Projo Politics Blog

• Gray Panthers bestow 'award' on National Grid

  By Steve Peoples Journal State House Bureau Turkey Day came early for the Gray Panthers, a group of elderly Rhode Islanders known for both their passion and sense of humor. Last Tuesday, the organization presented its "2009 Turkey of the..." [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Ocean State Policy Research Institute board grows

  By Steve Peoples Journal State House Bureau The Ocean State Policy Research Institute is growing. The Providence-based group known for its support of conservative principles -- board members include First Lady Suzanne Carcieri and unsuccessful GOP congressional candidate Jonathan P.... [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Solomon says he won't run for state treasurer

  By Phil Marcelo Journal State House Bureau A third potential primary candidate for state treasurer has backed out. Providence City Councilor Michael A. Solomon, a Democrat who represents Elmhurst and Mount Pleasant, will seek a second term on the council... [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Potential primary looms in contest for R.I. state treasurer

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Another high-stakes Democratic primary is shaping up, with two veteran lawmakers - House Finance Chairman Steven Costantino and state Sen. William J. Walaska - getting closer by the day to announcing their possible candidacies for state treasurer.... [...]
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  Posted: November 27, 2009, 4:13pm EST
  

• Warwick Senator Walaska mulls run for RI treasurer

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- State Sen. William Walaska intends to set the stage for a possible run for state treasurer, by notifying the state Board of Elections within the next few days of his intent to start raising money to run... [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 3:03pm EST
  

• Tougher DUI bill is RI law; Lawmakers pledge renewed effort to rid roads of distracted drivers

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- With a text-messaging ban and a new drunken-driving law under their belts, key lawmakers are promising to renew their efforts to win passage of bills to allow the police to stop and tag people for driving without... [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 1:27pm EST
  

• Stimulus report gives something extra to R.I.

  By Steve Peoples, Journal State House Bureau Someone may have awarded Little Rhody three new Congressional districts while we weren't looking. We thought there were just two until last week, when we surfed over to Recovery.gov, the Obama administration's Web...' [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 7:02am EST
  

• NOW endorses Dennigan in run for R.I.'s Second District

  By Steve Peoples, Journal State House Bureau Elizabeth "Betsy" Dennigan has earned the endorsement of the "largest organization of feminist activists in the United States." The National Organization for Women is backing the former East Providence state representative who moved... [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 7:01am EST
  

• R.I. political family heads to Germany with well-wishes

  By Katherine Gregg, Journal State House Bureau Two of the four Kilmartin brothers from Pawtucket are headed to Germany on the day after Thanksgiving to deliver a stack of greeting cards -- and yes, that includes House Majority Whip Peter... [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Carcieri cancels trip to GOP governors meeting in Texas

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Governor Carcieri has canceled his plan to fly to Lost Pines, Texas Wednesday to attend an annual meeting of the Republican Governors Association. With the RGA picking up all but $304.60 of the travel costs to... [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 11:21am EST
  

• Carcieri headed to Texas for GOP governors conference

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Governor Carcieri is headed to the Hyatt Regency resort and spa in Lost Pines, Texas Wednesday for the Republican Governors Association's annual conference. Before heading back Thursday, he is scheduled to moderate a discussion on energy. A... [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 2:24pm EST
  

• R.I. senator seeks probe into future of Twin River license

  By Katherine Gregg Journal State House Bureau PROVIDENCE,R.I. -- State Sen. Frank A. Ciccone is calling for a legislative inquiry into the state's role in choosing managers for the bankrupt Twin River, and potential award of the gambling license -... [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 1:46pm EST
  

• Carcieri burial-rights veto skewered on Comedy Central's 'Colbert Report'

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Governor Carcieri landed on national television Monday night as the "star'' of a biting -- but laugh-out-loud -- segment on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report'' about his veto of a bill that would have given gays the... [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 11:06am EST
  

• Caprio meets privately with tribal chief, lobbyists

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. --Three of the best-known faces from the 2006 Harrah's-financed Narragansett Indian casino drive returned to the State House Friday for a private meeting with General Treasurer Frank Caprio. The delegation included the Narragansett's Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas, lobbyist...' [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 6:23pm EST
  

• R.I. GOP gubenatorial hopeful Smith names campaign team

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- East Greenwich business executive Rory Smith has begun to assemble a consulting team for his fledgling Republican campaign for governor. On Monday, he announced his hiring of the New Hampshire-based Norway Hill Associates, led by David Carney,... [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 5:19pm EST
  

• Fung vetoes prompt response from Cranston Democrats

  CRANSTON, R.I. -- Mayor Allan W. Fung said he was following the advice of city lawyers this week when he vetoed two ordinances that would have created local rules for lenders to follow when foreclosing on residential properties. The Republican... [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 6:16pm EST
  

• Chafee says poll numbers show a 'competitive' race

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Despite less-than-stellar fund-raising in the last quarter, former U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee says that his exploratory campaign' for governor is alive and well after a major cost-cutting move, and that he has poll results that show him...' [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 6:14pm EST
  

• Progreso Latino interim director resigns

  By Karen Lee Ziner Journal staff writer CENTRAL FALLS, RI -- George L. Ortiz Jr., who was named interim director of the advocacy organization Progreso Latino in late September, has resigned. A statement released Friday announcing Ortiz's departure, is dated... [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 3:20pm EST
  

• Reed to appear on Face the Nation Sunday

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- U.S. Sen. Jack Reed will be among the panelists Sunday on CBS's Face the Nation when the group discusses the Fort Hood shootings and the elections this week. Reed will be joined at 10:30 a.m. on WPRI-TV... [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 3:16pm EST
  

• Candidates buy e-mail lists from former RIFuture editor

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A $500 payment to local Democratic activist Matt Jerzyk was among the more curious campaign expenditures reported in the recent batch of candidate filings. On July 7, Jerzyk sold the Elizabeth Roberts' campaign an "e-mail list for...'" [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 6:27pm EST
  

• Roberts ramps up campaign for lieutenant governor

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Four months after withdrawing her name from the list of 2010 gubernatorial hopefuls, it appears that Elizabeth Roberts is following through on plans to seek a second term as Rhode Island's lieutenant governor. She has launched a... [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 6:18pm EST
  

• Mass. Atty. Gen. Coakley to hold RI fundraiser

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is hoping Rhode Islanders will contribute to her quest for a seat in the United States Senate. The Moakley senatorial campaign has scheduled a fundraiser for Friday, Nov. 13, at the University... [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 12:21pm EST
  

• Former prosecutor files to run for R.I. attorney general

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Eight months after he first emerged as a possible 2010 political contender, Republican defense lawyer Erik B. Wallin, of South Kingstown, put the state Board of Elections on official notice Wednesday that he is raising money to... [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 1:19pm EST
  

• R.I. First Lady Sue Carcieri sounds off on talk radio

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Rhode Island First Lady Sue Carcieri thinks the legislature went astray when it voted to hold a public referendum next year on changing the state's official name. A woman of many opinions, she shared a few of... [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 6:00pm EST
  

• R.I. House Democrats to meet privately on "fiscal situation''

  PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Despite some criticism from within their own ranks, House Democrats are slated to hold a closed-door caucus at the State House Thursday on "potential plans of action for the current fiscal situation.'' Not everybody agrees the Democrats..." [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 3:25pm EST
  

• Update: Courted by Moderate Party, Corrente won't run for governor

  By STEVE PEOPLES Journal State House Bureau Former U.S. Attorney Robert C. Corrente will not run for governor in 2010. The newly-formed Moderate Party hosted at least two private meetings with Corrente in recent weeks in a courtship that was... [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 3:27pm EST
  

• Update: Courted by Moderate Party, Corrente won't run for governor

  By STEVE PEOPLES Journal State House Bureau Former U.S. Attorney Robert C. Corrente will not run for governor in 2010. The newly-formed Moderate Party hosted at least two private meetings with Corrente in recent weeks in a courtship that was... [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 3:27pm EST
  

• R.I. Moderate Party video evokes sense of déjà vu

  By Steve Peoples Journal State House Bureau PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The newly-formed Moderate Party of Rhode Island has released a made-for-Web video that may contain some familiar footage. Posted on its Web site, the production, which lasts 5 minutes and... [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 7:01am EST
  

• R.I. ACLU director sees flaws in sex trafficking bill

  By Lynn Arditi Journal Staff Writer PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- What does a law against sex-trafficking of minors have to do with art? Nothing, you say? Steven Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union,... [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• State lawyers OK'd Tassoni's appointment as arbitrator

  By Katherine Gregg Journal State House Bureau PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Carcieri administration has filled in some of the blanks on how state Sen. John Tassoni, D-Smithfield, landed on the state's list of qualified mediators/arbitrators to call when there is... [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• R.I. Rep. Watson explains dramatic late-night exit

  By Cynthia Needham Journal Staff Writer PROVIDENCE, R.I. --Those lucky enough to view the chaotic final hours of the Assembly's two-day session late Thursday from the comfort of their living room couch might have witnessed House Minority Leader Robert A.... [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• R.I. Rep. Galbinske seeks truce with teachers union

  By Steve Peoples Journal State House bureau PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Known labor critic Douglas Gablinske, D-Bristol, has extended an olive branch to the head of the state's second-largest teachers union. Gablinske will have lunch this week with Marcia Reback, president... [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Former Cranston Mayor Laffey moves to Narragansett

  By Steve Peoples Journal State House Bureau PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Stephen P. Laffey may be around for a while. The outspoken former Cranston mayor has formally moved out of his parents' house and into a two-family house little more than...' [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 6:59am EST