Lisa Blais: State Government Exasperates RI Taxpayers
Lisa Blais, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
Lisa Blais: State Government Exasperates RI Taxpayers
One thing that RI never has a shortage of is a variety of daily and seemingly disparate political issues. Too often and unfortunately, the nature of these issues do not represent reason for a collective jaw-dropping, coffee spilling halleluiah moment from taxpayers across our state.
In fact, they are typically exasperating because when the dots are connected between disparate issues they infer that our political leadership will continue to do the people’s fiscal business as usual, in other words, maintain the status quo that has dogged us for too long. Obviously our future will improve when we have leaders who will think and act upon smart changes that are in the taxpayers’ best interest.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTClose observers of political activity in our state house often do connect the dots of those issues that are sometimes left disconnected by others. One such example of exasperating state house activity is underscored by two different articles reported in the Providence Journal. In the October 23 issue, Phil Marcelo reported that “State budget request from R.I. taxpayers tops more than $3.5 billion for next fiscal year” and yesterday coverage continued on the General Assembly’s Special Joint Legislative Commission hearings meant to “study” the repeal of the state’s sales tax. In that piece Paul Dion, chief of the state’s Revenue Analysis Office commented that the loss of revenue would likely be more than what has been projected by proponents of repealing RI’s sales tax. Regardless of what the projections may be, his comment reflects the simple reality that our thinking remains entrenched in at least maintaining current levels of tax revenue rather than finding ways to loosen the knot around taxpayers’ necks.
Juxtapose the thought process that Paul Dion’s remark represents with the fact that state departments and agencies have submitted requests to Governor Chafee to increase their budgets for the next fiscal year.
As Marcelo reported on October 23 “Rhode Island departments and agencies project they will need more than $3.5 billion from state taxpayers next year in order to provide the same level of programs and services without reductions”. All agencies and state departments have requested more money but for three: the state legislature, judicial branch and the attorney general’s office. No, those departments didn’t hold the line on their costs; they simply have not submitted anything yet. By the way, budget submissions were due October 1.
Are you exasperated yet?
It’s time for a sea change in Rhode Island. Here’s to the 2014 elections.
Lisa Blais is a board member of OSTPA, a taxpayer advocacy organization in Rhode Island.
10 Questions Taveras Has to Answer When Running for Gov of RI
#10 Fundraising
Can Taveras Keep Up with the Big Boys and Girls in Fundraising?
In America today, one issue that is a factor in nearly every election is fundraising. To date, Taveras has yet to demonstrate any consistent ability to keep up with the leading fundraisers in RI.
Taveras will have to compete with General Treasuer Gina Raimondo, who has $2 plus million on hand and a likely run from Clay Pell (grandson of US Senator Claiborne Pell and whose wife is Olympic skater Michelle Kwan).
Raimondo is on pace to raise $5m and Taveras presently has just $692,000 on hand and would be on pace to raise less than $2 mliion.
Pell's family has access to nearly limitless dollars - back in the 1990's Pell's grandfather was ranked as one of the wealthiest members of Congress.
#9 Curse
Can Taveras Break the Providence Mayor's Curse?
For more than 60 years, no Providence Mayor has been successful running for Governor of Rhode Island. You have to go back to the 1950 election when Dennis Roberts was elected Governor.
Since Roberts, a number of Providence Mayors have taken their shot at running for Governor and each has failed mightily.
Most notably, Buddy Cianci's run against J. Joseph Garrahy - Cianci got less than 30% of the statewide vote.
Joe Paolino was expected to win the Democratic primary in 1990, but was beaten badly by Bruce Sundlun and then Warwick Mayor Frank Flaherty.
Sundlun went on to win the general election and Flaherty was later named to the state Supreme Court.
Taveras will have to break a very long curse.
#8 Hire or Fire
Can Teachers Trust Taveras - and Will Voters Trust His Relationship with the Teachers Unions?
In the midst of the city's political meltdown, Taveras just into his first few months in office fired all the teachers in Providence.
Taveras received strong public support, but within months he capitulated to pressure from the teachers' unions.
Three years later, he is emerging as the candidate of the teachers' union leadership. Will teachers trust him in a statewide race and will voters trust him if he is perceived as too close to union bosses?
#7 Hispanics
Will Hispanics Vote as a Block in the Primary for Taveras? Are They Influential Enough in the General?
Conventional wisdom is that Angel Taveras will get a big boost from the Hispanic voting block in the primary, but more recently Council members Luis Aponte, Danian Sanchez and Sabina Matos have all openly battled with the mayor on his tax increases and efforts to close pools in low income wards around the city.
While Taveras can rebound and the impact may be large in the primary, the percentage of voters who are Hispanic in the general election is just 7% according to Pew Research:
- Rhode Island’s population is 12% Hispanic, the 13th largest Hispanic population share nationally.
- There are 54,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Rhode Island—which ranks 35th in Hispanic eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 5.9 million.
- Some 7% of Rhode Island eligible voters are Hispanic, the 13th largest Hispanic eligible voter population share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 39%.
#6 Temperament
Can Taveras Handle the Campaign Pressure and the Office Pressure of Governor?
Taveras had no experience as a chief executive in business or government before taking office in 2011 in Providence. He has increasingly gotten into some very non-productive scrapes.
In 2012, his law office delivered a document to GoLocalProv as part of a FOIA request and those documents included the social security number of every retiree of the City. Instead of taking responsibility he sent his lawyers to court to try to block GoLocal from writing about the mishandling of social security numbers. The judge ruled against Taveras.
In 2013, Taveras has tried to demolish a commuity swimming pool in South Providence because, according to Councilman Danian Sanchez, Sanchez would not vote for Taveras' tax increase.
Will Taveras be able to prove to voters he has the right stuff?
#5 Base outside Prov
Can Angel Taveras Build a Political Base Outside of Providence?
While Taveras has a strong political base in Providence, it is unclear if he can build a strong political network in critical Democratic strongholds like Woonsocket, Pawtucket, East Providence, Johnston and North Providence.
It is well known that both Democratic Mayors in North Providence and Johnston have had a strained relationship with Taveras.
This strain has played out over critical matters like mutual emergency aid and in 2012, North Providence, Johnston and East Providence all cancelled emergency aid compacts with Providence.
#4 Women Voters
Can Taveras Compete for Women Voters?
When Taveras ran for Mayor he won the critical block of East Side Democratic women. Part of his success with this critical block of voters was the support he enjoyed from Democratic power Myrth York.
The two-time Democratic nominee for Governor went all in for Taveras in 2010, but she no longer is active in the inner circle and reportedly would have supported Governor Lincoln Chafee in the primary.
Taveras will need to compete with Raimondo who has already signed former EMILY's list bigwig Kate Coyne-McCoy.
#3 Star Power
Can Taveras Keep Up with Clay Pell's Star Power?
In 2010, Taveras ran under the motto of "from Head Start to Harvard." His claim on the American dream proved a successful juxtaposition to two Democrats who had the same political base - Federal Hill (Steven Costantino and John Lombardi).
Now, Taveras may face the fresh-faced Clay Pell. His bio exceeds Taveras as he can claim the legacy of his grandfather's work and hit the circuit with his superstar wife, Olympian Michelle Kwan.
#2 Issues and Vision
Can Angel Taveras Articulate a Vision for Rhode Island?
#1 Crime and Education
Can Taveras Explain His Record on Crime and Education?
