Speaker Murphy responds to would-be successor's criticism
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. - House Speaker William J. Murphy has sent a sharply-worded response -- to one of his would-be successors at the podium -- for publicly criticizing him for not calling the House back sooner to tackle the state's economic crisis and for the resulting deterioration of state revenues. "It is apparent that your second campaign for Speaker is floundering and you feel the need to generate some attention,'' Murphy wrote Rep. Gregory Schadone, a 42-year-old North Providence Democrat now openly campaigning for the votes to succeed Murphy if, as widely expected, he does not run for reelection next year. Murphy's Number 2 -- House Majority Leader Gordon Fox -- is also campaigning to succeed him. "Let us set the record straight,'' Murphy wrote Schadone. "My office is always open to meet with all representatives to discuss the budget and any other legislative matters. Not once did you avail yourself of the opportunity to meet with me to discuss any of your purported budget concerns this session.... You never testified before the House Finance Committee about any of your now alleged issues with the state budget.'' The letter continued: "The 2010 budget passsed by the House of Representatives contained $55 million in direct savings to the taxpayers through pension reform. On June 24, 2009, you voted against pension reform and its savings to Rhode Islanders.'' Murphy ended his letter to Schadone with these words: 'I look forward to seeing you when we reconvene on October 28. It is my sincere hope that you can put aside your political ambitions and work for the betterment of the people of your district and the state of Rhode Island.'' Murphy was responding to a September 14 letter to him from the North Providence lawmaker that marked Schadone's opening shot in the public phase of his long-running campaign for the speakership. He made the letter public on Wednesday. Taking direct aim at Murphy and his leadership team, the letter began: "As the state budget crisis continues to deepen, there is growing public concern that the General Assembly has failed to return to work and address the crucial problems facing Rhode Island.'' Of the series of delays in reconvening the legislature to finish the legislative business the House and Senate left hanging when they recessed abruptly in late-June, Schadone wrote: "Unfortunately this constant series of changes raises questions about whether the legislature is capable of addressing this significant crisis,'' he wrote. He called for lawmakers to (figuratively) "bang their heads together'' until they come up with an action-plan, and suggested this include a second look at one of Governor Carcieri's proposals: the phase-out of the state's corporate income tax. "This is a time,'' he wrote, "when leadership is needed in our state, a time when all of our elected officials need to be involved in the effort to fix the systemic budget problems threatening our quality of life.'' Reached shortly after he received Murphy's letter on Thursday night, Schadone said he didn't have much to say about it except to note that it didn't respond to any of the economic concerns or issues he raised. With respect to his votes against the pension revisions, Schadone noted that he was a member of a House pension-study commission that recommended a far more dramatic overhaul of the state pension system, after holding more than a year of hearings. He said he voted against the alternative that House leaders crafted because it didn't do enough to "protect the integrity'' of the pension, should have gone farther in changing the rules for new hires, and should have applied to judges. Neither Murphy nor Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed have yet made public their agenda for the rare Fall session they have called for Oct. 28 and 29th, just days before the state's official revenue-estimating committee is scheduled for the second and last time this year to reassess where the state stands financially. In their joint announcement of the session on Wednesday, they said only that, "The Rhode Island General Assembly will return for two days next month -- October 28 and 29 -- to address a number of legislative issues.'' 
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i guess murphy & weed can't see the problem they have caused. it's time to clean house on the hill.there are too many special interest people sitting up there.this big brother bit has also got to stop.
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This is priceless... "It is my sincere hope that you can put aside your political ambitions and work for the betterment of the people of your district and the state of Rhode Island.''
You could make that statement to any of the bozos on the hill, but for Murphy, one of the most blatant political whores up there, to utter those words is the dictionary definition of hypocrisy.
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Please get rid of this egotistical blowhard and replace him with someone who has a clue about what needs to be done to get this state back on track. Perhaps Murphy should practice what he is preaching ("It is my sincere hope that you can put aside your political ambitions and work for the betterment of the people of your district and the state of Rhode Island.")
We need to all speak very loudly at the next election and get rid of people like Murphy, Weed, Fox, etc. whop have done nothing to correct this mess we are in, they only dig us in deeper. It is really time that we have terms limits on ALL elected positions on the hill here and in DC. Too much time spent there leads to too muc corruption, even if they don't start out that way.
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I agree with Mark . Murphy will have to excuse himself from the prostittion bill vote beccause of confict of interest
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IT'S TIME TO ELECT ALL NEW STATE, CITY AND TOWN ELECTED OFFICIALS. IT'S NOT MY ELECTED OFFICIAL IS A COP OUT. LOOK WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO OUT STATE. PAY ATTENTION TO THE NEW MODERATE PARTY. FILL EVERY SEAT WITH A CADIDATE. THERE WILL BE POWER WITH FULL SLATES. INCLUDE ALL COMMITTEES.
GET IT DONE.....WE ARE IN THE TOILET...
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Murphy's real response was probably "I'm rubber, you're glue..." or "My dad can beat up your dad."
Paiva Weed (read; pipe-full-of-weed) is another total loss.
The hypocracy is so thick you could cut it with a knife. The lack of a sense of urgency to act and then blaming the Gov when he acts is abhorrent and disgusting. The only reason these "legislators" want to stay is because of the power they wield to enrich themselves and the free healthcare.
"Public service" is dead.
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Murphy you HACK,
Time to go....now! You've milked the state too long!
Continue to defend your drunk drivers, your hack thieving friends on your own dime.
You, Ed DiPrete, John Celona and the rest of the thieving hacks should start a consulting company.
You can name it "Fleecing and Things"!
Ps - I hope you make quicker decisions in your personal life than you did as Speaker....
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Why stop at the leadership? The voters should get rid of the rest of these prostitutes, especially the lawyers who refuse to pass laws, or pass laws that are so convoluted there are a million loopholes in them. Then, of course, they defend people charged with violating these laws and look like a hero when they win, because they know how to beat the law they wrote. Their law firm then prospers and more money goes in their pocket...what a scam. Get rid of them all.
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Time for Murphy And Fox to go this clearly the need for NEW Leadership in the House!
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We have a Speaker of the House? Now that's news.
Maybe Mr Murphy should concentrate on finding the missing state house third floor surveillance cameras and why they disappeared. Hmmm....
Speaker, go enjoy more of the booze and jumbo shrimp your famous for.
Rep. Schadone, your right on target... Keep hounding him and maybe he'll get the hint. Although he comes from West Warwick where they are known for being a little dense and unsavory.
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Another hack job by Larry Berman the bad guy for Murphy & Fox. Time for BIG CHANGES!!!
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MURPHY AND WEED ARE A MAJOR PROBLEM TO RI'S
FUTURE EXSISTANCE THEY HAVE TO GO !!!NO JOKE
.HE CAN TALK AS SHARP AS HE WANTS! HE ,WEED AND A FEW OTHER OF THESE CIRCUS CLOWNS HAVE CAUSED THIS NO ONE ELSE!!!!RI USE YOUR BRAINS WHEN YOU
VOTE THIS TIME OR FOREVER SHUT YOUR MOUTHS AND QUITE WHINING!!!
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THey haven't said what they are going to do because they don't know themselves what is happening. They(Weed//Murphy)haven't known what is going on in a long time. The only thing Murphy knows how to do is defend drunks. And Weed just protects the illegals in this state!
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And another thing. Shadone is no saint either. He could have complained publicly for a long time about changes needed to keep R.I.
solvent. Vote him out also!! We need to change all of them!! The only reason his is speaking out vocally now is he wants to be speaker of the house. Where was he when all this was going on behind closed doors?
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RE-Elect NOBODY!
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What a bunch of CLOWNS all they are good for is puffing themselves up to look very important, I don't they are Important I think they are Impotant. This is getting worse by the day.
"CLEAN SWEEP" next election and I do mean ALL OF THEM !!!
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If the Democratic party goes with Gordon Fox instead of Greg Schadone as Leader, it will cement itself as the out-of-touch, ineffective, special-interest owned group of hacks that most Rhode Islanders think. I am a liberal Democrat but I have to admit that this state, our little Rhody, has been run EXCLUSIVELY by the Democrats for the past 40 years. Even when there were GOP governors the General Assembly just ran overrode anything they didn't agree with. So if you are a Democrat, as I am, and you just can't stomach voting for a right-wing, anti-choice, anti-gay Republican like Carcieri then you have to look at changing the leadership. AND THIS LEADERSHIP NEEDS TO CHANGE! Now is the time to clean house, between Schadone and Fox - tell your representative to vote for Greg Schadone.
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billy murphy go back under your rock.paiva weed-fox can go with you.you people are one sorry excuse of a general assembly.its better to shut you down for good.the democrats are killing this state along with the unions.
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Murphy, Fox, Paiva-Weed -- you can't tell them apart. Or, as a matter of fact, can you tell any of the members of the GA apart. If they do dare to speak up, they get "censored" and that's the last you hear of them. Can we get anyone elected who REALLY represents the people of Rhode Island? I'm ashamed of the current representation.
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Murphy and his cronies are too busy worrying about gay marriage rather than focusing on the real issues at hand...JOBS and the ECONOMY!! Vote the bums out, Rhode Island. It's time!!!
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We're bleeding at the rate of $1 million dollars a day but Murphy and Paiva-Weed want to wait another 40 days before going back into session. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!
By the way Murphy's letter is pathetic and he has some nerve chiding Schadone. When was the last you read about anything at all Murphy has done for the people he purportedly represents in West Warwick?!?!?!
It's time to send him packing just like Alves!!!!
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OK It has begun people. !!!!
The Moderate Party of Rhode Island Enters New Phase
Hires Executive Director
WARWICK, RI - September 18, 2009 - The Moderate Party's groundbreaking mission to bring centrist governance to the voters of Rhode Island by focusing on the Four Es - Economy, Ethics, Education and the Environment - has entered a new phase. To best position the Party for the successful recruitment and support of candidates, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Christine Hunsinger as Executive Director.
"Christine brings that special mix of experience, energy and drive that will be crucial to the continued evolution of the Moderate Party as we gear up for the 2010 elections. The work that lies ahead of us will make the hard work of the last year look like a vacation, but I am confident that Christine is as eager as I am to take on the challenge. We're excited to have her on board," said Ken Block, Chairman of the Moderate Party of Rhode Island.
Hunsinger is a veteran of political campaigns and has worked New Hampshire for numerous presidential candidates in field, press and GOTV. While working for the House Democratic Campaign Committee of Pennsylvania she directed campaigns for several state legislative candidates. During the 2008 election, Hunsinger served as press secretary for a United States Senate candidate.
"The tenor of the times and the tone of the debate make this the perfect moment for a moderate, centrist third party to take hold in Rhode Island," said Hunsinger. "We can't afford dysfunctional government, but that's what we've got and that's what the Moderate Party is going to change."
Ms. Hunsinger earned a Master of Public Affairs degree from Brown University Taubman Center for Public Policy & American Institutions, and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from St. Anselm College.
Hunsinger resides in Cranston, Rhode Island with her husband and three children.
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I have been saying this for a long time.Murphy & Co. have run this State into the ground. These
people know there is a serious problem, but won't
support the Governor's programs, they say they do
and behind the scenes screw him at every turn.
Murphy & Co. need to be replaced, by someone
who has the BALLS to go against theese Unions.
The same is true in the Senate. Piava-Weed and
her cronies need to be defeated in the 2010 election. These people have ruined this State,
they are not Business Friendly and they are standing by until the only alternative is to raise TAXES, to cure the mess they made. It is absolutely criminal what these people have done.
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F O R T Y D A Y S
Before the GA finishes up "old business".
In the meantime, I'll have a snit fit
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To Fed Up:
Up your's Nit-Wit! What happened ? Did you get beat up from someone from West Warwick ? Unsavory ? Maybe you and Mr. Howell ( Havard Man ) should stop drinking your Pina Coladas and enjoy a good Shrimp Cocktail ! I'll buy at the Crompton Vets.
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Is anyone aware of the fact that the General Assembly members voted themselves an 11% raise in May, 2009. They also spent over $250,000.00 of the taxpayers money for food last year with the excuse that they work late nights when in session so they need to have food. Why don't they buy their own food or brown bag it like other people are doing to save money. Did anyone else out there get an 11% raise this year?
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Is anyone aware of the fact that the General Assembly members voted themselves an 11% raise in May, 2009. They also spent over $250,000.00 of the taxpayers money for food last year with the excuse that they work late nights when in session so they need to have food. Why don't they buy their own food or brown bag it like other people are doing to save money. Did anyone else out there get an 11% raise this year?
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This is the same guy who filled in on the radio a few weeks back and did a show on the Pawsox. Absolutely no clue what is important as the state is sinking.
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Gotta love the "open door policy" he has with representatives to talk about the budget. What is there to talk about? Either agree with his way of doing business or you are an outcast, a traitor, or worse, a republican.
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WE THE PEOPLE would like Speaker Murphy to post the General Assembly Agenda for Oct. 28, 29.
WE THE PEOPLE will will decide on the bill/ law decisions that are seemingly so difficult for GA consensus.
WE THE PEOPLE will let the GA know what we think about:
Indoor Prostitution
Texting While Driving
Changing the Names of the State
Senate Vacancies
E-Verify
and all other "unfinished business" that was to have been voted on in a one day session in JULY. The General Assembly was to have reconvened in SEPTEMBER.
WE THE PEOPLE will expect our voices to be heard and that quick votes will be taken so that the General Assembly will focus on the budget deficit.
WE THE PEOPLE HAVE HAD IT with the General Assembly leadership.
WE THE PEOPLE would hope that the Providence Journal posts that agenda this week.
FORTY DAYS is too long.
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Based on these comments, you better clean house. Look what happens when lawyers run a state. 50 years of democrats and look what we have, an absolute mess with no end in sight. Get the republicans and independants in, what do you have to lose, nothing. Clean your house.
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