Watching out for inflation, and for the CPI

by: Tom Sgouros

Sat May 17, 2008 at 21:40:02 PM EDT

Headlines the past couple of months have made it pretty clear that we're in for some interesting economic times ahead.  But who needs headlines?  Most of the important news is pretty clear on any trip to the grocery store.  Food prices are up sharply, and since gas prices are mounted in foot-tall numbers on the side of the road, few of us have missed the portents there, either. Medical inflation is high, too. 

Meanwhile, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has been quite low for a number of years, and is only up to 4% now.  It may not have much to do with the level of prices any more, though.  The government modifies the index from time to time, but lately they've been making modifications that are convenient -- to them. 

Pop the Cork!

by: Matt Jerzyk

Sat May 17, 2008 at 19:41:34 PM EDT

Click here to check out a great new radio ad from Working RI concerning Gov. Carcieri's attempts to exlude the richest of the rich Rhode Islanders from sharing in the cuts in the state budget.

I wrote this after Carcieri's state of the state address:

But, where in Carcieri’s address did he call on the wealthy elite of Rhode Island to sacrifice?  Where did he call on big business to sacrifice?

While the poor and the middle class are facing economic havoc from foreclosures, gas prices, heating costs, health care costs and rising college tuitions, the richest of Rhode Islanders brush aside these cost increases.

Here is the question, my friends. 

In tough times, do we call upon everyone to sacrifice for the greater good?  Or do we shamefully exempt our friends: those people who already have the ability to easily weather the storm? 

It's our choice.  

Sen. Kennedy Hospitalized

by: Matt Jerzyk

Sat May 17, 2008 at 11:50:50 AM EDT

Updates will follow as information becomes available:

U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy was airlifted to a Boston hospital Saturday morning after falling ill at the Kennedy compound in Hyannisport, the Cape Cod Times reported.

He was first rushed to Cape Cod Hospital, and after being in the emergency room for two hours he was transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital, according to the Times.

It's unknown what the 76-year-old senator's medical condition is.

Sunday TV News

by: Matt Jerzyk

Sat May 17, 2008 at 11:46:18 AM EDT

• 10 News Conference – 6:30am on NBC - Outgoing Brown University pollster Darrell West
• Newsmakers – 6:30am on CBS and 10:00am on FOX - Cranston Mayor Mike Napolitano, Rep. Joe Trillo, former Lt. Gov. Charlie Fogarty
• On the Record with Jim Hummel – 7:30am on ABC - Chuck Barton & Dave Layman
• FOX News Sunday - 9:00am on FOX - Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen. Jon Kyl, Karl Rove
• Jim Vincent Show – 9:00am on UPN - Lionel Fernandez and Sussy DeLeon from the Guatemalan Center of Rhode Island and Fred Ordonez from Progreso Latino
  
• This Week with George Stephanopoulos – 930am on ABC - Sen. Biden, Rep. Boehner
• Meet the Press – 10:00am on NBC - Sen. Jim Webb, panel with Harold Ford Jr., Huckabee, Murphy, Shrum
• Face the Nation - 10:30am on CBS - Gov. Charlie Crist, GOP strategist Ed Rollins, former Govs. Mario Cuomo and Roy Romer
• CNN Late Edition - 11:00am on CNN - Commerce Sec. Carlos Gutierrez, former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott
• A Lively Experiment – 12:00pm on PBS - Another majority conservative panel with moderator Jim Hagan featuring Rep. Jon Brien, Rep. John Loughlin, Dave Layman and Denise Aiken.
• McLaughlin Group – 12:30pm on PBS

10-5 is a Bad Idea for Providence's Future

by: Matt Jerzyk

Thu May 15, 2008 at 07:42:46 AM EDT

It is disappointing to see so many "liberals" support the idea of downsizing the Providence City Council from 15 wards to 10 wards and then adding 5 at-large seats.  This effort will reduce the ability of Providence residents to run for office, reduce the minority representation on the Council (from 4 to 2 or 1 or 0) and position the wealthy areas of our city to have a windfall on the Council.  I support the progressive solution: Councilman Seth Yurdin's idea of keeping our 15 wards and adding 2-6 at-large seats to the Council elected on a "proportional representation" system to ensure "one-person, one-vote" throughout the city.  

David Segal sets out the argument well on the Daily Dose, so there is no need for me to reinvent the wheel: 

Ian has a post on [at-large seats] today.

I empathize with the concerns of the proponents of at-large seats — In particular, they’d like to reduce our 15 wards to 10, while adding 5 at-large seats.

The presence of at-large members will free the City Council as a whole from the constraints of ward politics, encourage big-picture thinking, and provide additional avenues for citizens to express concerns about citywide issues. Furthermore, having several at-large seats on the Council will give the legislative branch more opportunities to give input to the executive branch on policies and actions that will affect the entire city, thus creating a better balance in visioning and decision-making.

But this is a BAD idea, unless seats are allocated proportionally.  Ari and I wrote about these issues here. Two quick points about the 10-5 plan:

• It’d mean more representation by rich, white, high-turnout portions of town, and therefore more influence by moneyed interests.

• The city would be setting itself up for a civil rights lawsuit, as Ward 11 — the only seat held by an African American — would be chopped up into majority white and Latino areas.  A city that is 15% African American would likely be left with no African American on the city council.  (Have we really not learned the lessons of the redistricting of 2002, which pitted Sens Pichardo and Walton against one another?)

I’ll write about all of this in more detail later. 

As will I, but this should be a good start to the conversation.

Documents link wind farm foes to energy firm

by: PDM

Fri May 16, 2008 at 15:30:00 PM EDT

Say it aint so!

A new lobbying firm for the group opposing a wind farm off Cape Cod filed a federal document last month reporting that its work for the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound is partially funded and shaped by an international energy conglomerate.

The disclosure represents the first documented financial connection between the group opposing the wind farm and Oxbow Corp., which mines and markets energy and commodities, including coal, natural gas, and petroleum.

Solemn Obligation: Why doesn't John McCain Support the 21st Century GI Bill?

by: nate greene

Fri May 16, 2008 at 12:10:34 PM EDT

When we send our young men and women into harm's way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they're going, to care for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world.

John McCain and his partner George W. Bush does not support the bipartisan legislation (Hagel-Webb) heading for the Senate. He covered his butt with a watered down version that makes soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines stay in the military longer for any benefits.

When will Republicans stop talking about support for the troops and start actually doing it? Oh and SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE: The Don (Carcieri) is NOT one of the 20 governors throughout this country that supports the bill!

Check out Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) for more information or sign the petition.

Stone Soup Saturday!

by: Matt Jerzyk

Fri May 16, 2008 at 21:00:00 PM EDT

This message comes along from longtime activist Richard Walton: 

Hi.  Many Rhode Islanders are familiar with Stone Soup, the Pawtucket coffee house that is just coming to the end of its 27th year of providing first rate folk music. To celebrate the end of the season, and to raise money for next season, Stone Soup is holding a “rent party” this Saturday, May 17 at the Blackstone, a new club at 1005 Main St., Pawtucket in the old Hope Webbing Co., now the Hope Artiste Village. Admission, $25.

The show, which runs from 4 to 9 p.m. and includes hor d’oeuvres, will be a musical history of the coffeehouse with such performers as founders Bill Harley, Joyce Katzberg, Kate Katzberg, those who came along a bit later like Atwater-Donnelly and those of more recent years like Corinne Wahlberg and The Gnomes plus other fine artists. Bill Harley and Joyce Katzberg are also well known for their progressive activism as is Phil Edmonds, one of the Gnomes.

It will be music, music, music for five hours. The schedule is included in the following press release. Hope to see you there. Peace.

Collective insanity

by: David Segal

Fri May 16, 2008 at 15:57:25 PM EDT

Lessons learned from Katrina -- A few people might've slipped through the immigration net during the frenzy, and we'd better make sure that never happens again.  So we'll risk evacuating people even more slowly next time:

U.S. citizenship to be checked in event of a storm
Agents to watch those in the Valley who board buses to flee a hurricane

BROWNSVILLE — Ending speculation about the fate of the Rio Grande Valley's undocumented immigrants during a hurricane evacuation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has confirmed it will check the citizenship both of people boarding buses to leave the Valley and at inland traffic checkpoints.

New Progressive PAC to Host Fundraiser

by: Pat Crowley

Fri May 16, 2008 at 14:51:00 PM EDT

A group of progressive legislators and community folks have worked together to form a new political action committee called ProPAC.  The goal of the committee is to re-elect progressive members of the assembly and put forward candidates in open seats when they become available. 

If you have the time, please attend the important first ProPAC fundraiser on May 28th from 6-8PM at The Wild Colonial in Providence. Tickets will be in the mail soon and available at the door.  and the best news, it is right before the next "Drinking Liberally!"

This is from a forthcoming letter by State Rep. Art Handy: 

I am pleased to announce the formation of PROPAC – a new political action committee designed to help currently elected progressive legislators and help new progressive candidates compete for open seats in the general assembly when they become available.

PROPAC is a place where progressive legislators, community groups, and committed individuals can fight this right-ward trend together, based on our shared values: Economic development building on our state's strengths; Environmental policy that recognizes that we can be leaders in the new green economy by taking advantage of our size, location, natural resources, and beauty; Social policy that recognizes that our children need access to high quality public schools, accessible health care, and safe neighborhoods to be the leaders of tomorrow that we know they can be.

This effort begins with you and your friends.  Right now, we need your help to fund our effort.

PROPAC is hosting a fundraiser on May 28th from 6PM to 8PM at The Wild Colonial, 250 South Water Street, Providence.  We hope you can join us, but whether you can attend or not we urge you to write a check and send it in today.  With your help, viable progressive candidates running for open seats can be successful and progressive incumbents who have taken strong stands will be re-elected.  To win, they will need volunteers, technical support, and – very importantly -- money.  Thanks in advance – and we look forward to seeing you on May 28^th!

Update: Congressman Jim Langevin works to help vulnerable Republican

by: forsanri

Fri May 16, 2008 at 11:10:23 AM EDT

Update:  Congressman Langevin's office responds (via email):  "While Congressman Langevin is working hard to expand the Democratic majority in Congress in the upcoming elections, he also remains committed to his decade-long goal of addressing America's health care crisis.  To achieve his goal of universal health care, he believes that people from all across the spectrum must work together." 

In fairness, the original Projo article text on this is included at the bottom, and you can learn more about Langevin here.

Perhaps we can expect Langevin to work hard campaigning for Jim Himes in the future in light of the promotional effort this healthcare plan has had for Chris Shays?--forsanri

_______________________________________ 

Oblivious to the Mississippi special election results, Jim Langevin is committed to working with Republicans for bipartisan solutions.  But are those Republicans committed to Langevin’s goals, or are they using him to defeat Democrats?  Yesterday, the Hill ran a puff piece on the universal healthcare legislation that Langevin introduced in February with vulnerable Connecticut Republican Chris Shays (CT-04).  Even though Republicans are now under the symbolic 200 seats in the House (at 199 and falling), Representative Langevin seems pretty interested in working with Republicans (and buoying their reelection efforts).  Langevin's excuse for seeking out Shays' support:

Whether it’s now or after the election, the time has got to come. … The American people are going to demand it,” Langevin said. “The simple fact of the matter is: It has got to get fixed at some point.”

One wonders why Jim Langevin legitimizes a weak Republican like Shays (seen here with his president) as a leader on a Democratic issue like healthcare.  Were Democrats not available in the well of the deep House majority we have (and will continue to build)?  And does Langevin think that Shays really cares about healthcare when he voted to kill Children's Healthcare (S-CHIP)?  Either way, Chris Shays isn't complaining:

Shays thinks healthcare can do for him what campaign finance reform did a few years ago. “This is my campaign finance reform,” he said.

Where was Shays four years ago?  Langevin’s healthcare legislation is the same that he introduced in 2004, and in 2005 (both with zero cosponsors then).  When Shays was in the majority in those years and literally kissing his president, did he not then have occasion to descend on the minority member Langevin and give him a leg up?  No.  Instead, Chris Shays, like George Bush was busy voting

• against lower healthcare costs for small business,
• against health care coverage for cancer and diabetes,
• against a Democratic plan just like Langevin’s current one. 

He was also pretty busy diluting or opposing patients’ bill of rights to boost profits for HMOs and insurers.  Chris Shays has a sinful record on healthcare and our now-seasoned Congressman Langevin should recognize this expiation as mala fide.   Why the abrupt change of heart for Shays—perhaps he faces a challenger trumpeting healthcare reform? 

Readers familiar with Connecticut politics will remember that Chris Shays is the only Republican Congressman left in New England.  In fact, the CT-04 seat is a ripe pickup as Shays barely won (51%) last cycle and will have a well-financed and savvy Democrat to beat in November:  Jim Himes.  Jim Himes has the support of Shays former opponent, Diane Farrell, and he is going to need our help to get to Washington and further Democrats' agenda.

Follow me below to see how Langevin's bipartisan initiative is making it harder for Connecticut Democrats to take back this seat...

Friday Graduation Open Thread

by: Matt Jerzyk

Fri May 16, 2008 at 10:53:38 AM EDT

"He wanted to do what he did"

by: Matt Jerzyk

Fri May 16, 2008 at 09:17:21 AM EDT

Former Brown University professor Jarat Chopra has written a moving tribute to the life of Michael Bhatia:

Being unable at times to change the world does not mean the world needs to change who you are. I saw Bhatia at the limits of endurance, and he was the personification of a humanitarian and the antithesis of the many unscrupulous officials and fraudulent charlatans who pursue self-advancement under the cover of humanitarianism. Bhatia matured and evolved and adapted down criss-crossing paths of his loves and wars, but he remained true to himself. I will never forget the words of his mother when she broke the news to me: “He wanted to do what he did.”

Mike's funeral, a Requiem Mass, will be held today at 1000am at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Medway, Mass. Also, a great website in Mike's memory is located here.

FUQ the FAQs

by: ChasWalker

Fri May 16, 2008 at 01:25:27 AM EDT

Earlier this week, Governor Carcieri published a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document to elaborate on his controversial executive order Operation Round Up the Brown Ones.  Clearly, it’s a bit of a retreat on the Governor’s part that he has been forced to publish an explanation for his executive order that is twice as long as the executive order itself.

According to the ProJo, the six page document is designed to “answer questions about how the order is carried out.”  The Governor’s own webpage states that his office “determined that [the] document might prove informative and helpful in dispelling misconceptions.”  And I'll give the devil his due: the document very much accomplishes these goals. 

It is quite informative, and any remaining misconceptions I previously held have now been dispelled. After some study, I can now say with full certainty, beyond any doubt, that this order is definitely designed to divide and conquer working people in Rhode Island, to distract us from pursuing real solutions to the challenges we face, and to get us to settle for scapegoating instead - all while Governor Carcieir tries to play the folk hero, pretend champion of Rhode Island's working families.

TONIGHT: Remembering Tony Marcella

by: Matt Jerzyk

Fri May 09, 2008 at 11:47:34 AM EDT

A Newport Celebration in honor of TONY MARCELLA

Friday, May 16, 2008 8pm - 12 midnight.

Ocean Cliff Hotel 65 Ridge Road Newport, Rhode Island

Click here to see the flyer. 

Live Band & DJ <> Open Bar & Hors D?ouerves <> Silent Auction

Suggested Donation: $25 Per Person with Advance RSVP $40 At the Door

PROCEEDS BENEFIT: The Tony Marcella ALS Foundation

RSVP to: TonyNewportCelebration@yahoo.com or call 917.548.3795 Please include your name, phone number and number of guests.

This event made possible by the Generosity of Tom Roos.