Projo Politics Blog

After cutting school aid and forcing property taxes to be raised over the last several years, Costantino would be LUCKY to get 10% of the vote in a statewide race.

Hopefully, he decides to run so that he will be forever gone from the General Assembly!!!

How is it that a part time legislator and part time restaurateur has $150,000 to "loan" his own campaign?

It would be good for the media to ask such basic questions.

Costantino has had to restructure a Governor Cacieri's deficit ridden state budget year after year. Remember people it's Governor Cacieri's & his administration's deficit ridden budget we are talking about. House Finance Committee Chairman Costantino has the Governor's mess on his back every year to clean -up. Costantino has the fiscal integrity,fiscal experience and "backbone" to make him an outstanding candidate for the office of General Treasurer.

Billy said:

How is it that a part time legislator and part time restaurateur has $150,000 to "loan" his own campaign?

It would be good for the media to ask such basic questions.

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how?

his famly has a lot of dough...i mean shcarola's.

albert the ga created this mess along with your boy constantino.you have no understanding of what goes on in your own state

Oh Goody!!!!

Just what we need!

The most Incompetent and unintelligent House Finance Sub-Committee Chairman, in the History of the State of "Rogue's" Island....whom probably is more responsible for the Financial mess we have in this State, now wants to be the State's General Treasurer??

And, the real scary part of all of this is, as Walter Cronkite oft stated:

"We are not educated enough to perform the act of intelligently electing our leaders."

And, this statement could not be any more truer, as it pertains to the voters of this State, that keep electing Idiots such as Costantino to these kinds of offices!

This is unbelievable. 12-13% That is what you added to this years budget and then tried to blame the Governor. And now you want to be treasuere? Projo/Brown University-Do a poll on this baffon and see how manY people out of 400 would vote for him; maybe 2 votes and those 2 who would vote for him just moved here. CONSTANTINO YOU HELPED TO CREATE THIS FIASCO-THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO VOTTE FOR YOU?????

This is not going to be a good year for the professional politicians.

The House Finance Commitee chairman should stay in his GA position and be a party to the contruction of a State spending budget that is balanced to the State's realistic and sustainable revenues without increasing taxes.Then and only then,after the difficult but necessary decisions and actions are taken to balance the budget,should he consider asking the voters'for another position.

brian paula:::right on this man shows the total arrogance of his whole party{nat.&state} it's time for a proper house cleaning.

I believe Mr. Costantino would make a good state treasurer. He is, after all, a successful businessman and as Chairman of the house finance committee has proven he is qualified. The state can surely use some help with its economic growth.

You are lucky to have Rep Costantino chairing the House Committee on finance. With the mess of a budget the governor submits every year, and late 8 out of 8 years might I add, Costantino had the undaunted task of of balancing the governor's budget which isn't worht the paper it's written on. Cacieri's first targets are the disadvantaged, disabled, veterans, under privelaged children and our senior citizens. Costantino first of all has the backbone to take on such a task and speak to any members of the groups i mentioned above and they will tell you Costantino is firm, compassionate and does his very best to be fair and not slam any one group when he has to clean up the Governor's irresponsible mess. Remember, it's not Costantion that allows his department heads to casually over spend their budgets every year , and continually bring on high salaried employees in his administration .IT IS THE GOVERNOR. Costantino takes him on head to head !! Outspoken, determined, fair and not afraid to make decisions with compassion. Ask around for urself. I am sure Mr Murphy isn't always pleased with Costantino's decisions either. He is not a yes man.

Bill kolek and fat Albert-just shut up. Nobody believes you. our state is critical and he helped do it. Friends or relatives?

Albert; The state of RI is one eye lash away from going broke and you are telling us what a fine job Rep Costantion is doing. Are ya alright????

Niether friend nor relative...just a fan of Capitol TV & an informed RI resident. FYI every state in the Country is being effected by this National recession. Like I said we are lucky to have Costantino or else we would be in much worse shape. Go out and ask groups that represent senior citizens, disabled, disadvantaged,students ...They will tell you the facts about Costantino and his compassionate efforts in restoring programs as fairly as possible that the Governor just simply and inhumanely cuts from his hap hazzard budgets. Don't be so near sighted . Open your eyes and look at the Big picture across the country.

Peterson,
Your ques. - "friends..." - wasn't specific enough.

I highly encourage Costantino to run! I look forward to voting against him in order to avoid complete and total fiscal ruin to our state. Maybe someone who knows how to do more than make a sandwich will become Finance Chair. Let's all send him $25 and let him think he has a groundswell of local support. Go Steven Go - right back to the deli counter!

Albert said:
Niether friend nor relative...just a fan of Capitol TV & an informed RI resident. How can you be a fan of capital tv when Corvese turs it off when he wants?

He loaned himself 150k. Lynch.. Is that ok??
Are you sure? Moderate Party. Watch this guy.
Anyone who sells day old macaroni to the GA might be sneaky or... the GA people might not be the sharpest tools in the shed either!!!!!!

No Way said:
Albert; The state of RI is one eye lash away from going broke and you are telling us what a fine job Rep Costantion is doing. Are ya alright????
No Way.. do I have to repeat myself again ? EVERY state in the country is in the same predicament. It's a national recession. I am attempting to be objective and rational here. I am not trying to ridicule, bash or boost anyone personally, as other's before me have, I have dilligently watched Costantino on Capital TV , the man is extremely informative,aggressive, calls a spade a spade,and has to make tough decisions that you or other's running for this office NEVER had to make !!! Go ahead sit in your chair and be a Monday Morning quaterback, but if we didn't have Costantino as our Finance Chairman cleaning up the Cacieri's Deficit spending budgets and trying to take away every social service program in the State, I truly believe RI would be much worse off than it is..Given no other state in the country has avoided this recession. At least we are not handing out IOU's and our neediest residents are receiving services. So be reasonable, quit personal attacks, you can't blame a national , almost near global recession on one individual. like I said before it is my opinion but go out and ask people about Costantino who advocate on behalf of needy who don't have a voice in the statehouse and I know you will get a favorable reaction . Give it a reality check !!

Albert; I can respect you for defending Mr.Costantino. You have a right to your opinion. BUT the working stiffs of RI (taxpayers) are angry and fed-up with the GA, a budget deficit due to over spending and unsustainable union pensions, no fair funding formula, non-sense legislation(fish fees, boat lights, Patriot,Yankee, Red Sox license plates), an unfriendly over taxed business environment... The list is endless. He is not responsible for all of this BUT he is the finance man with no short or long term plan.
In the end we don't care about California and it's IOU's. We care about RI that has been trashed beyond repair. We care about voting these career politicians out of office in Nov because we deserve better. A LOT BETTER.

He doesn't even make good macaroni. I had some at the state house. Now where's my flashlight.

No way... even though i don't blame Costantino for the number plates, they were not his legislation,I do think it was ridiculous..As far as the salt water fishing lic. it is a federal requirement and the state by submitting legislation saves salt water fishing persons $$$. in fact if you watched the hearings this was the first year that anglers came up and solidly backed the legislation. how can a state just ignore the federal government as the Governor suggested in his veto ??? The basic problem with RI's deficit is the Governor's lack of responsibility. He has not yet submited a 2011 budget to the GA. he has ignored the State Constitution 8 out of 8 yrs and missed the deadline for submission. When it is submitted it is a document , if u can call it that, that takes an easy approach and just cuts all social services to our most neediest citizens and developmentally disabled and layoffs. Hmmm not a good idea to put more people on unemployment in this national economic crisis, especially when the Governor's DLT can't handle the claims now. Then Cacieri has the gaul to just overspend in all his departments, including his own Governor's Office budget and w/in 6 months requests a supplemental budget asking for more money from the GA. The Governor never seeems to take a look at the revenue side of the economy and attempt to increase our falling revenues. This is just a no win situation. Therefore , I contest the Governor is the one without a fiscal and economic development short or long term plan. And very casually dumps it on the House Committee on Finance. within the next couple of weeks pay close attention to the House Finance committee hearings once the Governor submits his budget and look at the larger picture. it's a pleasure corresponding with u.

albert-The basic problem with RI's deficit is the Governor's lack of responsibility. He has not yet submited a 2011 budget to the GA. Your friends albert added 13% to the budget and went home- So shut up and quit praising this loser

albertspecter- You are absolutley correc. They all added 12-13% to the budget and then went home.
I'll tell you this my rep is from johnston and is not getting my vote next election. One more question. Who in these days still greases their hair?? Yuk