Side of the Rhode: Who's hot and who's not in RI politics?
by Matthew Jerzyk
Side of the Rhode: Who's hot and who's not in RI politics?
WHO'S HOT
Lincoln Chafee & Richard Licht -> Chafee's selection of this former Democratic Lt. Gov. was savvy and augurs well for his relations with the General Assembly.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAngel Taveras & Michael D'Amico -> Taveras' appointment proves that he is true to his word that he isn't going to just recycle the same players in Providence politics; rather he is going to add some young, fresh and hard-charging people to his administration. In addition, Taveras' first appointment combined two positions into one: saving the city money. And kudos to Providence-native D'Amico for giving up a well-paying private sector job to come home and serve the people of Providence.
Sheldon Whitehouse -> Kudos to Rhode Island's junior US Senator for being a strong voice in support of the nomination of Jack McConnell to the federal bench. In addition, in today’s Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Whitehouse spoke about the need to accelerate the use of bankruptcy court foreclosure mediation programs. Unfortunately, Deutsche Bank is currently challenging the legal authority of the Rhode Island bankruptcy court to implement its mediation program – potentially deterring other states from exploring similar programs. For that reason, Whitehouse said today that he would like to get a “clarifying amendment that [makes it] clear under the bankruptcy code that a bankruptcy judge has this authority to say to the parties ‘yes you two actually have to sit down and talk like human beings before we throw this person out of their house.”
Peter Kilmartin -> This Attorney General-elect announced a great Transition Committee including Edward Cooney, Ernest Almonte, Jamie Hainsworth, Neil Kelly, Bruce Kogan, Leonard Lopes, and Sheri Sweitzer. In addition, Kilmartin announced that members of the Office of Attorney General have accepted invitations to remain as employees in their current positions, including: Gerald Coyne, Deputy Attorney General; James Lee, Civil Division Chief; and Stacie Veroni, Criminal Division Chief.
Hope High Students -> What started over nine months ago with valiant protests and petitions ended with a group of Hope High School students winning their fight to have common teacher planning time restored to their school in front of an appeals committee of the Rhode Island Board of Regents of Elementary and Secondary Education on Thursday.
Wendell Potter -> The RI Chapter of the Progresive Democrats are hosting this author of Deadly Spin: An Insurance Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans on Friday, November 19, 2010 from 630pm to 930pm at Waterplace restaurent.
Peter Neronha -> Another big week for the US Attorney as a federal grand jury Thursday returned a five-count indictment charging four individuals (including former Council leaders) with allegedly scheming to defraud an insurance company of nearly $50,000 by intentionally damaging a home and in-ground swimming pool, then filing a claim to pay to repair the damage and damage that occurred during the historic floods in March. The flood damage was not covered by the homeowner’s insurance policy. The indictment is an out-growth of the ongoing FBI investigation into alleged public corruption in North Providence.
David Mumford -> Kudos to this Brown University professor for winning the National Medal of Science from President Barack Obama: proving once again that Rhode Island has the raw intellectual talent to be a flourishing state.
John Simmons & Alix Ogden -> This power couple will continue playing a major role in RI politics with John on Chafee's transition team and Alix being eyed for an appointment from Congressman-elect David Cicilline to serve as his District Director.
WHO'S NOT
Jon Brien -> This leading DINO in the Assembly had the irony moment of the week when, on Lively Experiment, he castigated Chafee for acting like a Democrat. Umm... how about Brien stop acting like a Republican: from admitting that he voted for McCain to supporting John Loughlin over David Cicilline for Congress.
Bill Mulholland -> This Pawtucket Parks and Rec Superintendent got rid of all the volunteers at working in the parks division. Thankfully the Council is holding this decision up.
Don Carcieri -> AThe outgoing Governor got served not once but twice by the paper of record. First, with regard to his lack of support for port jobs. Second, with a projected $290 million deficit in the state budget. Nice work, Donny. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Frank Caprio -> Scott MacKay asks just how bad was Frank Caprio's campaign for Governor. Pretty bad. Caprio received only 5,700 more votes than he did when he ran unopposed in the Primary. And, Caprio received only 30% of the vote in the Democratic rich capitol city of Providence.
Roger Ailes -> This Fox News chief had a lot of nerve calling NPR execs “Nazis.” Really?! Who is the real propaganda machine in modern American politics?
The TSA -> For obvious reasons: getting killed for all this scanning and pat down nonsense.
As always, email your ideas to mjerzyk at gmail dot com.