01:00 AM EDT on Friday, June 17, 2005

It is now on the record. Forty-one Rhode Island state representatives are so beholden to the public-employee-union chieftains that they are advancing a truly bizarre scheme: forcing the state to negotiate with home-based self-employed babysitters.

We advise citizens to clip and save the "How they voted" box on Page A-15 of yesterday's Journal -- and consult it before going into the booth in the election of November 2006. Also, watch for how the members of the Senate vote on this legislation.

And please tell your legislators what you think of their vote on this issue. (To find out who your legislators are, go to this Web site: www.sec.state.ri.us/elections/find-yourofficials/.)

The "yes" votes in the "How they voted" box represent lawmakers willing to further boost the cost of government -- and, of course, stick it to the taxpayers -- so that they may line the pockets of special interests. It's all about making a deal: The lawmakers get campaign contributions and support, and the public-employee unions get a new gusher of dues and ready-made campaign workers.

The only people who will suffer are the majority of Rhode Islanders -- who, if this bill is enacted, will pay even higher taxes. Meanwhile, protection of children in child care will be undermined.

It makes no sense to require the state to negotiate with self-employed babysitters (some of whom, far from being the "poor women" described in public-union literature, make well over $70,000 a year from the state). They cannot be state employees, because the state does not hire and fire them; it only licenses and regulates them. No other state negotiates pay and benefits with independent child-care providers.

Such an "innovative" change would, of course, open the gates to other workers who deal with the state to also grab a bigger piece of the taxpayers' money.

The child-care providers would inevitably use their clout on Smith Hill to erode the state's authority to regulate day care -- that is, to protect babies and children. The focus would shift from child protection to the job and contract interests of the newest interest group.

Rhode Island can ill afford such a scheme. Already, it suffers from the inordinate power of special interests at the State House. Its taxes are among the highest in America; many of its roads and bridges are crumbling; its public schools are among the nation's most expensive but on average perform poorly. This kind of governing scares away potential business that would furnish tax revenue and jobs.

There was one virtue in the House's babysitter vote: The proponents failed to get the number of votes they would need to override Governor Carcieri's promised veto.

Still, it remains a close call. Which is why you should contact your legislators now -- and remember them next year at election time.