Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Family Jobs

rappers

Uncle Don takes care of his niece

The Governor of Rhode Island put his niece into a state paid job.  I did a story on it.  Some people didn’t like it, or the 10 News Conference program where I asked him about it.  Some did.  Here’s a few who wrote me.

Governor Don Carcieri is living in his own little world privatizing Rhode Island….OMG I completely agree that he is talking out of both sides of his mouth by saying there was nothing wrong with hiring his niece while other State Workers get the boot!  He was very personable when I met him six years ago and believe me I voted for him the first time around.  Since then I’ve seen so many red flags..I tried to vote him out this past election but no one halfway decent was running against him.  I know a 911 operator who make less than 40,000.00 a year (after 20 years)when our Governor tells the citizens of Rhode Island that these state workers are making over 90,000.00 a year!!  And the money to fund the operations that keep our citizens safe (911 charge on our phone bill) most of it isn’t even going to 911!  So while the governor is swimming in the “General Fund” swimming pool the rest of us are drowning.  Impeach him before the state files for Bankruptcy.
A.M,  West Warwick

  It was a struggle watching you with the Gov. this morning on ‘10 Newsconference’.  The quote “we’re not picking on kass, we’re picking on you, governor”. Ouch. 
  Please don’t buy into the leftist-unionborn propoganda. 74 years of democrat control and how are we doing in our state?    Who’s responsible?    How much is the rest of the government cutting THEIR STAFFS ?    The topic was ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT—where were the Marine Industry related questions ???    We’re the “Ocean State” producing the finest seafood in the world—always sold out—AND we produce the finest underwater machinery.  No questions.  (Ouch.)    I didn’t care for the interruptions and talking-over.  I learn more when I listen.
Paul M,  Wickford, RI

Great job Sunday morning!!!!!!
You are 100% right about his niece, what the heck is she doing working there, SHE SHOULD NOT BE THERE.
Anne

In my considered opinion, this piece is quite simply one that panders to the unions and the democratic party of this state, in a the most blatant manner possible.  It is also an NBC 10 condoned attempt at character assassination, by you Mr. Rappleye.  I have no idea as to what your motivation actually is but I do know this, you have lost your objectivity and you obviously did not do your due diligence, before airing this piece.  Dan York, however, did do his homework and, by so doing, has made you look like a pawn of the unions and the democratic party.
Your attempt to impugn our governor, who, whether or not you like his politics, is a good, hardworking, innovative, diligent, honest and HONORABLE man, is nothing more than a political assassination job, obviously prompted by the unions and the democratic party, which illustrates the unions’ and the democratic party’s willingness to help the taxpayers of this state.
I have been a a WJAR-TV Channel 10 News viewer since 1947, when we got our first tv but, because of the direction that Channel 10 News has been taking, I find that I must reassess my viewing habits.  This piece is the straw that broke the camel’s back.
This epistle does not scratch the the surface of the contempt this piece has raised in me and some of that contempt has rubbed off on both you and Channel 10.  This is one of the saddest chores I have set for myself in a very long time.
Joe T,  East Providence

HI BILL. YOU SURE GAVE IT TO THE GOVERNOR THIS MORNING. I WOULD BET YOUR FATHER WAS A BIG UNION MAN. THATS THE WAY YOU COME ACROSS. YOU WERE SCREAMING ABOUT A $50,000 DOLLAR JOB.WHY DON’T YOU INVESTIGATE THE CUSHY JOBS AT URI? START WITH BOB WEYGAND. HE MAKES WITH BENEFITS NEARLY $200,000 OR MORE WITH A REAL CUSHY JOB. HE ALSO IS A POLITICAL ANALYST ON YOUR STATION AND PROBABLY TAPES PIECES WHILE HE IS GETTING PAID BY URI. THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL DID A STORY ABOUT URI’S BASKETBALL COACH MAKING ALOT OF MONEY. I HOPE YOU DO A STORY ABOUT THE HIGH PRICE JOBS AT URI. START WITH WEYGAND.THANKS FOR LISTENING,
MARVIN

i wanted say that the reason you are getting so much flak is that you opened a can of worms for both democrats and republicans.  if you look at ethic laws, school committee members vote for raises for their spouses.  this is allowed by the ethics commissions.  this is also done by town council members.  look into this and you will have stories for the just 3 years.  you have them all scared, it’s the ethic laws that need to be looked at but the politicians are the ones who write them so they leave all these loop holes.  great job on the story to bad more people do not think that just because it isn’t against the law some things still do not look right and should not be done. 
bob

toll booths

rappers

winner or loser?

What about toll booths in rhode island to raise money?  Here’s what you think.

Absolutely. Every time I go to Maine and pay the toll at the MA-NH line I think about how much RI is losing out on. You cant get to the cape from NJ NY and points west without passing through RI. And think about it. NH has no sales tax. I guess those toll booths pay off.

Mr.ed

Screaming with laughter here.  All that would do is cause MORE back ups and accidents and over load secondary roads.  NO ONE is gonna want to pay to use 95 it’s such a mess in this state.
Judith
A toll plaza anywhere would create additional deficit with hirings of toll collectors, managers and supervisors, in the grand scheme of things it would just be a new scam to get cronies in high paying jobs. Whats next, “Guess the Governors weight for a buck”?
Spencer
For one reason this won’t work; this had been done before, as my husband told me, back in early 1970’s as he recalls since I wasn’t here until 20 yrs. later; but since it had been done before then why did the state take it down?  My husband’s response to that question was “It was useless according to the state response”.  Back then, I suppose there was no need or the state wasn’t in a deficit as it is now - and why is that?  Because of the “pork-barrel” government spending and the recent state corruptions since then and now we have to pay for it?  For the other reason, you’ll have a lot of angry Rhode Islanders on your hands because some of us go to work at the borders around here (especially those who live in Westerly) since jobs are scarce in this state.  So why should we pay to get back into the state where we live after working in a neighboring state to earn an income we desperately need to stay alive?  It doesn’t make sense; as does the high rise in gas prices as it is now, and now the state is considering putting a toll booth on the North side of 95 at the Connecticut border?  If that happens, you’ll see a lot of Rhode Islanders moving to Connecticut and Massachusetts, and then we’ll really be hurting for certain.
C-Ann-C, Coventry
You have to be kidding! What would charge? A dime to cross the smallest state in the country? We need every bit of happy people visiting our small state, not turning them off with a fee!
Guilford

Sure, why not & at the Ma. border too, but, only if they are going to use 100% of it for upkeep on our sad infrastructure, like state roads & bridges. However, if the state is going to hijack that money, like it did with the lottery money, to add more unnecessary people to the upper levels of an already grossly top heavy bureaucracy, then I would say, absolutely not.
Hound Dog, Bristol
Absolutely not! The state of Rhode Island is like a child who keeps overspending his allowance money. As I remember, lottery revenue was supposed to go to help fund education, now it disappears into the general fund. Until government officials learn to budget, like the rest of us are forced to do ( especially with gas going-over $4.00 a gallon), them this will be a perpetual cycle that we will play out year after year.
Korinne B
No, we don’t need a tollbooth. How about cutting some fat & starting with the Governor’s niece @ a $52,000 a year salalry!!! Now there’s a good start!!
Jane, Johnston

then what’s next?  pay toilets at the rest areas????  oh crap (no pun intended)...perhaps I just gave Governor Carcieri another idea.  What if we, as RI residents, work in Groton or someplace else in CT?  However, I really don’t need to complain anymore…..I’m moving out of state like so many other educated, tax abused people.  We’re just sick of this nonsense.
Michele, West Kingston

The roads are built with tax payer money. Why should we pay again? Poor leadership in local government
Peter

What’s the next step to putting toll booths up—forcing each citizen to donate a pint of blood so that is could be sold for the going price?
Vin,  Cranston

Absolutely we are in debt 500 million this would be a great idea so the state could get out of this deficit
Kerry

A toll booth? How about a sign at the state line that reads what am I bid for this turkey!          B.E.

We should have tolls at the CT, RI border, most of the traffic on 95 is Mass and Ct and NY either going to casinos or from the casinos.  If the casinos can make the money then let RI roads make the money also.
On 95 south bound they are more Mass and CT plates heading towards the casinos. I live right near the RI, CT border and it is crazy how many Mass plates are going to the casinos.
Lorna, Hope Valley, RI

It is ironic that you use the Connecticut highways as your comparison. If you go back several years ago Connecticut said it could not give up the money that they received when they had tool booths on there section of the interstate. That was until a driver driving a eighteen wheeler feel asleep at the wheel and wiped out a tool booth killing several people as I remember it. We do not need to add any more revenue raising schemes. We need to cut spending.
Howie,  North Providence

How could you put a toll booth on the border of Conn. and RI but not Massachusetts. If they [ the government] wants to put a toll booth there they should put one on all the roads that lead into our beloved state. Heck we have to pay to park to a out of town beach.
Big Joe

Toll booths cost more money than they will ever generate.  This state cannot afford to stop traffic from coming or going to Connecticut as they wish.
Celia

Whose idea is this?  Is this a joke?  A tollbooth would probable be a negative influence for tourists and visitors, possible family get togethers, and economic development.
If the state wants to make money, and this idea is a joke, put a tollbooth to get through the 37 school districts (their cities/towns).  Of course, if the tollbooths were not automated, it would mean more jobs…........hummmm
Darlene, Woonsocket

i live in bear country in coventry, i work at electric boat in groton, does that idiot understand .THEIR ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO WORK IN CT from RI, #1this state cannot provide decent jobs that pay [ i dont make that great of money either, i work most of the time 7 DAYS A WEEK just to get by.4$/day toll plus 4$ a gallon at 80miles per day .#2 its highway robbery , this state is run by pirates, it always has.why don’t they try to find the 39million that was lost a few years ago. maybe its under a rock or something . leave the people alone that work in ct your not going to balance the budget you screwed up on our backs . its so easy to spend someone else’s money, isn’t it . thank you .why not [i could be wrong here] TRY TO GET SOME DECENT PAYING JOBS IN R. I.  its the only state in new england that lose people each year. instead of always trying to bleed us dry, state government do your job for once
tom

Rhode Island could make millions just from all the hypocrites
who don’t want a casino, but go down to Foxwoods to gamble.
Not to mention all the people who have to go out of state for a job.
The “Unemployed Man” on the state house will leave pretty soon.
of course the Governor has no problem finding jobs for his buddies.
more of the same
stuck in ri

We are one of the few local states to not have a toll on the Interstate. From the placement, it is obvious they are trying to capture as much out-of-state money as possible, without inconveniencing the locals. I wonder if a toll at the Connecticut border will drive traffic away from Foxwoods, and towards Twin River?
As infrequently as I travel that stretch of road, I am all for the
toll- as long as the Turnpike Authority runs it (and they include EZPass), since they haven’t had to raise the bridge tolls in forty years.
Bill in Portsmouth

I realize that we are a unique (?) state but do you really think real people will pay admission, to visit????????????
Joe T   East Providence

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Hillary’s Continued Run

rappers

Does it Help or hurt Barack

Most rappers believe Hillary’s continued candidacy is hurting Barack’s.  As the Democrats keep up their fight…here are your comments.

Definitely helped. It gave us time to get to know him better, and for him to address all the misconceptions put out about him. And it gave us time to remember why we came to distrust the Clintons.
Glee v

The prolonged Democratic contest has tested the human spirit of Barack Obama and has enabled him to show the American public that he has what it takes to be President of the United States.
Dennis T

The only reason Obama is even in the picture is that Hillary voted to authorize the Iraq war despite the fact that CIA’s lead weapons inspector and the Chief UN arms inspector had not yet found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Americans are tired of the Reichstag like rhetoric. If Prescott Bush and his unregulated corporate ilk hadn’t financed Hitler, and the schools and the media had discussed the topic with the people there never would have been a Hitler to appease.

From a beacon on the hill to a military killing machine, instead of looking at their failed cowboy diplomacy and addressing the conditions that give rise to hostility’ they pray for a Pearl Harbor like attack in order to “Birth the New Middle East” The Johns in Washington need your child to secure the market for Wall Street so that they can continue living their life style.

From the overthrow of the elected Mossadeq and the installation of the Shah as Dictator to financing and schooling Saddam Hussein there are a lot of things that need to be talked about.
Zuke

I don’t think either one of them has a chance against John McCain.  This whole Election thing is just a formality.
Anakin

Thursday, May 15, 2008

same sex divorce

rappers

can the knot be untied?

Both sides represented in this collection of responses…54% of rappers in our survey say Rhode island should not grant same sex divorces.  But there are other points of view too.

Should divorces in same sex marriages be legal in Rhode Island?  Of course not!  If same sex marriages aren’t recognized, why should the divorces??  It appears that proponents of same sex marriages are just using this issue (divorce) as a loophole and way to valid same sex marriages in general for their own agenda.
Kent, West Warwick

I don’t think it would be right for the state to divorce a same sex couple and not allow them to get married in this state. How can the state of rhode island divorce a couple that they don’t recognize as a couple in the first place? the state can easily say okay your divorced in our eyes you were never married.
Bill

Yes   divorces should be given to gay couples married outside Rhode Island…....but first Rhode Island should legalize some sort of   domestic partnership laws….Its time to take notice that better then 45% of straight marriages end in divorce and gay unions in no way jeopardize the   marriages of   straights.. Lots of gay partnerships are and can be lifetime commitments   It’s time to move to the 21st century…Equal rights for all citizens of the USA…
Imjustli

How can the people of Rhode Island recognize the divorce of a couple whose marriage is not recognized? Instead of spending time on this non-issue, the legislators should get on with balancing the budget.
Doris

How can the state consider making it legal to get a same sex divorce when the state does not recognize the legality of same sex marriage? It is like telling a child molester that if he says he made a mistake the police will forgive the crime he committed.
RAYMOND M, MANVILLE

Please forgive me if I am being “dense”, but if “gay marriages” are NOT legal in this state….would someone please explain to me how divorce is????  If you had to go to Ma. to “get married” ( which I think civil union would be the more appropriate term), then for goodness sake, go back there and get your divorce!  Why are you trying to involve us here in RI??  WE have enough problems as is!!! 
Elaine from Glocester, where common sense still prevails….

Any married person should be allowed to get a divorce, anywhere they happen to be residing, no matter whom they happen to be married to. Sexual orientation is genetic, not legislative, and you can’t dictate someone else’s emotions.
Karen L,  North Kingstown

No, that will open the door for challenges to the state’s law banning same sex marriages and we can be pretty sure as to how our judiciary will “LEGISLATE” on that issue.
Joe T   East Providence

WHY NOT???
CM,  NK

Homosexuals are allowed to marry in Massachusetts so let them get divorced there Rhode Island should not allow homosexuals to get married.
Art R

Why not.  If they can make a decision to marry why not be able to divorce like everyone else.  Why should they have to stay together just because they are the same sex.  Lots of marriages fall apart for many reasons, theirs can also.
D,  Smithfield

If we stopped paying institutions and policy makers to license and sanction Love, Liberty and Life; in this free country, we might be able to save a little money for priceless education.
Zuke

no if the couple got married in another state, then file for a divorce in that state, why file here if they were’t married here
alrae

Not until they make it legal to get married in RI! If they can’t get married in Rhode Island why should they be able to get divorced? It doesn’t make sense!!! It’s the same as buying something illegal in Rhode Island and then trying to sell it in Rhode Island!!!!
Big Joe

Gay marriage and gay divorce should be legal here in Rhode Island.  Let’s see if they can do better than the heterosexuals who can only manage about a 50% success rate in their attempt at marrying each other.  Contrary to most of the yelling and screaming, gay marriage poses no threat or danger to the “institution”; at least not the one I’m in!!!!
Hla

No, if we don’t recognize them , then how can we give them a divorce, it’s like forgiving someone for something that never happened.
Ken,  Coventry

Same Sex Divorce should not be legal in R I . The recent attempt by the 2 women who were “married ‘ in Mass was nothing more than a “backdoor” attempt to “legalize gay marriage in RI. If their divorce were granted -then RI would be recognizing their marriage as legal-how else could RI grant a “legal” divorce. So without any legislation but by “judical discision” RI would be in effect legalizing gay marriage. Nice try -but uht un -no dice.
Let the spineless legislators go on the record and vote up or down for Gay Marriage so we can hold them accountable. The rather large bloc of gay legislators want to have their “partners” on the public dole     (Healthcare -pension benificiaries-etc.) but don’t want to have to “come out”
and vote on the record for a stupid law that will cost RI money it doesn’t have for the personal benefit on a relatively small amount of people. If someone wants to be gay fine. Why do I have to pay for their healthcare?
Bob H

No, marriage is between a 1 man and a 1 women. And if they are not legally married under our state law, then how can their marriage even be recognized in our state for a divorce.

Dan, Coventry

 

Thursday, May 08, 2008

budget responsibility

rappers

who’s to blame?

Rappers believe by 57-36 that the Rhode island budget crisis is the fault of the legislature, not the governor…the comments run the gamut though…and not a few of you say it’s the fault of voters for putting into office irresponsible fiscal managers.  Here we go….

With regards to the budget crisis in the State of Rhode Island, placing blame is useless. Rhode Islanders, which include the Governor and the General Assembly, need to raise their financial awareness and work together with properly allocating funds, cutting costs and devoting their passions for a better community, accordingly.
JW,  Providence

you’d have to be a real idiot to blame the governor for this mess the general assembly has got to take this mess on their own. look at what they did this week on the co-payment for health care they weren’t about to give up on that perk, that wasn’t the head man’s fault. i really don’t know what it’s going to take to get these people to wake up but i for one will not vote for one incumbent in again
cowboy joe

You for got to put BOTH, they are BOTH equally to blame.  the gov for his head in the sand, give my friends high paying jobs that I created for them.
The idiots on the hill for their living high on our money.  Taking care of all their special interests friends and families.
It is disgusting and as far as no new taxes you can bet the towns are gonna kill us.  I have NO more to give and I know I am not alone.
Judith, Coventry

The legislature - no question. They are the only ones who can spend the money and it’s spending that has gotten us into this mess.  Apparently they finally got the message from those of us who are not “special interest” groups but rather the tax payers who have to pay the bill.  I think we got the message across that we also vote! 
KHS, Smithfield

Of course the blame belongs with the state legislators for the mess we’re in, and it also belongs to the voters who put them in office and allowed them to run our state into the ground as they have.  The governor is trying his best to fix it, but they fight him every step of the way because they really don’t want to make any changes.  It’s time for them to take Economics 101, stop their foolishness and face reality!
Magster

I think we all know what is driving RI into a pit.  The cause starts from bad spending, a war that has gone from saddam being a threat, to double dipping.  The US Economy is the way it is because we are driving our markets of oil and food to new high level.  All countries are importing our beef, pork, chicken, and oils their country leaving americans needing more so now we suffer for other countries.  We need to watch ourselves because this country is all for it self and i am not going to kill myself working to have a hard life so that we can do business with other countries.  At least with immigration some of the immigrants in this country are hard working, even more than real americans.  Now selling our products cheap to other countries and drive cost and markets up is crazy. 
Proud American

The blame should left entirely on the voters…past, present, and future. You can’t properly maintain a car for long without the right tools, so how can a state budget be properly maintained with the current “tools” we voted into office.
Spencer J, Warwick

WHO TO BLAME. THAT’S A NO BRAINER. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE ONE PARTY AND, LAWYER, UNION OFFICIALS, TEACHERS, POLICE OFFICERS, FIREMEN,  ARE ALL TO BE BLAMED. TERM LIMITS MAY HELP, BUT THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN. NOT IN THIS STATE.
RCMAC, CUMBERLAND

we are in a mess because we are corrupt and the welfare system has been helping people for years who are not really in need . this state is a joke and many people are leaving
renee

Without a doubt, the General Assembly must bear the blame for the budget mess we are in.  They can’t grab all the power and then shift the blame when things go bad. This state is a perfect example of the old adage that goes something like “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely” We have a few men in the House who control everything, without change, THIS STATE IS DOOMED.
Norm, North Providence

I say its the general assembly and the unions….In that order..
Ray R, Cumberland

Ever since Governor Don Carcieri was re-elected, he has done nothing but tear this state apart.  All of these cuts to programs at our schools are ridiculous.  They are our future and to take from them is disgusting.  If anything, we need to decrease funding to our Welfare Program and get these people working.  I am tired of paying huge taxes and watching our money go to people that drain the system.  I would love to know were all of our tax money is going.  It is definitely not our roads.  This is why people are moving out of RI.  I know I am.
Mike L, East Greenwich

We can only blame the General Assembly!  Has anyone ever watched these clowns in session on TV???  It is a comedy show.  Anyone who tries to argue using common sense is cut down immediately. This governor has really tried to get this state under control but has had no support from the circus at the capital.
Pat, Cranston

The Governor has faced this issue proposing harsh, yet neccessary cuts. The General Assembly is not making the difficult decisions, that are neccessary to reforming the budget crisis. It is their fault for this mess, not the Governor. Who has done a good job trying to pull our state out of this, and plan for the long term.
Dan, Coventry

In his press conference, the Gov. stated that the current deficit had been building for “a couple of decades”. Who’s been in charge for over 20% of that time?
Steve, Nk

The answer to this question is a non-brainer. 
All politicians who have given away the future to special interest groups. The same politicians are re-elected by the voters and now the voters are getting what they deserve - OUCH!!
Paul

The lack of leadership on the part of the governor and Assembly.
They should give up their benefits 100% and the governor should be put on layoff triple the amount of time of the state workers. What`s good for the goose is good for the them and the governor.
Tom, Providence

The legislature. Then the town councils/mayors. Since the governor has limited powers in this state, it is difficult to blame the office for any problems. When the state and towns share revenues to fund operations, it would seem to me that some operational costs become standardized to create uniformity of expenses. This may also reduce ‘gold-plated’ benefits thus keeping the arguments focused on real economic issues.
Steve D, Westerly

To start with, the Politicians, too many state workers and crazy spending. But Rhode Island isn’t alone. Living here in Florida is no better.
Paul

Our RI government gave away the store, and we let it happen. 
TS

We need to start a grass-roots effort to achieve operation clean-out.
This would ideally clean out all special interest and ineffective legislators in the general assembly.  Does Rhode Island have an oversight group who actively monitor and score individual legislators success in representing their constituents, positively impacting their local and overall economy as well as improving the overall quality of life throughout Rhode Island?
Our news media then needs to take these legislator scores and actively communicate these within the varied media channels so that all Rhode Islanders become fully aware of how their legislators are performing so that we can make informed and proper choices come election time.
I appreciate your feedback and ideas.
Tom S

The budget mess is due to the same old incompetent people (and their relatives), who couldn’t run a lemonade stand. And also too much debt, borrowing on top of borrowing and the same group of people “insiders”, benefiting from the fiascos.  The only thing that changes is that there are more potholes every year.
same old, same old

Governor Carcieri was elected on his supposed business acumen. The
state has never been in such dire straits.  His cuts have targeted the most needy.  Has anyone looked at the positions that he has added to the payroll
and at what cost? This is after promising to cut the number of state
employees.  What about privatization? Has this saved money or added to the cost of government.  I believe that I moved out of state at the right time, after spending more than 50 years in R.I.
LRL

We have had 40 years of corrupt knucklehead Democratic legislature and 14 years of clueless knucklehead Republican governors.  It is a toss-up as to who is the most to blame for anything. The best thing we can do is vote out all the useless b*&$#s and keep doing that until we get somebody that can do things right.
Bill G, Cranston

How about we start with every Governor and General Assembly since the Sundlun Administration.
JM, Cranston

I say Don Carceri and all the people who voted for it! If we weren’t spending so much money on things that are not so important
Big JB

I am sure the general public cannot be blamed. Our law makers predict their own salary, health benefits and retirement. They just rejected paying a part of health care, yet the state workers are being made to pay 20%. Wouldn’t it be a nice gesture if our lawmakers offered to pay part of their healthcare? I think not. There is too much greed on the hill.
Lee L. Woonsocket

THE GOVERNOR HAS HAD THE COURAGE TO TAKE A STANCE WHILE THE LEGISLATORS HIDE BEHING HIS PANTS LETTING HIM TAKE THE BRUNT OF THE OBVIOUS DISCONTENT. THIS IS ALL THE DOING OF OUR LEGISLATURE WHOSE ONLY INTEREST IS WORKING OUT SWEETHEART DEALS FOR THOSE WHO PAY FOR THEIR CAMPAIGNS AND GETTING THEIR HOT WIENER AFTER HOURS! THEY APPROVED THE GOVERNOR’S BUDGET PROPOSAL WHILE LETTING HIM TAKE THE FALL. SPINELESS PEOPLE’ FOR SHAME ON THEM BUT MORESO, FOR SHAME ON US WHO CONTINOUSLY ELECT THE SAME PEOPLE. FOR SHAME. THEY HAVE NO REGARD FOR THE VOTERS WHO ELECTED THEM; THIS MESS IS ALL THEIR DOING AND WE CONTINUE TO ELECT THESE SPI NLESS EXCUSES FOR LEGISLATORS. CAN THE GREEN PARTY AND REPUBLICANS DO ANY WORSE? I DOUBT IT!! MAYBE IT’S TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT VOTING SERIOUSLY INSTEAD OF RELIVING THE 1930S EVERY ELECTION DAY. RHODE ISLANDERS WAKE UP!!
BOBBY BEE, PROVIDENCE

Million/multi-million dollar companies paying $500/yr in state taxes,  constant cost overruns on construction projects…the twin bridges between Barrington & Warren is just one of many examples…the hijacking the lottery money & using it to create this exceedingly & increasingly, top heavy, cronyism infested corrupt bureaucracy we now have…& has anyone bothered to check on the kinds of money the state gets charged by venders for anything from vehicle repairs, maintenance/electrical work up to computers, plus their software, maintenance & replacements??......Need I say more??...I would say that the state is to blame.
Hound Dog,  Bristol

There are many factors that add up to create the budget deficit in RI.  In my opinion, one of the biggest contributors to this deficit is the fact that State workers don’t have to cover the cost of their medical insurance.  I think they should be responsible for a certain percentage of the premiums, as well as higher co-pays for services.
If you take into consideration the cost of insurance, depending on the plan, individual cost can run well above $500 per month for individual and over $1000 per month for a family plan.  It is unfair for the taxpayers of this state to foot the bill while many in the private sector cannot afford health insurance at all.
Deb L, Pawtucket

The General Assembly, of course.  For years they’ve given away obscenely generous benefits to special interest groups and political supporters—to the detriment of the rest of us. I doubt we can climb out of this financial hole. I see state bankruptcy ahead.
Dee, Johnston

Thursday, May 01, 2008

early release

rappers

false savings

Very few rappers agree with Rhode Island’s plan to save money by letting prisoners out of the ACI early.

mr rapp why would we want to have early release for prisoners when 75% of the prison population ends up back in prison with in the first 2 months of being release there is enough crime on the streets without adding more i say build another prison if there isn’nt enought room in our prisons and but the prisoners to work all over rhode island streets not just the highways there is trash on all are streets mostly in low income cities and i think rhode island should but more of the prisoners on the city streets not just highways and lets get rhode island streets clean
vinman

Yes! But only on good behavior. It should also depend on how bad there crime was.  If the ACI is getting to full and it’s costing so much money then why do they still send them there?!
Joey B

WELL, I was the first one to vote tonight LOL.
Anyway, No I do not believe inmates should be let out early.  They were sentenced for a reason and by empting out the ACI that just dumps MORE problems out onto this state.
Crime is already up.
Here in Coventry 2 times in the last week and a half my neighborhood has been hit with people going into cars and taking stuff.  Like GPS units Expensive radios and elctronics.  This is a quiet area, we have lived here since 1995 and this is the first time anything like this has happened.
With all the unrest and the economy the way it is these people have NO training NO jobs and are elegible for NOTHING in aid thanks to the rich man from E.G. it leaves we the people open to having our hard earned lives really messed up.
Judith, Coventry.

Yes, of course!  They will need to make room for all the State legislators!
Bill, Cranston

Good grief!  Who comes up with these ideas? People have been sent to jail for a reason.  Talk about sending the WRONG message!
Kristin P, Coventry

NO. -  IF THE STATE WANTS TO CHANGE SENTENCING LAWS,
THEY SHOULD DO THAT THROUGH LEGISLATION.  OTHERWISE,
TO SIMPLY LET PRISONERS GO “EARLY” TO SAVE MONEY FLYS IN THE FACE OF THE JUDGES, JURY’S AND VICTIMS OF CRIME.
Bill

No, I don’t think prisoners should be released early for any reason. The best way to save the state money is for all the fancy cars and trucks to be taken away from state workers, most of which are gas guzzlers.  I always see them in the stores parking lots or at Dunkin Donuts, or out for a drive on a weekend day. Tell me that is state business! DEM just got a load of new vehicles, what was wrong with the ones they had? Let the state workers pay for their own cell phones, let them pay for some of their own health insurance, I know there must be a million ways the governor could save money without hurting the aged or handicapped. Why is it they always go after the ones who need it the most! Take from the poor and give to the rich! Yeah, that makes sense! Anyway, how about he let go of some of his own job perks! He went on a trip to Iraq, why! That must of cost the tax payer a pretty penny. It’s not like he solved a major problem by going.  Letting prisoners out early really isn’t a way to stop crime, stop repeat offenders, or protect the public. Let’s spend the money where it is truly needed, stop spending it were it is not and take away all these job perks that are ridiculous and there will be no problems with the budget. Tough times call for tough measures and that means for all of us including state workers and friends and relations of people holding state offices. I think it’s about time to stop cutting programs that are truly needed, enough is enough! 
RS

No.  There are not enough consequences for misbehavior as it is.  Letting prisoners out early only says that their crime is ok and not important.  Letting them out early will cause more crimes to be committed.
D.A.

sounds like a future case for more funding on prisons when criminals are let loose, instead of working on prevention and real rehabilitation in the community.
With no share in the community but compelled to monotonous toil on the plantation with no shared prosperity; working for the plantation to make the rich richer becomes a futile attempt to make ends meet.Setting fires to abandoned buildings for the landlords to collect insurance money or selling your body to a politician may look like a more viable option than serving the plantation. There needs to be a redistribution of wealth where the underclass won’t venture into criminal behavior to eke out an existence.
5 percent of the world’s population but more prisoners than Russia and China combined. What is wrong with that picture?
Zuke

I think that judges have too much latitude when handing out sentences.
If someone is put in jail for a non-violent crime he/she should be given
a chance to show he/she is worthy of early release. The jails are overloaded
with people caught for minor first time offenses, like a small amount of marijuana.
I don’t think anybody wants to spend even one day in jail.
“affordable housing in RI”
Stuckinri

Absolutely Not! I don’t care how bad the budget crisis is, we need to teach these criminals that if they have done something wrong they are going to be held accountable. I don’t care how petty the offence, they need to learn that it is unacceptable. It is the state’s job to keep us safe, they will be spending more money if they let these criminals out and get arrested again and have to go back through the court system. It is time for the legislature to get going and find better ways to trim this budget! My generation will be stuck trying to fix it, and it is not looking so good for the legislature 10 years from know, half the kids in my high school, do not even know who Govenor is never mind the Senate President, and the Speaker of the House.
Dan, Coventry

  A John Lennon - House of Reps.resolve:
            A.T.Wall / Governor
correctional officers / High School Liaisons
              ACI / condos
  Expunged Inmates / outstanding citizens
          Imagine / living somewhere else
                            B.Mac,    Cumberland,RI