For nearly a decade every Rhode Island legislative session has brought a florid and divisive debate over immigration issues. First it was whether the state should require all businesses to check the citizenship status of employees by using a federal computer database known as E-Verify.
(PROVIDENCE, RI) Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee delivers his annual State of the State Speech this week. The governor’s words are crucial.
Lincoln Chafee has been governor for two years, but can any of his constituents honestly point to an accomplishment or speech that addresses our state’s crying need: a better economy that generates needed jobs.
PROVIDENCE, RI – With a new year comes the inevitable round of Rhode Island political prognosticating. RIPR political analyst Scott MacKay says anybody who says they know what is going to happen probably doesn't.
The past often provides a roadmap to the future. This is the case with Rhode Island political predictions. Every election cycle one candidate or another becomes ```the lock,'' the overwhelming favorite to become the next governor or senator or congressional representative.
PROVIDENCE, RI – After the usual starts and sputtering stops, it looks like the combatants in the state public pension joust will be sitting down to try to forge a compromise on the legal issues that have landed Rhode Island's landmark pension overhaul in court.
PROVIDENCE, RI – One of the reasons President Obama won a convincing victory was the overwhelming support he got from Latino voters. But Providence Mayor Angel Taveras tells RIPR political analyst Scott MacKay that Republicans have a future with Latino voters.
PROVIDENCE, RI – Americans love to lampoon our lawmakers. From Mark Twain to Jon Stewart, senators and representatives have been juicy targets for pundits and satirists. What student of history can forget Twain's famous dictum that Congress is the nation's only native criminal class. Or that history, in the immortal words of Karl Marx, repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. What we are witnessing in Washington, D.C. as the days dwindle to the New Year is more Groucho Marx than Karl.
PROVIDENCE, RI – Once again, the holidays in Rhode Island are greeted by pitched battles over the public symbols of Christmas. Why we all can't embrace the true meaning of this season?
For a clue as to why little of consequence gets done at the State House, we bring you to the annual capitol kerfuffle over the lighting of the soaring evergreen tree that marks the arrival of the Christian Advent celebration.
PROVIDENCE, RI – Rhode Island is now the only New England state without marriage equality. RIPR political analyst Scott MacKay says this would change if the business community supports marriage equality.
As gay marriage gains momentum from the Pacific northwest to the shores of Maine, Rhode Island is getting ready for another round of debate at the State House over marriage equality.
PROVIDENCE, RI – Rhode Island's state pension overhaul faces a Superior Court hearing next month. RIPR political analyst Scott MacKay wonders if its time for the parties to negotiate.
Our state's landmark pension overhaul heads to Superior Court on December 7. Rhode Islanders of a certain age recall that as the day that lives ``in infamy,'' in the immortal words uttered by President Franklin Roosevelt, to a stunned nation in 1941 after the Pearl Harbor attack.
