Items by Monique Chartier

• How Would a 3% Cut in Pay Affect the Nationwide Salary Ranking of Rhode Island Teachers?

  —Anchor Rising

  To help cities and towns close budget gaps which might crop up in part by a proposed reduction in state aid, Governor Carcieri has suggested that municipalities around Rhode Island negotiate a 3% reduction in teacher salaries. Carcieri said he... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 20, 2009, 8:59pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed: "No one is Talking About Raising Taxes" (Other than the Governor)

  —Anchor Rising

  Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed appeared on the John DePetro Show this morning to interpret for WPRO listeners the supplemental budget that Governor Carcieri proposed in an alternate universe. Possibly John can prevail upon her to return another day and comment... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 17, 2009, 10:31pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Supplemental Budget: Not Just Cuts, Tools Also

  —Anchor Rising

  In today's Pawtucket Times, Jim Baron points out that Governor Carcieri's proposed (the Governor proposes, the General Assembly disposes) supplemental budget does not just reduce monies to cities and towns but would also provide a counterbalance; namely, relief from unfunded... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 16, 2009, 6:50pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• A Constituent Speaks out on Kennedy's Studied Indifference to Illegal Immigration

  —Anchor Rising

  In today's Providence Journal, Deloris Issler of Cranston enumerates the ways that Congressman Patrick Kennedy poorly serves his district and the state with his views on illegal immigration and opposition to e-verify. To this, I would only add, without snideness... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 13, 2009, 10:17pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Dating Tips for the Ladies

  —Anchor Rising

  ... circa 1938. H/T Dave Barry. Here are the first two tips, sans the illustrative photographs - again, circa 1938 - that accompany each tip. DO YOUR DRESSING in your boudoir to keep your allure. Be ready to go when... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 13, 2009, 2:46pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Pension Disbursements After Only Twenty Years of Service - Yet Another Insanity of Rhode Island Government

  —Anchor Rising

  The question below is spurred by this excellent OpEd in today's ProJo. Rhode Island’s pension picture is getting increasingly alarming. Soaring unfunded liabilities are pushing the state toward bankruptcy, and putting a mounting strain on both state and local budgets.... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 13, 2009, 10:45am EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Arlene Violet: "Brown University over-reacts to Young"

  —Anchor Rising

  Rhode Island political junkies will recall that Chris Young was literally dragged away by police from a microphone at the Brown University health care forum starring Congressman Patrick Kennedy ten days ago and then criminally charged. Ahlene has an excellent... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 12, 2009, 11:36pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Can't See the Jobs for the Tree Stumps

  —Anchor Rising

  Gerry Goldstein reports in Thursday's Valley Breeze that State Senator John Tassoni wants to kill the North Central State Airport. But Tassoni, who represents some of Smithfield and North Smithfield, termed the airport "a thorn in Smithfield's side" that generates... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 12, 2009, 9:24pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Turning the Tide on Toy Totin' Tots: Prov and East Prov to Hold Toy Gun "Buy"-Backs

  —Anchor Rising

  If I were the type to cling to my guns and paranoia, this might strike me as some sort of pre-conditioning. "Look, Johnny and Suzie, it's normal to hand your guns to the nice man from the government." Children in... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 11, 2009, 6:51pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• And the Campaign Announcements Roll On: Tom Sgouros for General Treasurer

  —Anchor Rising

  From the ProJo's 7 to 7 News Blog a little while ago; thanks to Andrew for the heads up. Tom Sgouros publishes a bimonthly newsletter that takes a fresh look at the state's economic policies; he recently published a book.... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 11, 2009, 5:49pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Global Warming: What is the 6% Solution?

  —Anchor Rising

  The Climate Conference commenced Monday in Copenhagen. President Obama has promised that the United States will abate its greenhouse gas emissions to 17 percent below 2005 levels over the next decade and by 83% by 2050. Adding to the madness,... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 10, 2009, 9:49pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Frank Caprio: Making Up Stories About a Friend to Win a Primary

  —Anchor Rising

  ... the friend being Don Carcieri. In fact, the friendship between the Governor and the General Treasurer was the impetus for one of the rare instances in which the Governor deliberately opened himself up to criticism from his own party:... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 06, 2009, 2:15am EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Ordering: A Case of Ginkgo Biloba for the Junior Senator from Rhode Island, Please

  —Anchor Rising

  The term "Bushitler" and assorted variations were a staple of the two terms of the forty third President of the United States. (Possibly the fact that he had the temerity to win a second term fueled its usage.) Yet in... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: December 05, 2009, 10:08pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Some Helpful "Don't's" for the Holiday Season (and Throughout the Year)

  —Anchor Rising

  What not to bring grocery shopping. [Side note: regrettably, due to England's onerous laws regulating the movement of livestock, it will be six days before the "victim" is reunited with his flock.] How not to effectuate a get-away should your... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 29, 2009, 5:37pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Why are We Trying Them if We're Going to Detain Them Regardless of the Verdict?

  —Anchor Rising

  Under "John Loughlin on the Civil Trial of Terrorists", Joe Bernstein observes, Nor can you explain how it is that Holder admits before a Senate committee that he doesn't know the consequences of an acquittal after these people are brought...' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 28, 2009, 8:06am EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Charlie Hall Stopped by the State House Yesterday ...

  —Anchor Rising

  Courtesy the Hummel Report Ocean State Follies.... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 26, 2009, 2:55pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• John Loughlin on the Civil Trial of Terrorists

  —Anchor Rising

  Candidate for the First Congressional District John Loughlin appeared Sunday on NBC 10's 10 News Conference with Jim Taricani and Bill Rappley. Below is the discussion between Loughlin and Taricani on the decision by the Obama Administration to try five... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 24, 2009, 9:25pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Rhode Island's Unemployment Picture: Ahead of Lowly Michigan in One Way but Behind in Another

  —Anchor Rising

  The good news is that with the highest unemployment rate in the country, Michigan still beats out Number Three Rhode Island. The bad news is that they also beat us on a positive front. Paragraph four of the possibly over-optimistic... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 22, 2009, 9:33pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Sorting out Exactly Who Appointed the (Now Borderline Criminal) Panel Who Made the (Apparently Execrable) Anti-Mammogram Recommendations

  —Anchor Rising

  Gratifyingly, Democrats in Congress and the Obama Administration have reacted to this government panel's recommendation by setting land speed records distancing themselves from it. But in view of the public outrage that ensued, a scapegoat had to be identified. Who... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 22, 2009, 6:29pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Michael Morse is No Huggy Bear

  —Anchor Rising

  From a Rescuing Providence post of a couple of weeks ago. Are his experiences unique and a result of his blogular fame or is he correct that there is a trend among younger men to give manly hugs as greeting?... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 21, 2009, 6:45pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• The Students Who Say "Meep"

  —Anchor Rising

  A serious level of absurdity has been reached when a real life incident evokes a scene from Python. H/T Michael Graham, who points out today that an assistant principal at Danvers High School has unsmilingly attempted to extend the fun... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 20, 2009, 4:36pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Terrorist Defendants and (No) Miranda Rights

  —Anchor Rising

  It appears that no Guantanamo detainees, including those who will be tried in a New York civilian court, were given their Miranda rights, nor were their "normal Fourth Amendment rights" observed. This is a sincere request: can someone provide a... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 20, 2009, 1:29am EST
  by Monique Chartier

• To Fans of the Original Mercedes Gullwing

  —Anchor Rising

  ... who are now sputtering, as I did, that the latest addition to the Mercedes Benz line will require us to tack on a modifier (i.e., "original") when referencing that marvelous vehicle, Dan Neil of the Los Angeles Times offers... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 15, 2009, 11:07am EST
  by Monique Chartier

• So is He Claiming to be Not Disconnected?

  —Anchor Rising

  Justin references a comment by Senator Whitehouse. To finish up, Whitehouse spoke about the apparent disconnect from reality that is exhibited by the Republican Party, whether it be about health care reform, or the climate bill, or same-sex marriage. On... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 14, 2009, 6:45pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Carcieri (not that one, the other one) on EP - and RI - Politics

  —Anchor Rising

  Extended excerpts transcribed from Justin's recording of the remarks of East Providence School Committee Chairman Anthony Carcieri at the EPGOP Fall Fundraiser last Thursday. Most state senators are not so tactless or ill-advised as to attend a council meeting of... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 11, 2009, 9:43pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Real Hope & Change: East Providence GOP Fundraiser

  —Anchor Rising

  Tomorrow 6:30 - 9:00 pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 50 Crescent View Avenue. Good food and lots of interesting speakers. Details here. East Providence has been one of the major battlegrounds Ground Zero's for reform in Rhode Island.... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 04, 2009, 3:50pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Scozzafava's Parting Shot Inadvertently Revealing

  —Anchor Rising

  Whatever happens in New York's District 23 election tomorrow, Dede Scozzafava's endorsement of her Democrat (former) rival will only confirm the reservations The Republican nominee, State Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, on Sunday endorsed the Democrat in the race, Bill Owens, after... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 02, 2009, 3:50pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Moody's Downgrade of Connecticut's Bond Outlook a Cautionary Tale for Rhode Island?

  —Anchor Rising

  We are now broaching a topic about which I know almost nothing. But certain aspects of this situation sound familiar. The bond rating agency Moody’s Investors Service announced on Monday it has lowered its outlook for Connecticut’s general obligation bonds... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 01, 2009, 8:37pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Revelation: Russian War Games in September Simulated Nuclear and Conventional Attacks on Poland

  —Anchor Rising

  ... that would be right around the time President Obama announced that his administration would abandon plans for an American missile defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. In August, 2008, Poland had reached an agreement with the Bush... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 01, 2009, 3:05pm EST
  by Monique Chartier

• Trick or Treat Traffic Report: South Kingstown is Off

  —Anchor Rising

  Just back from spending Halloween evening at the best decorated yard and front walk in South County. (Scary branches with lanterns, floating heads, cob webs, lighted jack-o-lanterns, chattering skeletons, organ music, spooky fog, "real" zombies grabbing at ankles as the... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 31, 2009, 11:10pm EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• The Hero from Elmhurst

  —Anchor Rising

  Catching up on yesterday's ProJo this morning, I came across this jawdropper development to the terrible story of two men hit and one man impaled in a windshield. [Albert] Garcia was approaching the Branch Avenue exit, on his way to... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 30, 2009, 2:02pm EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• East Providence's New Transparency of Government in Action: A Model for the General Assembly

  —Anchor Rising

  As we recently learned, the broadcast of General Assembly committee hearings is not automatic but, remarkably, left up to the discretion of the committee chair. Further, if the committee chair makes the correct decision to flip on the camera, viewership... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 28, 2009, 6:35pm EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• A Constitutional Glitch in the Ciccone Consolidation Bill?

  —Anchor Rising

  Andrew brings to our attention Senator Frank Ciccone's pile driver consolidation bill, enumerating the ways that this is a bad idea and adding some shrewd speculation about the (possibly calculated) existential threat that the bill poses to the Mayor's office... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 24, 2009, 9:58pm EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• A Gadget for the Times

  —Anchor Rising

  Several years ago, in the course of antique/curio shopping, I picked up a coin counter. (Note that despite its slightly old fashioned look and manual operation, the attendant zero carbon emissions makes it environmentally au courant.) Last night, I pulled... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 24, 2009, 12:39am EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• "Modified" Binding Arbitration: A Bad Idea is Still Bad Even if It's Tweaked

  —Anchor Rising

  Following upon a very well attended hearing yesterday, Opponents clogged the State House committee room, spilling into the marble hallway and lining the walls. Some held signs of protest above their heads for hours. It was an unusual display for... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 22, 2009, 6:02pm EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• Binding Arbitration Bill to be Heard Wednesday (Probably)

  —Anchor Rising

  H5142, which would expand the scope of the binding arbitration process to include monetary issues for teachers and non-teacher educational employees. It would also streamline the actual binding arbitration process itself. is scheduled to be heard by the House Labor... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 18, 2009, 11:52pm EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• Binding Arbitration as Viewed by One of RI's Public Labor Unions

  —Anchor Rising

  The following e-mail was distributed today to members of NEARI. A message from NEARI President Larry Purtill: URGENT!!!! The RI House Labor Committee will hear legislation on binding arbitration for teachers Wednesday, October 21, 2 PM at the State House,... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 16, 2009, 6:22pm EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• The Absence of Race: In Science, In a River Bank 9,300 Years Ago, In a Political Cartoon This Week

  —Anchor Rising

  In a prior post, a comment by Warrington Faust sent me to research Kennewick Man, the name given to a man who lived 9,300 years ago and whose remains, discovered in 1996 in the bank of a river, became the... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 14, 2009, 1:04am EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• Reasons for the Obama Justice Department to Prosecute ACLU/"John Adams" Project Lawyers

  —Anchor Rising

  Let's hope that the Justice Department's investigation (see Justin's post) leads in due course to prosecution. If it does not, the United States may well be left blind, without an intelligence/counter-intelligence department because no one will be willing to take... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 11, 2009, 9:55pm EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• If It Takes a Thief to Catch a Thief, Does It Take a Lawbreaker to Make a Lawyer?

  —Anchor Rising

  From yesterday's Providence Journal. The Rhode Island Supreme Court has ordered that the Stephen M. Hunter’s license to practice law be suspended for one year. Hunter has been convicted of five crimes. One felony and four misdemeanors. And just one... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 11, 2009, 10:14am EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• Protesting the Brown U Protest of Cristoforo Colombo

  —Anchor Rising

  Noon, Monday, by the flagpole on Brown University's Main Green. Organized by WPRO's John DePetro, the Brown Spectator and the Brown College Republicans. From John DePetro's press release. ... the decision by the faculty at Brown University to change the... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 10, 2009, 8:28pm EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• The Traveling Lynchbury

  —Anchor Rising

  The RIGOP this week filed an ethics complaint against Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch (D) for violating the state’s $75 gift cap by accepting a roundtrip plane ticket worth $428.50 from the National Cable and Telecommunications Association The genesis... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 03, 2009, 6:47am EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• Re: Solidarity in Kicking the Blind Veteran into the Street

  —Anchor Rising

  Justin says Think of the thoroughness of the union mentality (or dementality) necessary for no union members, of several occupations, to see the immorality of preventing disabled veterans from reaching the hospital or to take pains to minimize the effects... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 02, 2009, 3:06pm EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• Report: Speaker Murphy Will Not Run for Speakership Again

  —Anchor Rising

  From the AP via Turn to Ten: A Rhode Island lawmaker says House Speaker William Murphy has told his colleagues he’s stepping down from his leadership post when the next term begins. Rep. Kenneth Carter told The Associated Press he... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 30, 2009, 6:45pm EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• Radio Alert: RI Senate President on WPRO at 9:00 am

  —Anchor Rising

  Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed will appear on the John DePetro Show this morning. Click here to stream live. Though Tara Granahan wasn't sure a few minutes ago whether the Senate President would be taking calls, some questions may suggestion themselves...' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 28, 2009, 9:08am EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• Tom Ward on Whitehouse's Pro-ACORN Vote - What Was His Prior Job Title?

  —Anchor Rising

  After concurring with Justin's doubts about bonuses and the definition of profits at Twin River, Valley Breeze Publisher Tom Ward contrasts a notable item on Senator Whitehouse's resume with his vote a couple of weeks ago to continue funding ACORN.... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 27, 2009, 10:15pm EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• Council 94 Leadership Rediscovers Democracy - Membership of Largest State Union to Vote on Gov's Proposal

  —Anchor Rising

  After huddling up in North Providence for a couple of hours this afternoon and listening to an explanation by a couple of HR people from the state of certain nuances of the proposal, the ProJo reports that The leaders of... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 25, 2009, 5:53pm EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• Menard Freezes Disbursements to School Department

  —Anchor Rising

  While not taking our eyes completely off the fast and furious developments at the state level, a glance northward is in order. From today's Valley Breeze. In a letter addressed to Superintendent Gerardi, [Mayor Susan] Menard said, "Continued operation of..." [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 24, 2009, 11:49pm EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• Joe Biden's Blueprint to Derail the Agenda of the Obama Adminstration

  —Anchor Rising

  Um, sir, aren't you ... well, second in command? [H/T the Ocean State Republican which, at long last, is back on line.] We are sure that didn’t mean it to come out like a paragraph from a Republican National Committee...' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 23, 2009, 12:31am EDT
  by Monique Chartier

• Global Warming: the (Non) Magnitude of Man's Role

  —Anchor Rising

  President Obama speaking today at the United Nations: And yet, we can reverse it. John F. Kennedy once observed that "Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man." It is true that for too many years, mankind... [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 22, 2009, 5:03pm EDT
  by Monique Chartier