On a related note, the Providence Firefighters Union filed suit against the City of Providence earlier today, demanding that the city meet its pension payment obligations.

Dear Mayor Cicilline:

I am writing to you today because it appears the city of Providence is bankrupt or close to it and that you are deliberately hiding this fact from the people of Rhode Island. I am concerned that for political reasons your campaign for Congress is causing you to act in such a way as to conceal the budget problems facing the city of Providence, making them worse in the process.

According to City Auditor James Lombardi, you have refused his requests for financial information for the past six months. As a result, he has had to resort to filing requests under the State Access to Public Records Act (APRA). This is an extraordinary set of circumstances because as you know the good functioning of government depends on transparency and accountability. By not making information available when requested, you are acting in a manner that is antithetical to good government.

What little information the Auditor has obtained causes him grave concern. Specifically, he said that $18 million of the regularly scheduled pension payment of $38 million for the last fiscal year was never paid. He also said the city’s reserve contingency funds account – the so-called “rainy day fund” – went from having a balance of $14.4 million on July 1, 2009 (the start of the last fiscal year) to NEGATIVE $187,736 on June 30, 2010 (the end of the last fiscal year).

Based on this alarming information, I am concerned that the city cannot make its way through the current fiscal year without a tax increase, severe budget cuts, or both. I am calling on you to immediately disclose to the taxpayers of Providence and the people of Rhode Island the full extent of the city’s current financial situation by releasing to the Auditor’s Office and the public at large a balance sheet and a cash flow analysis showing the current state of the city’s finances.

It is time for you to set aside concerns about how the city’s deteriorating fiscal condition will affect your campaign for Congress. You need to set aside concerns about your political career and level with the people of Rhode Island.

Sincerely,

John Loughlin

State Representative John J. Loughlin II
RI House Minority Whip
Candidate for US Congress, RI -01
PO Box 244
Adamsville, RI 02801

We’re still feeling the “bounce” off of a wonderful day with Senator Brown yesterday. If you missed the event, here’s a short video that you will enjoy.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q6tBP9nhVk[/youtube]

Source: Loughlin for Congress

Among those most likely to vote, Loughlin was ahead 45 percent to 41 percent, according to pollster Gene Ulm, who said the margin of error for this groups exceeds 6 points.

“The message is starting to take hold,” said an excited Loughlin in an interview. “We’re seeing the undecided voters starting to break in our direction.”…

Read More: CQ Politics

If you would like to support John by attending, there are apparently some seats still available. You may use the following link on WPRI’s website to register. The debate will be broadcast live on WPRI Ch. 12 beginning at 7PM. Arrive by 6:30 PM.

Reserve Your Seat Online at WPRI.com

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM6y_SMSiVk[/youtube]

Source: John Loughlin for U.S. Congress

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzi5PefLm8g[/youtube]

Source: Americans for Common Sense Solutions

House Democrats preside over unprecedented budget collapse; break for recess prioritizing election over stopping looming tax hikes

WASHINGTON – House Budget Committee Ranking Member Paul Ryan (WI-01) issued the following statement after House Democrats’ passed a short-term stop-gap spending bill to fund the Federal government, failing to complete any of the 12 annual Appropriations bills, failing to pass a budget resolution, failing to take action to stop the looming tax hikes:

“The fiscal year will end much as it began, with Congress exacerbating our unsustainable budget trajectory. Consumed with their reckless borrowing and spending spree, House Democrats called it quits after failing to send any of the annual Appropriations bills to the President’s desk and failing to even propose a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Operating with no budget to prioritize taxpayer dollars, Congress agreed to a $1.1 trillion Continuing Resolution to keep the government from shutting down.

“Making matters worse, Democratic leaders failed to take action to stop looming tax increases from hitting families and small businesses. A growing bipartisan consensus stands united against the Democratic leaders’ refusal to prevent across the board tax increases amidst continued economic hardships, fostering greater economic uncertainty and stifling job creation.

“This year’s budget breakdown is particularly troubling given the $1.3 trillion deficit and $13 trillion debt. The unemployment rate remains too high and economic growth remains too low. Congress missed a critical opportunity to stop the looming tax hikes, restrain the explosive growth of government spending, and advance an agenda of real reform.”

HBC Republican Caucus analysis of the tax debate: “The Impact of Looming Tax Increase” –

http://house.gov/budget_republicans/taxdebate.pdf

HBC Republican Caucus September Adjournment Summary: “The Budget Record of the 111th Congress” – http://www.house.gov/budget_republicans/111thadjournmentpacket.pdf

Source: Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), House Republican Caucus

Read More: The Hill

Governor Lincoln Almond
Ambassador John L. Loeb Jr.
Bob Thistle
John Elkhay
Nick Loeb

to welcome

Congressman Peter King (R-NY-3)

Ranking Member, Committee on Homeland Security
Committee on Financial Services
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

for a Luncheon in Support of

John Loughlin

Republican Candidate for Congress (RI-1)

September 2, 2010 from 12 to 1:30pm

Suggested contribution:

Hosts $500, Couples $200, Individuals $125

Ten Prime Steak and Sushi
55 Pine Street
Providence, RI 02903

RSVP [at] johnloughlin [dot] org or (401) 383-1818

Make checks payable to:

Friends of John Loughlin
PO Box 244
Adamsville, RI 02801

Contributions to Friends of John Loughlin are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. Contributions from corporations, foreign nationals and federal govern­ment contractors are prohibited. *Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer for each individual whose contribu­tions exceed $200 in an election cycle. **An individual may contribute up to $4,800 ($2,400 for the first election and $2,400 for any subsequent election). A couple may contribute up to $9,600 from a joint account as long as both sign the check or this form indicating that the contribution should be split evenly. A multi-candidate federal PAC may contribute up to $10,000 ($5,000 for the first election and $5,000 for any subsequent election).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-xYC-zEsTQ[/youtube]