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July 20, 2007

State of the Rhode Island Economy

Carroll Andrew Morse

RI Report has compiled the most recent information on the overall economic picture in Rhode Island, including an update on Governor Donald Carcieri’s much publicized campaign promise to create 20,000 new jobs…

Governor Carcieri declared victory on his pledge to add an additional 20,000 new jobs to the Rhode Island economy yesterday.

Citing the monthly jobs report released yesterday by the state Department of Labor & Training (DLT) Carcieri said that there is now a record-high level of jobs in the Ocean State.

The report from the DLT on the state's employment figures showed 499,100 jobs in Rhode Island last month -- a record number of jobs for the state. This figure represents 800 new jobs from the previous month, 3,200 new jobs since the beginning of the year, and 5,400 new jobs added in the past 12 months.

According to statistics compiled by the DLT, since more than 20,000 new jobs have been created in Rhode Island since Carcieri took office in January 2003.

…and a link to a Providence Business News article on URI Professor Leonard Lardaro’s latest economic forecast for the state Rhode Island…
The Ocean State’s health took a U-turn for the better in May, according to University of Rhode Island economist Leonard Lardaro. His Current Conditions Index registered 67 in May, a large increase from April’s 42 and well above the 33 reading in May 2006 (a reading of 50 is considered neutral)....

The unemployment rate in May fell to 4.8 percent when compared with May 2006, even as the labor force grew 0.2 percent - May's rate, however, was higher than April's 4.5-percent unemployment. Retail sales showed the highest level of activity since December, while consumer confidence rebounded from three months of declines....

If there were a cloud on the horizon, it was the fact that unemployment benefit exhaustions increased by 9.3 percent, indicating that there was significant long-term unemployment, while new claims for unemployment insurance, which measures layoffs, increase 3.9 percent.

UPDATE:

According to Ian Donnis of the Providence Phoenix's Not for Nothin' Blog, Steve Laffey, possible Republican candidate for Governor in 2010, is also concerned about the long-term trends affecting Rhode Island's economy...

The high-profile former mayor predicted that Rhode Island will be in worse economic shape in 2009 than when he assumed the reins in Cranston. While the Carcieri administration touts new job-creation numbers, Laffey points to an outflow of RI residents and says the state economy is deeply troubled.

When I followed up on this remark, asking why the Republican governors who have mostly held office for the last 20 years haven't been able, even with the Democrat-controlled General Assembly, to implement a different economic program, Laffey agreed that responsibility has to go to the chief executive. He declined to assign a letter grade to Carcieri's performance, but said the governor introduced a "bad" budget that was made worse by legislative Democrats.


Comments

Can we laugh now??

Carcieri walked into the year with less than 16,000 jobs.

Little boys's lies won't get him anywhere.

Wow, not only is he a sloth, he can't add either. (The lying part we knew about)

Posted by: Bobby Oliveira at July 20, 2007 3:12 PM

The economy in Rhode Island hasn't been bad all along. Unemployment numbers have been quite low for many many months. Our problems are runaway costs of social programs and paying for all those mooching at the benefits trough. Governor needs to start chopping some major numbers off the benefit rolls by reducing the number of state employees by significant numbers ala 2,000 - 3.000 over the next 2 years or so. We also need to being trabserring these pensions to 401K programs. The party is over!

Bobby,

Somehow criticism from a lowlife sloth like you doesn't carry any weight. We're the ones laughing. Have another on me Bobby. lol

Posted by: Tim at July 20, 2007 5:35 PM

Dear Tim,

Next session, when all your bills die, I will laugh, just I did this session.

By the way, will still keep worshipping this clown when you have no seats left? That's where the trend says your headed.

Lincoln Almond even gained seats once. Why can't Don Carcieri??

Then again, after 6 weeks, Lincoln Almond would have had his staff reduction plan available too.

Tim, through all the insults, I still get what I want and you still spend most days complaining. As long as that's the formula, please don't change anything.

Posted by: Bobby Oliveira at July 20, 2007 6:27 PM

Dear Tim,

Next session, when all your bills die, I will laugh, just I did this session.
XXX
Will you keep laughing Bobby when the 401K's come in for teachers and state workers. It is inevitable. After 5 years, the magical, mystical, mysterious "revenue stream" for education has yet to be proposed or even identified by the Fox, Paiva-Weed crowd. It never will-cause it DOES NOT EXIST.

Posted by: Mike at July 20, 2007 7:51 PM

Dear Mike,

I've heard this chicken little story before.

If adjustments need to be made, they will be.

However, your hopes for chaos are just that.

Posted by: Bobby Oliveira at July 20, 2007 9:13 PM

i hate to say it , but its going to get alot worse before it gets better.

there is a huge outflow of colleg grads, retirees, etc from this satte.

the state budget is maxed and municipal budgets are same.

the economy in the next election will play right into laffeys hand..

its all timing and he will have all the facts and figures, etc just when ri is on the brink of bankruptcy

Posted by: johnpaycheck at July 20, 2007 10:21 PM

"After 5 years, the magical, mystical, mysterious "revenue stream" for education has yet to be proposed or even identified by the Fox, Paiva-Weed crowd. It never will-cause it DOES NOT EXIST."

Well put, Mike. Democrats talk about the mystical "alternate revenue stream for education" solely to distract everyone from their own poor budgeting choices and bad negotiating skills.

Posted by: SusanD at July 21, 2007 7:12 AM

Bobby,

There is something you must come to understand. Unlike you I don't live vicariously through politicans and political parties. lol Now I do realize you need to do this for psychological reasons and self esteem issues are rife with you but Bobby you really must stop projecting this type of thought process on the rest of us. See Bobby a comment like 'when all your bills die, I will laugh, like did last session' makes no sense. Bobby I had no bills last session and will have no bills introduced in the Assembly this session. I proudly state that I don't even belong to a political party. The really funny part here Bobby is that you think you have ownership of what goes on in that building and you believe you're a part of that scene. lol
Hysterically funny! You're a big nobody Bobby. Never forget that. We don't! lol
With regard to Don Carcieri I don't worship him at all. Do think he's a good man and a bright guy with good intentions who's hurt his own cause a great deal by not surrounding himself with the best of people. Also think a major problem for him is a serious lack of real and genuine leadership in the legislature. The Murphy/Montalabano tandem may go down as one of the worst and most ineffective the Assembly has ever witnessed. They have the numbers and control the action yet have accomplished little with that control. Very very little!

Posted by: Tim at July 21, 2007 7:23 AM

johnpaycheck,

Agree with you the economy is going to be a major issue in the 2010 election. Also agree that it plays right into Laffey's hands. Problem for Laffey is he bailed out of Cranston after only 4 years and before the heavy lifting of municipal contracts came due. Laffey can proclaim as is his strategy now and going forward that he 'fixed' Cranston. Well I would asked if Laffey 'fixed' Cranston by making structural changes which is what he claims then how can a man with the IQ of a chimp in Mike Napolitiano undue this 'fix' in 5 minutes? That's is what's gone on in Cranston under the Nappy the Chimp regime. Everything has been undone. I think it's a very legitimate question to ask Steve Laffey.

Posted by: Tim at July 21, 2007 7:52 AM

Anybody who thinks Laffey will be RhodemIsland's savior as governor needs to start looking for another messiah elsewhere ASAP. He's just another tinpot demagogue whose interest in running for gov in 2010 probably consists of pure, naked vengeance against Chafee. He never gave a damn about the city of Cranston, and his failure to score a sweeping win there in the Senate primary reflects the fact that Cranstonians finally caught on to him.
The Laffey "tide," if it was as strong as he claimed it was, should've swept Fung into office, too. "It was a Democratic year" is not a sufficient excuse.

Posted by: Rhody at July 21, 2007 10:09 AM

Dear Tim,

People who come to any Blog have a stake. You're just tired of losing.

Don Carcieri is one of the worst human beings to come upon the Rhode Island in a long time. There is nothing redeemable about him. He deserves the kind of racist hacks (Kass), fraudulent bean counters (Orefice) and basic untalented never-do-wells (his spokesperson) he has surrounded himself with.

For the record, he can't carry neither Murphy's nor Montalbano's jock on a political level. They get things done, he calls useless press conferences where he defames hard workers. They create change, he can't even release a plan after 6 weeks.

As far as self-esteem goes, I'm sober. It's all the esteem I need.

For a "big nobody", I get a lot of attention from the GOP, the media, the public. Frankly I don't get it because in my mind I'm a lowly Democrat who every so often gets asked to make a phone call or two.

I only take ownership of that I am asked to participate in. I'm aggressive and competitive by nature, just like in sales, so I keep score. Not part of any scene but am sometimes part of the result. Because I'm on commission in both positions I hold, results matter to me.

Ok, you can all go back to calling me a nobody and making cracks about my alcoholism. I will go back to making you miserable.

One last little note: I make more than 3 times the average median income ( one position as a sales director - one as a sales manager - do some consulting for extra money on the side - work six days a week and sometimes seven ) for a family of 4 in RI. That means by definition, I must be making more than a couple of you.

How does it feel to know that this "self important, drunk, loser of a human being who's a nobody while thinking all the wrong things" makes more than you every week? That can't feel good.

Posted by: Bobby Oliveira at July 21, 2007 11:44 AM

Rhody. Who is your choice for Governor in 2010?

Posted by: SusanD at July 21, 2007 4:41 PM

Frankly, Susan, I'm not sure - I lean Chafee if he runs, but it might be a tough choice depending what comes out of the Dem primary. Fogarty had his chance. Mollis? As corrupt as June 21 is long. Caprio? Know him from previous employment and is a good guy, but he needs to show me more before I'd vote for him. Like Roberts, but my jury is still out on her.
My options are open. There may be an even more appealing candidate who has yet to surface (was anybody talking about Carcieri back in '99?).

Posted by: Rhody at July 21, 2007 8:42 PM

Thanks, Rhody.

Glad to hear Charlie is off your list. What's the buzz, by the way? Do any Democrats disagree with your assessment of his potential candidacy? Is anyone in favor of "giving him one more chance"?

Posted by: SusanD at July 21, 2007 10:04 PM

Bobby,

Again more bloviating as you try to convince anyone who will listen that you somehow matter. You don't matter Bobby and nobody buys into your boasting. Why do you bother Bobby? Nobody believes or cares! lol
With regard to Don Carcieri he's one of the finest human beings you'll find anywhere. Very caring and very generous. It actually hurts him in the political world that he's such a high caliber person because he's not cut throat and nasty enough when he needs to be. The lesson the governor has not learned is while he's not cut throat and nasty he can and should surround himself with those who are. He would be a much more effective governor if he would come to understand that. As I stated earlier Murphy and Montalbano are a very weak tandum with little accomplishment given their level of power and control in the legislature. They are a major part of the dysfunction.

Posted by: Tim at July 22, 2007 9:43 AM

Rhody,

Found it interesting that you didn't include Cicilline in your prognostications for the gov's race in 2010. Innocent oversight or too awful a thought to contemplate? lol
In a Laffey vs Cicilline race who would you vote for? Speaking on my own behalf I'd be writing in a name and think many many others would do the same or would not cast any vote in that particular race. Would be a very fascinating race because these two are so offensive to major segments of the population.

SusanD,

My two cents on Charlie Fogarty. He had his shot in 2006 and couldn't deliver. Fogarty was beneficiary of the most organized get out the vote campaign by the unions and Democratic party in Rhode Island history/had national Democratic party tsunami waves to ride in that election and he still couldn't beat Don Carcieri in a heavily Democratic state. Charlie is all done as a big office candidate.

Posted by: Tim at July 22, 2007 10:01 AM

Dear Tim,

Let's talk about the following incident of generousity since it happened in Newport:

The Carcieri's were asked, and accepted, the co-chairmanship of a major charity. This charity was dedicated to finding solutions for a problem that the Carcieri's had experienced in their extended family.

Usually, Co-Chairs are supposed to be rainmakers. Not only did the Carcieieri's not sell any tickets, they didn't even show up for the event.

What we have in Don Carcieri is a never was of the worst mindset. If you support him, you support that which I hate.

In 5 years, we have seen no advancement of his political skills. Once again, on a daily basis, I give 90 minute presentations on travel, sometimes 3 and 4 times a day, while this illiterate can't discuss the state of the state for more than 16 minutes. He is boorish, doesn't mind hioring racists and loves to hire old ran-the-business-into-the-ground Old Stone cronies to run major departments of state.

Most of you were prediciting, even as late as 2 weeks left, a 30 point win for this clown. How pathetic.

Murphy and Montalbano have 1000's of bills to their credit, and the budget is always theirs, which is how we keep score in this game. Carcieri has a loud punk mouth which he can't back up to his. Oh I forgot, he has no other statewide office holders from his party either. Oh I forget, he lost seats in the GA because people "love" him so much and were so ready to rally to his cause.

6 weeks and the punk still hasn't delivered a plan. You all said this was easy. Appearently, this Governor is not up to a task that you all indicated was supposed to be simple.

Posted by: Bobby Oliveira at July 22, 2007 12:31 PM

There's not going to be any layoff plan until October/November. He has said this repeatedly. When are the ruling Democrats you adore going to come up with a plan to cut the exponential growth of state spending. When are they going to identify the magical education "revenue stream" they have been yapping about for 5 years? Is it closer to Shangri-La, El Dorado or Atlantis? LOL

Posted by: Mike at July 22, 2007 4:38 PM

Ciccilline vs. Laffey? Definitely Dave.
Ciccilline vs. Chafee? Probably Linc.
But I'm not yet convinced Little Chi Chi is running for gov. I'm waiting to see what happens when Cianci is freed and goes on the attack. Ciccilline hasn't really been tested yet, but he will be when the Buddy machine sets loose the attack dogs.

Posted by: Rhody at July 22, 2007 8:22 PM

Rhody, can you imagine four years of that saccharine tone urging the GA to spend even more money on social programs? Think about it. No one has to know how you vote. You can even lie to us afterwards ...

I forgot about that, Tim. If Charlie couldn't win with a seven point advantage in addition to the casino voters, how's he going to do in a regular election year?

Posted by: SusanD at July 22, 2007 10:28 PM

cicclini has to get out of providence. it is a sinking ship. the budget was beyond smoke and mirrors. it was a total farce.

like buddys days..you can hide only so much for so long....

he has gotten a free ride because of being a homosexual.

Posted by: johnpaycheck at July 22, 2007 11:14 PM

cicclini has to get out of providence. it is a sinking ship. the budget was beyond smoke and mirrors. it was a total farce.

like buddys days..you can hide only so much for so long....

he has gotten a free ride because of being a homosexual.

Posted by: johnpaycheck at July 22, 2007 11:15 PM

Bobby,

Having 1,000's of bills is not legislative accomplishment though I am curious what you would consider their shining legislative moment. Is it the mandatory dog houses or the lie detector tests for tournament fishermen that's poised as the cherry on top of their legislative career sundae? lol
Murphy and Montalbano are a weak tandum with little accomplished given their power and control.
Bobby calls Don Carcieri a punk. lol No make that a double lol. You really are deranged. Really funny stuff.

Posted by: Tim at July 23, 2007 6:25 AM

johnpaycheck,

Now that you mention free rides did you happen to catch Steve Laffey on Newsmakers? He was allowed to ramble unchallenged for 15 minutes. Arlene and Ian sat there like potted plants as Laffey ripped into everyone over their handling of budgets. Not once did Dumb and Dumber bother to ask Laffey how many times he raised taxes in his 4 year as mayor of Cranston. Laffey also represented that he was a friend and supporter of Gov Carcieri. Nothing could be further from the truth. Those two men don't like each other and are not on speaking terms yet that boldface lie also went unchallenged. The media free ride extents well beyond David Cicilline.

Posted by: Tim at July 23, 2007 6:43 AM

"he has gotten a free ride because of being a homosexual."

In a state controlled by Don Carcieri, Bill Murphy and Joe Montalbano, NOBODY has gotten a free tide because of being a homosexual.
I know, I'm a hetero too stupid to feel sorry for myself...

Posted by: Rhody at July 23, 2007 3:26 PM

Dear Tim,

Both the Speaker and the Senate President were able to pass serious small business insurance reform this year. In one case, the Governor signed it. The other cases, the clown couldn't figure out whether to sign or veto so it passed anyway.

If the Governor was either as talented, his only talent seems to be giving Old Stone cronies (who helped run that business into the ground) jobs, or as "loved" as you claim, couldn't he go directly to the people and get what he wanted?? I guess not.

Again, instead of being dismissive, deal with the facts:

This Governor passed nothing.

This Governor has had 6 weeks to plan a plan together and has done nothing.

Thanks to this Governor, you have less seats.

Seems the facts on are my side, maybe doubly on my side.

(Of course you had to take an ad hominem shot at my drinking since you are defending a pathetic clown who next session gets his head kicked in again. By the way, don't bother to play the "Greg card" and threaten to "come visit me". I have a list of all of you cowards I'm waiting for.)

The only funny stuff going on is watching what a SUCKER you are for someone as untalented and uncaring about you as Don Carcieri.

You are the equivalent of a little child sticking their fingers in their ears and singing.

After the Governor is out of office, what other loser are you going to worship??

Posted by: Bobby Oliveira at July 24, 2007 10:25 AM

Bobby,

Throwing words like "untalented" and "uncaring" is pretty strong coming from someone who proudly represents a political party who's governing philosophy is you're going to pay more...you're going to receive less in return...and you're not going to complain, because it won't do you any good, because we're the ones with power.

Posted by: Andrew at July 24, 2007 12:05 PM

"Murphy and Montalbano are a weak tandum with little accomplished given their power and control."

Take that back, Tim! Of course they've accomplished a lot. Seventh (or fourth) higgest taxed state. Tons of social programs for legal and illegal residents being paid for with the public employees' pension fund. A business climate so "desireable" that they have to keep passing exceptions to their own tax code to get corporations to move here. Damn, that's a great resume.


"the lie detector tests for tournament fishermen"

You're kidding.

If that's the level they're at, there's a tatting circle that meets down the block from me that must be doing SOMETHING wrong. I say we send in an undercover reporter and then hold hearings on Smith Hill in January.

Posted by: SusanD at July 24, 2007 5:52 PM