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.
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