Projo Politics Blog

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July 2, 2009

• 1:10 AM Tom on R.I. Senate launches municipal pension study

  My pension fund was fully funded until some greedy as@hole decided to take my private pension and put it with the state. Whose fault is that!!! Know I am going to pay with years of my life!! F@c#ing Politicians need to be taken out back of the barn!!

  
  

  July 1, 2009

• 9:54 PM Dan on R.I. Senate launches municipal pension study

  Narragansett's Municipal Pension plan was fully funded until the previous Town Mgr, Council, & Finance Director underfunded the Town's contribution instead relying on the performance of the investments. They also gave away new pension benefits without funding them! The employees have paid every penny owed by them. Now the system is underfunded. Don't blame the employees or cut their benefits, make those in power accountable!

  
  

  July 1, 2009

• 9:05 PM Tom on R.I. Senate launches municipal pension study

  The changes that have come to the state pension system in the last four years, including benefit cuts and longer years of service to qualify etc. are about to come to the individual cities and towns of RI. Many of these pension systems are in worse shape than the state system. The bottom line is that state and local governments, along with the taxpayers, can no longer afford to fund these defined benefit pension plans which are now rarely found in the private sector. Also, within a couple of years there will be more changes to the state system because even with the recent changes it simply cannot be sustained.

  
  

  July 1, 2009

• 8:11 PM John on R.I. Senate launches municipal pension study

  Why would they want to know the ugly truth? The pension funds in many municipalities are vastly underfunded, simple as that. Taxpayers are obligated to pay. Insane property tax increases will be the only way - unless there's an outright taxpayer revolt (which might actually happen). I have no problem paying a handsome wage to my police, fire and teachers. But set it up so that once they retire, I am not paying. These folks retire at 50, then I'm paying for another 40 years. Gimme a damn break!

  
  

  July 1, 2009

• 7:53 PM Dave on R.I. Senate launches municipal pension study

  What a power play. Ok, my private pension is fully funded, know you want to take it over and make me work longer. This will be a lawsuit!!!! They spare the judges and state police pension form but want to screw the municipal worker.

  
  

  July 1, 2009

• 7:13 PM Don on R.I. Senate launches municipal pension study

  Hey commission, here's a hint.......the blanking plan is funded at 44% of its commitments, I think that's called INSOLVENCY! You ain't ever getting the money that Providence, Central Falls, Cranston, Pawucket, Woonsocket, West Warwick, and Warwick owe the plan so just give it up.

  
  

  June 30, 2009

• 4:09 PM Hindsight on Amazon.com cuts R.I. business ties

  So our state legislature has in effect screwed various RI businesses that were once allied with Amazon, in an attempt to grab extra tax dollars (vs cutting wasteful spending). And Amazon won’t lose a dime in sales over this, but local businesses lose sales (commissions) that they otherwise would have received, and eventually have paid income taxes on. In summary: RI gains no extra tax revenue. Local Businesses lose sales revenue. Amazon loses nothing. Something like that.

  
  

  June 30, 2009

• 12:40 AM Fed Hill Granny on Lombardi considers Providence mayoral run

  Lombardi a 57-year old former council president... with three pensions / who apparently "never seen nothin" during Cianci's two conviction-laden administrations / who "served about four months as mayor" yet did not have the courage to run despite the clear advantage of incumbancy?

  
  

  June 29, 2009

• 12:59 PM Ben Doherty on Lombardi considers Providence mayoral run

  You can find the website at http://lombardiforprovidence.com.

  
  

  June 26, 2009

• 2:09 PM Chris on Assembly approves ban on pub crawls

  This is the most ridiculous piece of knee-jerk legislation I've ever seen. The governor needs to stand up to these overreactive state legislators and veto this.

  
  

  June 26, 2009

• 10:27 AM When in doubt, throw 'em out on Assembly approves ban on pub crawls

  What is the legal definition of a "pub crawl"? This legislation is gratuitous. Bottom line: bartenders are not supposed to fuel inebriated customers, whether they got that way at their own establishment or elsewhere. When in doubt, throw 'em out.

  
  

  June 25, 2009

• 12:44 PM rose on House passes budget bill after 11-hour debate

  Remember how you were voted in, you can be voted out also

  
  

  June 24, 2009

• 4:42 PM Voters have too short memories on House budget: Free health care for legislators is spared

  Too much time passes between budget-making and elections, but I hope that the Journal reprints this information the next time we vote. Just to be on the safe side, I think I'll vote OUT all incumbents.

  
  

  June 24, 2009

• 3:06 PM Ken Block on House budget: Free health care for legislators is spared

  Talk about a tin ear!! The classic RI response...What is required of others should not be required of me. True leaders lead by example.

  
  

  June 24, 2009

• 1:32 PM Mizuno on 3 with public links get Senate jobs

  Maybe a look on the jobs here is the way forward to getting in... www.publicaffairslinks.co.uk/vacancies_us.html

  
  

  June 24, 2009

• 1:04 PM Pambana on R.I. lawmakers pass bill allowing Woonsocket dress code

  Dress code, or uniforms? There is a difference. I have to say, as a parent of a elementry school student, I certainly appreciate the "leveling out" so to speak of the playing field when it comes to "who's got he latest fashions" and all that goes along with it..Dress code sure...uniforms...Hmmm not so sure. My vote would be for a dress code that has options....acceptable variations if you will...not a flat out NO CHOICE. As an American I adore freedoms that this great nation gives us. Of course within the statutes of our country. "We are free to chose within the limits" I believe we should adopt the same idea in this case. Giving our young American children a choice. Go ahead, create and enforce guidelines. At least you don't take away their right to choose. Just my 2 cents! I'm anxious to hear others thoughts as well.

  
  

  June 19, 2009

• 3:32 PM Travis on Appearing on '700 Club,' Carcieri details stance on gay marriage

  Approximately 350-years-ago, Roger Williams established RI as the first state in this history of the world with separation of church and state to guarantee that the government would never force its religious beliefs on the citizens, like Massachusetts was doing at the time. The result, was possibly the freest state/nation on earth, as we not only have the first synagogue in America, but also the oldest baptist church. As a result, there is a statue of Williams in Geneva, Switzerland a testament to what he created here. And now today, our Governor is using his personal religious beliefs to manipulate the government into crushing a civilian right/movement. Roger Williams would be turning in his grave, not that he approved of everything everyone did, but he figured the state ought not use religion to persecute/interfere with or manipulate citizens (he once commented the Indians were worshiping God in their own way and he would not try to convert them). What a shame Carcieri (and Murphy for that matter), trampling across separation of church and state, that we created and gave to the world, and using his religious beliefs to manipulate the state into people's personal lives. We don't deserve to exist anymore if this is what happened to Roger Williams dream.

  
  

  June 19, 2009

• 8:56 AM Mike In Charlestown on Appearing on '700 Club,' Carcieri details stance on gay marriage

  Isn't the Governor violating the seperation of church and state provision of the Constitution by going on a religious TV show to express his views? Isn't this an endorsement of the religious institution that backs the 700 Club? Does anybody remember that Pat Robertson said that Hurricanes were God's way of punishing homosexuals? Shame on the Governor for associating with this crackpot! Another nail in the coffin of Rhode Island's image.

  
  

  June 19, 2009

• 1:50 AM sam on Carcieri administration pledges to keep overnight gambling

  You have to love it!...They vote on 24 hour gambling at twin Rivers...The town of Lincoln turns it down....They enforce it anyway!!!! I mean......What was the point? Oh, and did anyone else beside me NOT know the indians were getting money from these slot machines? Wow..How bout giving some to the poor people that actually PLAY the machines? Nahhhh, that's silly...

  
  

  June 17, 2009

• 9:14 AM Mike on Carcieri chides Roberts for comments on Lucas payment

  What's the matter Don, the spotlight getting a bit hot?