02/10/2010

R.I. Republicans battle over inclusiveness of primary elections
Heart of dispute is inclusiveness of party structure

Rep. Gordon Fox solidifies backing to become speaker of R.I. House
Current Speaker William J. Murphy hosts gathering to announce plans for succession

R.I. Governor Carcieri names Gallogly director of administration
Governor also confirms plan to elevate Thomas Mullaney to state budget officer

02/09/2010

Caprio says own poll has him leading governor’s race
PROVIDENCE — A poll commissioned by General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio’s campaign for governor suggests he may have a 17-percent lead over his likely Democratic primary opponent, Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch.

Democrats gather to tap Fox as new House speaker
Outgoing speaker Murphy plans a meeting of allies Tuesday in preparation for Wednesday’s House vote

02/08/2010

Arts help economy, supporters say as Carcieri considers spending cuts
In the face of budget cuts proposed by Governor Carcieri, advocates of the arts seek to stress economic benefits that many of state’s cultural resources generate

Political scene: Is Fox's ascension to speaker's post on the horizon?
The betting on when House Speaker William Murphy will step down has intensified, with some of his fellow Democrats anticipating a Democratic caucus early this week to anoint House Majority Leader Gordon D. Fox as his successor.

02/07/2010

Funding battle looms between state, cities
The drastic cuts of the past two years and the talk of still more left little doubt that Rhode Island was struggling to keep its commitments to help cities and towns.

02/06/2010

Poll shows Chafee, Caprio in dead heat for R.I. governor
Lincoln D. Chafee, former U.S. senator, and Frank T. Caprio, state’s general treasurer, are basically tied

02/05/2010

Poll: Kennedy, Whitehouse support wanes
Only about a third of the two Democratic lawmakers’ constituents polled by WPRI-TV, Channel 12 said they would definitely vote for the incumbents

GOP Loughlin launches bid to unseat Kennedy
The state representative expounds his platform in announcing his run for the First District

Business tax-credit jobs plan questioned
The chairman of the House Finance Committee says job numbers in the governor’s plan to get the unemployed back to work seem inflated

Sasse to step down as R.I. director of administration
Appointed in late 2007, he’s also stepping down as head of the state Department of Revenue

Bill would allow R.I. voters to close ethics loophole
Gap stems from state Supreme Court ruling effectively removing lawmakers from scrutiny

02/03/2010

Carcieri budget proposal: cutting and compensating
PROVIDENCE –– In his final-year effort to “set the stage for a prosperous future,” Governor Carcieri on Tuesday proposed new tax breaks for business and deep cuts for cities and towns, while relying on $95 million in federal aid yet to be approved by Congress to fill state government’s latest gaping budget hole.

Fernandez camp tops campaign contributions list
PROVIDENCE –– Democrat Joseph M. Fernandez raised the most campaign cash in the latest reporting period among candidates listed as running for Rhode Island attorney general, according to filings with the state Board of Elections.

Among R.I. delegation, mixed response to Obama plan
State’s congressional delegation likes focus on jobs, wary of deficit-reduction plan

02/02/2010

Archambault leads Wallin in donations
Steven Archambault has nearly $63,000 for his run to be attorney general

Langevin foe Dennigan has respectable war chest
Democrat Elizabeth M. Dennigan had about $155,000 at year’s end

02/01/2010

Political Scene: Stokes’ confirmation a sure thing?
Rhode Island’s new economic development chief Keith Stokes has not yet been confirmed by the Senate.

01/31/2010

Reports detail monetary reach of lobbyists at State House
More than one R.I. lawmaker at the State House draws a second salary from special interest groups

01/30/2010

Kennedy outpaces Loughlin in contributions
Rhode Island Democrat has four times more cash on hand than challenger John Loughlin

01/29/2010

Kennedy opponent Loughlin files ’09 fundraising total
The Republican took in $246,000 in 2009, en route, he says, to a $1 million campaign goal

Reform of business rules sought
The state’s economic development chief wants to unsnarl the current maze of regulations

Carcieri counting on stimulus money to help small businesses
Governor says he hopes federal aid will be available to implement his plan for small businesses

01/28/2010

R.I. small-business owners hoping for help
Promises from state, federal government may be tough to translate into jobs

State’s lawmakers praise upbeat stand
The congressional delegation stresses Mr. Obama’s positive agenda to right the nation

R.I. Tea Party applauds Laffey
Former Cranston mayor tells audience of roughly 350 that the state is “in last place”

01/27/2010

Carcieri vows economic revival
PROVIDENCE — With Rhode Island facing “the most severe economic turmoil of the last 30 years,” Governor Carcieri used his eighth and final State of the State address Tuesday night to help instill hope in a skeptical legislature and a discouraged television audience, while renewing his commitment to battle tax increases at any cost.

Carcieri appoints board of R.I. Economic Development Corporation
Education, health care, big business heavily represented in the expanded panel

01/26/2010

Carcieri will concentrate on job creation in his address
The governor will also focus on education and the fiscal pressures facing cities and towns

Carcieri makes appointments to boards, commissions
Among them is URI student Brandon Brown to Board of Governors for Higher Education

Nonprofit’s fundraising plan ‘allowable,’ says Elections Board
Rhode Island Statewide Coalition aims to help GOP candidates

Democratic chief calls for Robitaille to resign
The reason is a time conflict between John Robitaille’s state job and a GOP campaign event

01/25/2010

Political Scene: Bid fails to save bills from ‘further study’
With all but six seats in the Rhode Island House of Representatives held by Democrats, the gold-hued chamber at the State House is often a place of lopsided votes.

01/24/2010

After first year, Rhode Islanders express disappointment with Obama
A year ago, marine biologist Sunshine Menezes basked in the glow of the inauguration of a president who sounded and looked like no other before him. He was America’s first president of color and his eloquent vision of uniting a nation and world divided by race and politics inspired her to go to Washington.

Members of Ocean State Action work to keep President Obama’s health reform alive
Members of Ocean State Action want to keep President Obama’s health reform alive in wake of Mass. GOP win

Rainville considers run for AG’s office
Robert E. Rainville, a lawyer, says he is exploring a run for attorney general

01/22/2010

Democratic candidates for R.I. governor spar
At issue is a meeting of a taxpayer group attended by General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio

01/21/2010

Investment firm founder to run for state treasurer
Gina M. Raimondo says her experience would suit her well to manage state’s money

Loughlin, challenger to Rep. Kennedy, says he can tap same anger
WASHINGTON — Rhode Islanders may feel an instant consequence from Tuesday’s election upset in the Bay State: a sudden onset of campaign season right at home, where a little-known state legislator from Tiverton says he can defeat U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy by tapping the same brand of voter anger that powered a little-known Massachusetts state legislator’s victorious run for the Senate seat long held by Ted Kennedy.

R.I. Republicans buoyed by Brown’s win
They hope victory in Massachusetts will boost chances of Assembly, congressional candidates

Democrats see Mass. message: Jobs, jobs, jobs
WASHINGTON — Wounded in Massachusetts, frustrated Democrats on Wednesday urged the White House to focus on jobs and the economy — not the health-care overhaul that’s now at risk — and pressed President Obama to more forcefully make their case against Republicans ahead of potentially disastrous elections this fall.

Senate panel weighs ethics rules
PROVIDENCE — After 20 years at the Rhode Island State House, Sen. J. Michael Lenihan has his doubts about putting lawmakers in charge of policing the conduct of other lawmakers.

Flat-tax repeal opposed
Gubernatorial candidate John Robitaille says repeal is knee-jerk reaction to budget woes

01/20/2010

R.I. GOP calls Brown win in Mass. stunning
State Republican chairman calls it an encouraging sign that region ready for change

Axelrod defends Obama’s effort for Coakley
David Axelrod says White House did everything it was asked to do for Martha Coakley

Frustrated R.I. GOP wants to fire Cicione
In ceremonial tally, at least 80 delegates vote overwhelmingly to fire state GOP chairman

01/19/2010

Gubernatorial hopefuls weigh flat-tax’s future
Many claim the income-tax rate, aiding wealthier individuals, has hurt, not helped the state

01/18/2010

Panel weighing proposal for Senate to police itself
PROVIDENCE — Forget the Rhode Island Ethics Commission.

01/17/2010

R.I. volunteers in the middle of Mass. Senate race
Rhode Islanders have enthusiastically volunteered for both Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Scott Brown

01/16/2010

In Mass., GOP could stage upset
Poll has Republican pulling ahead in race for late Sen. Edward Kennedy’s Senate seat

01/15/2010

R.I. spends less than half of $1.26 billion in stimulus help
State has spent only $551 million of the $1.26 billion set aside in the federal program early last year

Lynch blasts Nebraska’s ‘sweetheart deal’ in health-care reform
Democratic candidate for governor says all states should get exemption from increased costs of Medicaid expansion

R.I. spends less than half of $1.26 billion in stimulus help
State has spent only $551 million of the $1.26 billion set aside in the federal program early last year.

01/13/2010

Robitaille makes it official: He’s in race
Governor Carcieri’s communications chief will run as a Republican

Democrats worry as race for Mass. Senate seat tightens
Polls show conflicting sentiment as AG Martha Coakley tries to hold off GOP’s Scott Brown

Bruce Sundlun's life of achievement
PROVIDENCE

01/12/2010

Robitaille on course for run for governor
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The governor’s director of communications, John Robitaille, on Monday filed paperwork with the state Board of Elections that sets the stage for him to run for governor on the Republican ticket.

Laffey decides against run for R.I. governor
Former Cranston mayor says he’s convinced R.I. voters aren’t ready for his financial fixes

Campaign Digest: Attorney general candidate Stephen R. Archambault vows to get tough on drunken driving
ATTORNEY GENERAL