office on the first floor of the Statehouse. I called out to him, saying I still needed to talk to him.
"I dont' have time. I'm leaving," Loughlin said.
"I'll walk out with you. We can talk on the way," I replied.
Loughlin insisted he didn't have time. Now I was suspicious. I asked him what was going on and he said nothing. So I tried to talk to him again, as we were walking along a corridor. He kept saying he didn't have time to talk. I tried once more asking him what the story was. "No story," he replied.
Finally he said in a saracastic tone, "It was a great speech." When I asked for more details he once again refused. I said, "Fine, John. Have it your way."
His reply: "Have it my way? No, have it your way."
Loughlin, who I have not had problems with before acted like a petulant child. I can only guess what his concerns were, but he obviously irked I didn't report on his whip election. I do know he has, in the past, expressed disagreement with opinions I've expressed in my columns, but never in a confrontational way.
I thought John Loughlin was bigger than that. I hope he was just having a bad day.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Local appointments
Gov. Donald L. Carcieri submitted his first appointments of the legislative session last week and two Newport County residents were among the group.
The governor reappointed Dr. Ronald J. Onorato, of Newport, to the Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission and Nancy Kolman Ventrone, of Jamestown, to the Commissioni for Human Rights.
In addtion, Speaker of the House William J. Murphy, D-West Warwick, appointed rookie Rep. Deborah L. Ruggiero, D-Jamestown, to the newly-created legislative commission that will study the potential uses of Rhode Island ports.
The governor reappointed Dr. Ronald J. Onorato, of Newport, to the Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission and Nancy Kolman Ventrone, of Jamestown, to the Commissioni for Human Rights.
In addtion, Speaker of the House William J. Murphy, D-West Warwick, appointed rookie Rep. Deborah L. Ruggiero, D-Jamestown, to the newly-created legislative commission that will study the potential uses of Rhode Island ports.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Warren Peace
The furor surrounding Obama's choice of Pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inaugeration is perfectly understandable, but misplaced.
Groups that supported Obama's presidential bid could be forgiven for feeling a bit slighted when he chose the anti-gay rights Warren to give religious greetings for the historic event. I, in fact, find little to like about Warren's politics.
But if the Obama administration is going to live up to its promise to change the way politics is conducted in Washington, it's one hell of a good start. Does anyone seriously believe that having Warren give the invocation is any indication that Obama does not support gay rights issues?
In fact, the choice is a perfect way to signal Americans that polarizing politics is out. Those who supported Obama during the campaign should not feel slighted. Those who did not have good reason to feel Obama's promise for change was more than just campaign rhetoric.
And that alone will go a long way towards healing the wounds a half-century of partisan wrangling has produced.
Groups that supported Obama's presidential bid could be forgiven for feeling a bit slighted when he chose the anti-gay rights Warren to give religious greetings for the historic event. I, in fact, find little to like about Warren's politics.
But if the Obama administration is going to live up to its promise to change the way politics is conducted in Washington, it's one hell of a good start. Does anyone seriously believe that having Warren give the invocation is any indication that Obama does not support gay rights issues?
In fact, the choice is a perfect way to signal Americans that polarizing politics is out. Those who supported Obama during the campaign should not feel slighted. Those who did not have good reason to feel Obama's promise for change was more than just campaign rhetoric.
And that alone will go a long way towards healing the wounds a half-century of partisan wrangling has produced.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Razing Arizona
Stop me if you've heard this one before.
An Arizona Republican senator runs for President and gets trounced, leading to internal bickering and backbiting that seems to guarantee the party is headed for entrenched backbencher status.
While that may seem to describe the current state of political affairs given Barrack Obama's electoral landslide over Republican John McCain, longtime GOP faithful could be excused for having a certain sense of deja vu.
In 1964 Lyndon Johnson crushed the bid of Sen. Barry Goldwater, of Arizona that had many debating the demise of the Grand Old Party. But within four years - thanks in a large measure to the Vietnam War and, to a smaller degree, the third-party candidacy of George Wallace - Nixon retook the White House for Republicans, ushering in a generation of GOP domination of the Oval Office, with the exception of the Watergate-fueled one term presidency of Jimmy Carter.
Obama's win did not approach Johnson's landslide, but was convincing. Although he "only" won by about 8 million votes out of 125 million cast (Johnson beat Goldwater by 16 million votes with only 70 million cast) Obama piled up a convincing 365-173 electoral victory (giving McCain Missouri's 11 electoral votes, though that state has yet to be officially declared).
Four years is several lifetimes in politics, as witnessed by the period between Johnson's 1964 drubbing of Goldwater to 1968's Nixonian comback. Then witness the tectonic change from 1972 - when Nixon piled up a 520-17 electoral victory over Democrat George McGovern, winning by 18 million votes - to 1974, when Nixon was forced to resign from office in disgrace after the Watergatge coverup.
So all those Republicans beating themselves up right now over the future direction of the party need only look backwards to see what "could be" again.
An Arizona Republican senator runs for President and gets trounced, leading to internal bickering and backbiting that seems to guarantee the party is headed for entrenched backbencher status.
While that may seem to describe the current state of political affairs given Barrack Obama's electoral landslide over Republican John McCain, longtime GOP faithful could be excused for having a certain sense of deja vu.
In 1964 Lyndon Johnson crushed the bid of Sen. Barry Goldwater, of Arizona that had many debating the demise of the Grand Old Party. But within four years - thanks in a large measure to the Vietnam War and, to a smaller degree, the third-party candidacy of George Wallace - Nixon retook the White House for Republicans, ushering in a generation of GOP domination of the Oval Office, with the exception of the Watergate-fueled one term presidency of Jimmy Carter.
Obama's win did not approach Johnson's landslide, but was convincing. Although he "only" won by about 8 million votes out of 125 million cast (Johnson beat Goldwater by 16 million votes with only 70 million cast) Obama piled up a convincing 365-173 electoral victory (giving McCain Missouri's 11 electoral votes, though that state has yet to be officially declared).
Four years is several lifetimes in politics, as witnessed by the period between Johnson's 1964 drubbing of Goldwater to 1968's Nixonian comback. Then witness the tectonic change from 1972 - when Nixon piled up a 520-17 electoral victory over Democrat George McGovern, winning by 18 million votes - to 1974, when Nixon was forced to resign from office in disgrace after the Watergatge coverup.
So all those Republicans beating themselves up right now over the future direction of the party need only look backwards to see what "could be" again.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Winning is everything
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
And with national polls unaimously and dramatically indicating that the electorate is moving in droves towards Democratic candidate Barrack Obama, the John McCain campaign has begun to resemble the Titanic in its last throes.
Earlier this year McCain vowed to run a clean campaign on the issues. And you know something? I believe he meant it - at the time. But with his poll numbers plummeting and time running out I am sure McCain's political strategy team convinced him that the only way to reverse this trend is to go negative.
So we get Sarah Palin trotting out the sorry line that Obama was palling around with terrorists, as if Obama was in the room 40 years ago when Bill Ayers was plotting against the government as a member of the renegade Weathermen. Never mind that, as has been reported ad nauseum, the two served together on some education study panels and Ayers did throw a fundraiser for Obama during his first state legisaltive run, but there has been no evidence the two ever tipped any Iron City beers together.
We get Cindy McCain saying it sent chills through her when she found out Obama voted against funding for the Iraq War when her son was over there. Never mind that Obama's vote was against a bill that did not have a timetable for withdrawing the troops. Never mind that Sen. McCain also voted against legislation funding the war because it DID have a withdrawal timetable in it. Never mind that when the vote occured Cindy McCain probably didn't know Barrack Obama from Jack Reed.
We get the local pols introducing McCain at local rallies referring to Obama by emphasizing the candidate's middle name "Barrack Hussein Obama" as if that is the clinching evidence that he's a Muslim. Never mind that it has been well-documented that Obama is and always has been a Christian.
What is more disturbing about these campaign rallies is the audience response. Written and filmed accounts indicate the audience is stirred into a hateful frenzy, calling Obama "a bum," "a terrorist," and, at one Florida rally, an exhortation to "kill him."
Yeah, this is real presidential. This is bringing the country together.
Righteously indignant McCain supporters are going to boil over that it's a legitimate discussion of character. That these tactics (or is it a strategy?) are important to show the true measure of the man. And, of course, at the same time, they will dismiss their candidate's actions, as part of the Keating Five, in the S&L loan crisis.
They will say, "Obama does it, too." But the Democrats didn't raise the Keating Five issue - although it's a legitimate issue of McCain's legislative record - until after the GOP raised the Ayers issue. And no Democrats are using similar perjorative terms to describe the Republican candidate. You don't see bloodlust permeating the crowds at Democratic rallies.
No, this is the sad, sad show of a campaign that feels its chances of winning slip-sliding away and is willing to literally do and say anything to get that brass ring. And it unfairly tarnishes the patriotism of a respected man. Is this really how John McCain wants to be remembered after his inspirational military service and nearly three decades of public service?
When you're willing to call a presidential candidate dangerous your appeal is to those even below the lowest common demoninator. And who knows where that will lead?
And with national polls unaimously and dramatically indicating that the electorate is moving in droves towards Democratic candidate Barrack Obama, the John McCain campaign has begun to resemble the Titanic in its last throes.
Earlier this year McCain vowed to run a clean campaign on the issues. And you know something? I believe he meant it - at the time. But with his poll numbers plummeting and time running out I am sure McCain's political strategy team convinced him that the only way to reverse this trend is to go negative.
So we get Sarah Palin trotting out the sorry line that Obama was palling around with terrorists, as if Obama was in the room 40 years ago when Bill Ayers was plotting against the government as a member of the renegade Weathermen. Never mind that, as has been reported ad nauseum, the two served together on some education study panels and Ayers did throw a fundraiser for Obama during his first state legisaltive run, but there has been no evidence the two ever tipped any Iron City beers together.
We get Cindy McCain saying it sent chills through her when she found out Obama voted against funding for the Iraq War when her son was over there. Never mind that Obama's vote was against a bill that did not have a timetable for withdrawing the troops. Never mind that Sen. McCain also voted against legislation funding the war because it DID have a withdrawal timetable in it. Never mind that when the vote occured Cindy McCain probably didn't know Barrack Obama from Jack Reed.
We get the local pols introducing McCain at local rallies referring to Obama by emphasizing the candidate's middle name "Barrack Hussein Obama" as if that is the clinching evidence that he's a Muslim. Never mind that it has been well-documented that Obama is and always has been a Christian.
What is more disturbing about these campaign rallies is the audience response. Written and filmed accounts indicate the audience is stirred into a hateful frenzy, calling Obama "a bum," "a terrorist," and, at one Florida rally, an exhortation to "kill him."
Yeah, this is real presidential. This is bringing the country together.
Righteously indignant McCain supporters are going to boil over that it's a legitimate discussion of character. That these tactics (or is it a strategy?) are important to show the true measure of the man. And, of course, at the same time, they will dismiss their candidate's actions, as part of the Keating Five, in the S&L loan crisis.
They will say, "Obama does it, too." But the Democrats didn't raise the Keating Five issue - although it's a legitimate issue of McCain's legislative record - until after the GOP raised the Ayers issue. And no Democrats are using similar perjorative terms to describe the Republican candidate. You don't see bloodlust permeating the crowds at Democratic rallies.
No, this is the sad, sad show of a campaign that feels its chances of winning slip-sliding away and is willing to literally do and say anything to get that brass ring. And it unfairly tarnishes the patriotism of a respected man. Is this really how John McCain wants to be remembered after his inspirational military service and nearly three decades of public service?
When you're willing to call a presidential candidate dangerous your appeal is to those even below the lowest common demoninator. And who knows where that will lead?
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Bailing out on America
So, the House of Representatives failed to get the job done Monday. And now its time to engage in the great American sport of finger-pointing.
Make no mistake. It wasn't a party-line vote. Democrats and Republicans alike bailed on the plan. But it's always fun to watch the hysteria after something like this. And, as usual, you can trust Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., to inject some humor into it all.
In remarks before the vote Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi blamed the economic policies of the Bush administration for the mess. Some Republicans said it was that partisan blast - Imagine! Partisan broadsides during an election year! - that prompted some to vote against the plan.
With his sharp wit, Frank burst that bubble.
"Somebody hurt my feelings so I'll punish the country," Frank said in a derisive blast at those Republicans.
Just as bad, many lawmakers fearing a voter backlash in an election year - Democrats and Republicans alike - ran for cover. Not exactly profiles in courage.
And then there's John McCain. Feeling his presidential chances slip sliding away, the Republican nominee was quick to blame the "partisan attacks" of Barrack Obama and his Democratic colleagues in Congress.
Never mind that it was run-and-gun McCain who tried to hijack the issue into the presidential race when he "suspended" his campaign to work on the deal. Turned out to be one of those bad "tactics" - or was that a bad strategy? Anyway the Pander Bear tried to play white knight by calling for the presidential confab on the bailout plan, which, according to reports, was extremely and unusually divisive. Then he tried to rally fellow Republicans around the bailout - another bad tactic apparently.
And when all this fails and it looks like McCain is going to take another political hit, he rushes to blame Obama, who, unlike his Republican opponent, has maintained a measured approach to the issue.
I don't like the idea that we all have to help clean up the mess left behind by the Needy Greedy Dirt Band, but the mess has got to be cleaned up. Once it is then we can go after those that caused it. But the economy is tanking and, before it gets out of control, it's got to be stabilized. The credit market is already feeling the pinch and Joe Sixpack will feel it soon enough if he can't get a home or car loan or a home equity loan or the interest rates on those loans go through the roof.
If you find out your child has driven your car on to the edge of a cliff and it's teetering, about ready to plunge over, it's probably better to rescue the car first and then sort out the blame later.
Make no mistake. It wasn't a party-line vote. Democrats and Republicans alike bailed on the plan. But it's always fun to watch the hysteria after something like this. And, as usual, you can trust Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., to inject some humor into it all.
In remarks before the vote Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi blamed the economic policies of the Bush administration for the mess. Some Republicans said it was that partisan blast - Imagine! Partisan broadsides during an election year! - that prompted some to vote against the plan.
With his sharp wit, Frank burst that bubble.
"Somebody hurt my feelings so I'll punish the country," Frank said in a derisive blast at those Republicans.
Just as bad, many lawmakers fearing a voter backlash in an election year - Democrats and Republicans alike - ran for cover. Not exactly profiles in courage.
And then there's John McCain. Feeling his presidential chances slip sliding away, the Republican nominee was quick to blame the "partisan attacks" of Barrack Obama and his Democratic colleagues in Congress.
Never mind that it was run-and-gun McCain who tried to hijack the issue into the presidential race when he "suspended" his campaign to work on the deal. Turned out to be one of those bad "tactics" - or was that a bad strategy? Anyway the Pander Bear tried to play white knight by calling for the presidential confab on the bailout plan, which, according to reports, was extremely and unusually divisive. Then he tried to rally fellow Republicans around the bailout - another bad tactic apparently.
And when all this fails and it looks like McCain is going to take another political hit, he rushes to blame Obama, who, unlike his Republican opponent, has maintained a measured approach to the issue.
I don't like the idea that we all have to help clean up the mess left behind by the Needy Greedy Dirt Band, but the mess has got to be cleaned up. Once it is then we can go after those that caused it. But the economy is tanking and, before it gets out of control, it's got to be stabilized. The credit market is already feeling the pinch and Joe Sixpack will feel it soon enough if he can't get a home or car loan or a home equity loan or the interest rates on those loans go through the roof.
If you find out your child has driven your car on to the edge of a cliff and it's teetering, about ready to plunge over, it's probably better to rescue the car first and then sort out the blame later.
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