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January 4, 2011

Letting the Scam's Legislative Architect Run the Budget

Justin Katz

Here's a worrying tidbit about a frontrunner for the open House Finance Committee chairmanship in the General Assembly:

[Rep. Helio Melo (D, East Providence)] is the current deputy Finance Committee chairman, and House leaders signaled their confidence in him by letting him take the lead on last year's big end-of-session, income-tax overhaul.

I suppose that the experience ushering into law a reform that took Rhode Island's tax policy in the wrong direction while making it appear to do the opposite will be a valuable point of reference when making the state's budget appear to be balanced when there is no way it could be.

Comments

I know this comment has nothing to do with Justin's post and I apologise to him for that. But it is the day that we are done with Carcieri. Whoppee!!. What a complete failure. Eight years of back paddling. Eight long years of missing the boat. This state could have been moving forward and establishing itself as a leader in education, in new industry, and in new approaches to housing and transportation. Instead we got a retro conservative with no imagination, no plan, no ability to look forward.
I do not know what the next administration will produce, but I cannot imagine it could be less than what we have received the last 8 years.

Posted by: David S at January 4, 2011 6:30 PM

Not a big fan of Carcieri but maybe you can explain how all that could have been accomplished with an economic meltdown and a Democratic controlled General Assembly. I can't imagine how it can get any better under Chafee with out it costing the taxpayers more money. These are dark times on the horizon.

Posted by: Max Diesel at January 4, 2011 6:58 PM

I do not know what the next administration will produce, but I cannot imagine it could be less than what we have received the last 8 years.
Posted by David S at January 4, 2011 6:30 PM

In 6 months people will be circulating petitions to amend the Constitution to let Carcieri run for a third term.

Posted by: Tommy Cranston at January 4, 2011 7:05 PM

David S

I share your optimism about the new year and the new administration. The state's official seal includes the word "hope" as in Hope Island Oysters. I know that that is a bit shellfish of me, but how can things be that bad when Rhode Islanders can get to experience the seductively sweet but briny Hope Island Oysters in restaurants all over Rhode Island in this new year. Bon Apetit.

Posted by: Phil at January 4, 2011 8:53 PM

Maybe Governor Gump can eat some of those nice raw oysters and get hepatitis A-it's not generally life threatening,but it ain't fun.
Gump will put this state in the ground.

Posted by: joe bernstein at January 4, 2011 9:55 PM

I've heard a number of good names for the new Governor - Gump and Barney among them. The problem with "Gump" is that Forrest had a good heart and good instincts. But the one I like best is Governor Fredo. Chafee almost perfectly combines the combination of incompetence, cowardice, and treason made infamous by the least of the Corleone brothers.

David, why don't you take your stupid end-zone dance over to RIFuture where it belongs?

Posted by: BobN at January 4, 2011 10:11 PM

Is this the same BobN that complains that only "Leftists" name call and generally do not add anything of value to the conversation.

I have a question for those who are so willing to disparage the new Governor before he has started with quips about his intelligence. How did you react to the criticism of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush when their mental capabilities were brought into question? Isn't this just tit for tat in a highly partisan manner? Bobn you do seem to have some trouble with the real world. You seem to base alot on fictional characters such as John Galt and Fredo Corleone, and Forrest Gump. I hate to break it to you but they are not real. Neither is Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.

Posted by: Phil at January 5, 2011 6:55 AM

Phil don't ever forget "Liberalism is a Mental Disorder." Just ask Patches who at least has that covered by ObamaCAIR.

Posted by: dave at January 5, 2011 7:52 AM

Just showing that two can play at your Alinskyite game, or is it reserved exclusively for you who think you're better than the rest of us?

In the real world, I think that Chafee lacks a sense of his own identity, so he absorbs whatever seems popular at the moment among the chattering classes with whom he hobnobs. He began as a Republican because his father was, but never understood what it means. Then he was seduced by the "cool" kids and the media limelight into the Left. Now he seems to be modeling himself on Obama. But he's too slow to realize that Obama is no longer fooling the people.

Besides, Chafee has a long track record, as Mayor, Senator and candidate, of nonsensical positions and ludicrous statements that make clear his tenuous connection to the real world and his limited mental ability.

Airy talk about "coming together" and "shared sacrifice" is merely a smokescreen for Chafee's corrupt alliance with the public-sector unions.

Therefore, Phil, your objection to my post is invalid.

Posted by: BobN at January 5, 2011 8:28 AM

It's hard to feel "in it together" with a born to wealth nitwit worth $47 million.

Posted by: joe bernstein at January 5, 2011 12:47 PM

Lest anyone think I was just busting balls with Phil,it can be determined from visiting any reputable health site regarding food poisoning that 90% of seafood poisoning occurs with raw shellfish.People with compromised immune systems,cancer,alcoholism,liver disease,and diabetes among other conditions are advised to never consume uncooked shellfish.
If Phil wants to use this site to promote his trade,then it's only fair to point out the potential problems.

Posted by: joe bernstein at January 5, 2011 1:16 PM

The same people should also avoid raw sushi.

Posted by: joe bernstein at January 5, 2011 4:16 PM

BobN

It is your use of fictional characters to explain reality that was the point of my comments. You have tried to set yourself apart from those that only name call instead of offering any argument. But now I guess I'll join in. So further more I'll think of you as Colonel Klink. Does that make Bernstein Sgt. Shultz?

joebernstein

Oysters, particularly Hope Island Oysters can be enjoyed in a stew, fried, or in dishes such as oysters Rockefeller , although I know how you detest anything that smacks of old inherited money, or in many other savory dishes I would be glad to share with you. Ask for Hope Island Oysters now. Happy New Year.

Posted by: Phil at January 5, 2011 6:13 PM

I KNOW NOTTING,SCHWEINHUD!!
Actually,when I was a kid,my father took me with him for cherrystones and I always thought they were like snot.
baked clams are pretty good though,like scallops are.I was specifically addressing raw seafood.Truth be told,there is a popular dish in the Netherlands called filet Americaine or something known as steak tartare here ,which is raw hamburger-one might as well eat sh*t.

Posted by: joe bernstein at January 5, 2011 7:18 PM

Old inherited money often equals inbred degenerates who never contribute a single useful thing to the world.
Sometimes it isn't true,but too often it is.

Posted by: joe bernstein at January 6, 2011 7:14 AM

joe

I'm glad you have a sense of humor. You're right about the risks of raw shellfish. Unfortunately not all states have as stringent regulations or enforcement (federal apply with interstate shipping of shellfish) as do RI. We pay for the laxness of mostly the southern states in the perception of risk when it comes to raw shellfish.

Posted by: Phil at January 6, 2011 7:47 AM

cold water seafood is much less hazardous than warm water seafood in general.
Few people have heard of ciguatera,but if you get it,it will be the experience of a lifetime.
It tends to occur only in warm water species.
Every so often you will see something called "escolar"in the market.it's actually snakehead fish.about 40% of people who eat it will have a harmless but potentially embarrassing result-uncontrollable bright orange greasy diarrhea due to insoluble wax esters in the fish.Not good if you're on a crowded subway train.
Since this thread already lost it's way,what the hell.
Sidenote:Both Klink and Schultz were palyed by Jewish actors-i don't know what those guys were thinking about playing funny Nazis running a POW camp.
The Luftwaffe camps were at least humanely run,but it's hardly a comedic subject.

Posted by: joe bernstein at January 6, 2011 11:11 AM