Archive for the 'Public Policy' Category

I’ll match my facts against Sen. Tassoni anytime, anywhere.

Posted on July 22, 2011 by Phil Hirons

In the 7/21/2011 Observer (http://breezepapers.com/2011/07/20/observer/tassoni-says-gop-boss-hirons-should-get-his-facts-straight) the senator takes some liberties with the truth concerning statements made earlier by John Dionne and myself. Below is my response to the Observer.

Sen.Tassoni says Mr Dionne and I need to get our facts straight. I am up for that challenge.

Mr Dionne said the senator’s sponsorship and support of Binding Arbitration was based on his past relationship with labor unions. The senator’s  answer was that he’s no longer employed by a union. Correct. But that does not change the fact that he was in the past as Mr Dionne stated. Not to mention his newspaper’s (http://www.commongroundnews.net) advertisements are at least half for unions, affiliated organizations or businesses owned by fellow democrat politicians. While the senator is no longer a public union employee, he  is clearly in good standing with the public sector union political action committees. In the 2nd quarter of this non-election year he received over $2500 in public sector PAC donations. (http://www.ricampaignfinance.com/RIPublic/Filings.aspx)

Moving on to the Binding Arbitration Bill (S0794   http://www.rilin.state.ri.us//BillText11/SenateText11/S0794A.pdf )and the Senate votes on it on June 29th. (The Senate Journal http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/journals11/senatejournals11/SJournal6-28.pdf). Sen.Tassoni sponsored the bill. If it is a conflict to vote for a bill, how can it not be to sponsor it?

There were 7 votes related to the bill. 5 amendments,  a motion to move the final vote to June 30th and the actual vote on the bill. Sen.Tassoni recorded no vote on the first 6 votes and finally abstained on the 7th. Final total 6 walks, 1 abstention.

Is binding arbitration bad for Smithfield and North Smithfield? I am not an expert so I’ll defer to the elected municipal officials. Of the 21 elected municipal officials (Smithfield 5 council, 5 school committee; N. Smithfield 5 council, 5 school committee, 1 administrator), 15 are listed in opposition at the RI Coalition Against Binding Arbitration website (www.ricaba.org). The rest have not answered, yet. The opposed includes the 3 members of the democratic majority on the Smithfield School Committee.

Clearly the municipal officials in the 22nd senate district  think this idea is a bad one. From the national media it appears states are not enacting this idea right now. Most are running away from it. 

Yes, sometimes our General Assembly members should recuse themselves. Sen.Tassoni has sponsored hundreds of bills in his time in the RI Senate. He generally makes the top 5 in the number of senate bill filled every year. Researching how many time he has recused himself since his election is not an easy task. However, I would bet the number can be counted on 2 hands.

Recusing oneself from an issue should include not submitting bills on the subject, not voting on the subject and not advocating for the subject. About a third of the senator’s letter was singing the praises of the binding arbitration bill he submitted. Score 1 out of 3 on recusing.

Phil Hirons, Jr.

Chair, Smithfield Republican Town Committee

Vice President, RIRA

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Filed Under: Big Labor, Commentary, Democrats, Liberals and Leftists, Public Policy, Republican Committees and RI General Assembly Closed

GOP Prediction: No Pension Reform Again

Posted on May 20, 2011 by The Ocean State Republican

Since 1995, the Democratic Super-majority in the General Assembly and Their Labor Bosses Have Used Three Pension Study Committees to Block Dramatic Pension Reform

To no avail, the Democrats in the General Assembly have been asked repeatedly to fix the pension problem in Rhode Island. Now we are looking at $9.4 billion unfunded liability, with the taxpayers of Rhode Island projected to have to contribute $621.8 million to keep the fund afloat next year. It is apparent that the 150 public employee pension systems are the anchor around the neck of Rhode Island taxpayers.

Since 1995, on three separate occasions, when confronted with the choice of reform or status quo, Democrats in the General Assembly abdicated leadership and instead forced the creation of study commissions. In 1995, Governor Almond advocated for pension reform and instead got a study commission. In 2003, Governor Carcieri advocated for pension reform and had to settle for a study commission. In 2008, when pension costs started ballooning again, the House leadership created a study commission to deflect attention. Now, once again, we have the democratic leadership calling for a “special study group.” After a decade and a half of study commissions on pensions, and a few incremental changes to the pension system, we still have a pension crisis. “The time for study is over. It is time to get to work,” said Ken McKay, Chairman of the RIGOP. (Attached is a listing of the last three study commissions and membership.) Continue reading ‘GOP Prediction: No Pension Reform Again’

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Filed Under: Press Releases, Public Policy, Republican Party and Rhode Island Closed

Why President Obama Won’t Secure the Border

Posted on June 21, 2010 by The Ocean State Republican

On June 18, 2010, Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) told the audience at a town hall meeting that during a private, one-on-one meeting with President Obama in the Oval Office, the President told him, regarding securing the southern border:

“The problem is, if we secure the border, then you all won’t have any reason to support ‘comprehensive immigration reform.’” [Audible gasps were heard throughout the audience.] Sen. Kyl continued, “In other words, they’re holding it hostage. They don’t want to secure the border unless and until it is combined with ‘comprehensive immigration reform.’”

Sen. Kyl also said he reminded President Obama that the President and the Congress has an obligation, a duty, to secure the border.

(Okay, you can stop pretending to be surprised now)

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Filed Under: Immigration Reform, Public Policy and The Obamessiah Closed

EPTA Seeks Auditor General Review of Teachers’ Contract

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Rhode Island Red

EPTA Seeks Auditor General Review of Impact of Teachers’ Contract on School Deficit and Taxpayers before Council Approval of New Pact

The East Providence Taxpayers Association (EPTA) today wrote to Acting Auditor General Dennis Hoyle expressing its concerns that ratification of the newly proposed teachers’ contract by City Council would result in additional unlawful school department deficit spending unless a viable deficit elimination plan approved by the Auditor General is adopted first. The East Providence City Council is set to consider approval of the new teachers’ contract at its meeting Tuesday evening at 7:30 PM at City Hall.

The School Department announced in April that it had an anticipated school budget deficit of $2.5 million in the current fiscal year. State law requires the School Department to develop a corrective action plan to eliminate the deficit and to transmit the plan to the City Council within five days of the discovery of an anticipated budget gap. The plan must also be approved by the Auditor General. The School Department has not yet produced a deficit corrective action plan approved by the Auditor General.

The EPTA letter asked the Auditor General to communicate to the City Council before the close of business Tuesday his views about the advisability of the Council ratifying the teachers’ contract before a corrective action plan for eliminating the current year’s school budget deficit was approved. The letter also asked the Auditor General to communicate to both the City Council and the School Committee his opinion about whether or not the East Providence School Department is currently in compliance with the state laws requiring development and approval of a deficit elimination plan. The EPTA also asked the City Council in a separate letter to defer approval of the contract until a deficit plan was approved. Continue reading ‘EPTA Seeks Auditor General Review of Teachers’ Contract’

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Filed Under: Big Labor, Economics and Public Policy Closed

The Perils of the Value-Added Tax

Posted on April 18, 2010 by The Ocean State Republican

When liberals advocate a value-added tax (VAT), conservatives should respond: Taxing consumption has merits, so we will consider it — after the 16th Amendment is repealed. A VAT will be rationalized as necessary to restore fiscal equilibrium. But without ending the income tax, a VAT would be just a gargantuan instrument for further subjugating Americans to government.

Adding a VAT without subtracting the income tax would constrict Americans’ freedom much more than the health-care legislation does. Because the 16th Amendment will not be repealed, adoption of a VAT would proclaim the impossibility of serious spending reductions and hence would be the obituary for the Founders’ vision of limited government…

Read More: The Washington Post

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Filed Under: Economics, Government and Public Policy Closed

RefoundRI Kickoff Event | Wednesday

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Rhode Island Red

RefoundRI invites you to join Patriots and NFL Hall of Famer John Hanna and former Red Sox player Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd at the Crowne Plaza at the Crossings on April 14th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. The event will include hors d’oeuvres and an open bar, autographs, and photo opps!

RefoundRI’s mission is to provide civics education and outreach programs to raise awareness among voters about how poor public policy and reckless spending results in real consequences for real people. This recklessness is at the core of the budget and economic woes we face in Rhode Island and in most of our cities and towns. Only with a well-educated and fired-up citizenry can we expect to install fiscally responsible officials to run our government.

Mike Stenhouse – mstenhouse [at] refoundri [dot] org – 401.383.9205

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Filed Under: Coming Events, Public Policy and Reformers Closed

The 2010 Census Is Coming; Know Your Rights!

Posted on February 23, 2010 by Raymond McKay

The 2010 U.S. Census is coming. Be wary of the Government agent – retain your Constitutional rights. The Socialist Apparatus has no rights to ask personal questions and collect personal data for the government database. Remember, the Government is bankrupt and has no money to give you if you are a “Good Citizen” and answer ALL their questions.

Please watch the video below for more detailed information as to what you are required to provide, and what is totally voluntary.

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Filed Under: Government, Liberals and Leftists and Public Policy Closed Tags: .

Obama Grants INTERPOL Full Diplomatic Immunity in US

Posted on January 2, 2010 by The Ocean State Republican

Add another one to that gigantic “we told you so” file…

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan issued an Executive Order which gave permission to the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to operate within the boundaries of the United States. Reagan’s EO put INTERPOL under the same basic guidelines as the CIA, FBI, ATF and other Federal law enforcement agencies.

Two weeks ago, without any announcement, debate, discussion or inquiry from journalists charged with “speaking truth to power” President Obama issued an amendment to this EO. The amendment removed part of Reagan’s order that kept INTERPOL from having full diplomatic immunity while operating within the United States. In other words: Under Reagan and right up until two weeks ago, INTERPOL was authorized to operate within the USA but they did not have full diplomatic immunity and had to adhere to certain laws set forth for investigative agencies. Laws that prohibit authorities from violating our constitutionally protected rights…

Read More: Big Government

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Filed Under: Foreign Policy, Public Policy and The Obamessiah Closed Tags: .

OSPRI Research on Binding Arbitration to Be Released

Posted on October 27, 2009 by The Ocean State Republican

4booksPROVIDENCE, RI – A survey of 16 communities conducted by the Ocean State Policy Research Institute has revealed that proposed legislation on binding arbitration could cause them to lose control over about $543 million in school spending.

William Felkner, the president of the Ocean State Policy Research Institute, will present the results of this survey tomorrow at the Welcome Back Tea Party for the start of a special two-day state legislative session.

The Welcome Back Tea Party starts at 3:30 p.m. at the main entrance to the Statehouse on Smith Street.

Felkner will be speaking about the loss of local control and increased costs that will result if the Legislature passes binding arbitration. He will be discussing research that shows $543,380,851 out of a combined $693,925,762 in school spending in 16 communities could potentially be controlled by an unelected, third-party arbitrator, if employee contracts are not settled during collective bargaining negotiations. Already, $194,959,583 in spending on police and fire contracts in these communities is subject to binding arbitration.

Source: Ocean State Policy Research Institute

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Filed Under: Big Labor, Press Releases and Public Policy Closed

OSPRI’s 2nd Annual ATF Party | September 20

Posted on September 17, 2009 by The Ocean State Republican

atf“ATF should be a convenience store, not a government agency.”

OSPRI’s 2nd Annual ATF Party!

When: Sunday, Sept. 20, 12-5pm
Where: Addieville East Farm, 200 Pheasant Drive, Mapleville, RI
Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door

Come enjoy an afternoon at the firing range, followed by food, cigars, and adult beverages! The range will feature a variety of handguns and will be supervised by an NRA-certified range officer.

Silent Auction! (so bring your checkbook)

RSVP: Contact Parker Lacoste by phone, 401-228-6691, or email, placoste [at] oceanstatepolicy [dot] org.

Directions to 200 Pheasant Drive, Mapleville, RI:

Take Rte. 146 North to the Rte. 116 South (Mall) Exit. Go to the fourth light and turn right on to Rte. 7 North. Go 5.3 miles and turn left onto Tarklin Rd. Go 2 miles to Addieville East Farm on the left.

Brought to you by the Ocean State Policy Research Institute 501(c)(3) – crafting sound public policy based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, and traditional American values.

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Filed Under: Fundraisers and Public Policy Closed Tags: , .