JIM: THIS WEEK ON A LIVELY EXPERIMENT.

AFTER YEARS OF DISCUSSION AND DEBATE, LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IS NOW A REALITY IN RHODE ISLAND.

AND WILL THIS WEEKS SCHOOL SHOOTING IN TEXAS AFFECT GUN-CONTROL LEGISLATION AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY?

>> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> I'M JOHN HAYES AND MY JUNIOR, FOR OVER 30 YEARS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I'M A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US FOR OUR REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE, WPRI TARGET 12 INVESTIGATE REPORTER STEPH MACHADO, PATRICK ANDERSON, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, AND BOSTON GLOBE COLUMNIST, DEMAGOGUE.

-- DAN MCGOWAN.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS WEEK.

AFTER YEARS OF STALLED NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS, LEGISLATION PAVING THE WAY TO RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, SAILED THROUGH THIS -- MARIJUANA SAILED THROUGH THE STATEHOUSE AND EXPUNGEMENT FOR THOUSANDS OF CONVICTED CAN MISS DRUG CRIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES.

LET'S BEGIN WITH STEPH.

OFTEN ON FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, SOUNDS LIKE THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S LIKE THEY OPENED THE SPIGOT AND HERE WE GO.

STEPH: EXACTLY.

THEY HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING BEHIND THE SCENES FOR LONG TIMES BUT ONCE THE HOUSE AND SENATE GOT ON THE SAME PAGE, IT DID NOT MATTER THAT MUCH THAT THEY STILL WERE IN DISAGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNOR BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T KNOW -- THEY KNEW THEY COULD GET ENOUGH VOTES TO GET IT THROUGH AND THAT MADE IT SMOOTHER.

THEY STILL NEGOTIATED AND AMENDED THE BILL BEFORE THEY PASSED A, MAY CHANGES THAT MADE THE GOVERNOR GET ON BOARD BUT IT IS A WAITING GAME AND YOU WAIT AND WAIT AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT HAPPENS.

JIM: THE BIG ISSUE WITH THE GOVERNOR WAS WHO CAN CONTROL THE RETAIL OUTLETS, RIGHT?

STEPH: YEAH, HE WANTED TO KEEP OVERSIGHT OF THE PROGRAM AND DEPARTMENT A VIGOROUS -- BUSINESS REGULATION.

HE LOST THAT BATTLE AND THEY WILL CREATE THIS NEW CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION BUT THEY DID REACH SHORT OF A COMPROMISE.

DO YOUR WILL SO OVERSEE IT FOR QUITE A WHILE.

DURING THE TRANSITION INTO RETAIL STORES BEFORE THE COMMISSION TAKES OVER.

DVR WILL STILL HAVE A ROLE AND IT SEEMS LIKE THEY WILL DO A LOT OF THE WORK IN TERMS OF THE NITTY-GRITTY DAY-TO-DAY REGULATING AND THERE WILL BE THIS ADVISORY BOARD THAT IS CREATED THAT WILL BE ADVISING THE NEW COMMISSION ON VARIOUS POLICIES, HOW TO SPEND THE MONEY, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> THEY ARE TAKING A LOT OF STATES -- A LOT FROM A LOT OF STATES THAT MAKE SENSE.

THE EQUITY STUFF MAKES A LOT OF THE QUESTION I HAD FOR YOU AS YOU LOOK AT IT, THE BIG QUESTION NOW IS, WHERE THESE THINGS KIND OF OPEN IN OUR MUNICIPALITY WILL ALL BE SUPPORTIVE.

I'M HEARING DIFFERENT VIEWS FROM DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES.

THERE ARE BUNNY A PLACES THAT DO NOT SEEM TO BE ALL THAT INTERESTD IN HAVING -- THEY WANT TAX MONEY BUT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT THIS IN THEIR BACKYARD.

STEPH: AND ACHINGLY GET TAX MONEY IF THEY HAVE A STORE, WHICH THEY WERE HOPING IT WOULD BE SHARED AMONGST THEM ALL.

JIM: AND IT IS ONLY 3% FOR THE COMMUNITY.

STEPH: 3% ON THE SALES, BUT THERE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT ALREADY BAN THE SALES OF CANNABIS.

SOME COMMUNITIES MIGHT PASS -- THEY HAVE TO HAVE VOTER REFERENDUM IF THEY WANT TO BAN THE SALES OF CANNABIS BUT IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A DISPENSER IN YOUR TOWN, IT IS TOO LATE, YOU CANNOT BAN IT.

THAT'S PROVINCE, WARWICK, PORTSMOUTH, AND THESE OTHER DISPENSARIES THAT WERE PULLED OUT OF THE LOTTERY.

IF ANY GET UP AND RUNNING, BEFORE NOVEMBER, THOSE TOWN CANNOT BAN IT EITHER.

>> FROM WATCHING THIS FOR SO LONG, IT ALMOST HAD AN ANTI-COME LET IT FEEL -- ANTI-CLIMACTIC FIELD.

WE ALWAYS THOUGHT WHEN THEY GOING TO DO IT AND BY THEIR TIME -- BY THE TIME THERE WAS AGREEMENT, MOST OF THIS DACHSHUND -- MOST OF THE DISCUSSIONS ONE WHO CONTROL THE STORES AND OBJECTIONS ON THE LEFT ON EXACTLY HOW THE EQUITY MEASURES WOULD WORK AND EXPUNGEMENT RATHER THAN IF THERE WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE AN EFFORT TO BLOCK LEGALIZATION AND SO BY THE END, IT EARLY WAS NOT A RUCKUS OR REALLY EXPLOSIVE DEBATE AND HE DID NOT HAVE PEOPLE CELEBRATING OR PROTESTING.

THERE WAS A SUBDUED FEEL, BOTH FOR THE DEBATE IN THE STATEHOUSE AND FOR THE SIGNING.

PEOPLE MENTIONED THERE WAS -- NO ONE REALLY CLAPPED.

IT WAS VERY SUBDUED.

JIM: HOW MONEY PENS DID THE GOVERNOR GIVE AWAY?

STEPH: TWO.

[LAUGHTER] TO REPRESENT OF SLATER AND SENATOR MILLER.

[LAUGHTER] NOBODY SMOKED UP AT THE SIGNING.

JIM: SO I HAD NOT HEARD ANYTHING.

I'M NOT FOLLOWING LIKE YOU ARE.

I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT WIPING AWAY THE EXPUNGEMENT, THE CRIMINAL RECORD.

I DON'T KNOW IF OTHER STATES ARE DOING THAT.

IT MAKES SENSE BUT WHEN DID THEY START PUBLICLY -- I DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THAT UNTIL COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

STEPH: THAT HAS BEEN PRE-MUCH A PART OF EVERY BILL.

IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER -- PRETTY MUCH A PART OF EVERY BILL.

IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

IS IT GOING TO BE ALL MARIJUANA CRIMES?

WILL IT BE AUTOMATIC ECHO IT WOULD MADE IT PARTICIPATE IT'S -- AUTOMATIC?

IT WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT PARTICIPATION BASED.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE SAW AUTOMATIC IN A LEGITIMATE PROPOSAL THAT WOULD GET REAL DISCUSSION, THEN EVENTUALLY THE HOUSE AND SENATE VERSION OF THE BILL THEY DID MAKE IT AUTOMATIC.

JIM: YOU WOULD THINK THE ONE THING THEY LEARN -- WE LEARN FROM MASSACHUSETTS, REMEMBER THEY OPENED UP THE TWO SITES AND IT WAS SO EXPENSIVE.

SO HERE WE ARE, A 20% TAX.

YOU HAVE 10% CANNABIS TAX, 7% SALES TAX, THEN 3%.

IS IT GOING TO MAKE SENSE FINANCIALLY IF DAVID SAID WE WANT TO STAY AWAY FROM THE BLACK MARKET?

IS IT GOING TO BE REASONABLY PRICED?

>> THIS REMINDS ME OF THE SPORTS BETTING DEBATE SO WE WILL GET RID OF ALL OF THE BOOKIES.

THE BOOKIES GIVE YOU CREDIT.

WHEN IT COMES TO MARIJUANA, THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A PLACE FOR BLACK MARKET, ESPECIALLY IF YOU CAN MAKE IT CHEAPER.

THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THAT BUT YOU TALK TO PEOPLE, I'M NOT A MAJOR INDULGE HER IN MARIJUANA BUT YOU TALK TO PEOPLE WHO GO TO THE MASSACHUSETTS PLACES AND BY IT, THEY GET FAIRLY GOOD STUFF, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY LIKE IT.

I THINK PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON THE FENCE OR WHO DO NOT HAVE A DRUG DEALER IN WHATEVER PLACE I THINK THEY WILL BE MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE WITH IT AND I DO NOT THINK THE MONEY WILL BE THAT MUCH OF A FACTOR.

JIM: FOR ONCE, THE TAX REVENUE IS NOT AN ISSUE.

YOU REMEMBER WHAT GOVERNOR RAIMONDO PUT IN HER BUDGET, IT WAS LIKE WE COULD RAISE 25 TO $50 MILLION AND IT SEEMED LIKE A BIG PART.

>> PART OF THE ARGUMENT, NO ONE THINKS TWICE ABOUT HOW MUCH WE WOULD MAKE.

IT IS A FOOTNOTE IN THE WHOLE DEBATE.

IT IS ALMOST -- PEOPLE ARE FOCUSED O HOW THE INDUSTRY WILL DEVELOP.

THINGS LIKE HOW MUCH IT WILL COST, IS IT GOING TO BE PREMIUM, WHO WILL GET THE LICENSES, IN WHAT LOCATIONS AND ARE THEY GOING TO BE BUSY -- BIG BUSINESSES, LOCAL?

RING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO FOR YEARS HAVE MONEY, SPECULATING PUTTING ALL THIS MONEY INTO WAREHOUSES AND DIFFERENT INVESTMENTS IN CANNABIS RELATED BUSINESSES RATHER THAN HOW MUCH THE STATE IS GOING TO DO WITH IT.

JIM: FOR THE PEOPLE WATCHING, IN LITTLE COMPTON OR WARWICK OR WHEREVER, WHEREVER YOU ARE, HOW IS IT GOING TO ROLL OUT?

UNLESS THEY VOTE AGAINST IT,.

STEPH: THEY HAVE TO PUT A REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT.

IF THEY WANT THE BOATERS TO BAN CANNABIS CELLS.

JIM: OTHERWISE?

STEPH: OTHERWISE IT IS OPT OUT RATHER THAN OPT IN.

JIM: ANOTHER MASSIVE SCHOOL SHOOTING IN TEXAS HAS PUT THE FOCUS BACK ON GUN-CONTROL LEGISLATION.

THIS IS THE PARENTAL ISSUE OF THE STATEHOUSE.

PEOPLE ARE BACK THIS YEAR.

DAN, YOU HAD A GREAT COLUMN ABOUT JUST IN GENERAL ABOUT THIS.

I WONDER, THESE BILLS SEEM TO NOT REALLY BE GOING ANYWHERE THIS YEAR ON SUBSTANCE.

I WONDER IF THIS JUMP STARTS.

IT IS ALL TIMING.

DAN: IF THIS HAPPENED THREE MONTHS AGO OR THREE MONTHS FROM NOW, WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT IT.

I HAD HEARD YOU GUYS WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN ME, PATRICK, THERE WAS POTENTIAL MOVEMENT ON THE AGE TO BUY A RIFLE TO 21 AND THEY THOUGHT MAYBE THEY WOULD GET THAT THIS YEAR.

IT DOES FEEL LIKE THERE IS NOW GOING TO BE A SPIRITED DEBATE ABOUT IT.

I THINK THE ARGUMENT WILL HAVE TO BE WHAT CAN YOU TRADE-OFF WITH THE TO A SUPPORTERS.

I THINK THERE IS A MOVEMENT TO REGULATE STUN GUN'S THAT THEY CAN GIVE AS A WIN FOR TO A SUPPORTERS AND POTENTIALLY YOU WILL NEED TO GET A LOT MORE I THINK FROM FOLKS WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT GUN CONTROL, SO THAT 21 BILL, THE HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES, SOM OF IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

RBC THE BAN ON ASSAULT RIFLES.

IT DOES FEEL LIKE THIS WILL MAKE THE DISCUSSION, IT GIVES IT MORE OF A CHANCE THAN THEY HAD ON MONDAY THIS WEEK.

PATRICK: THIS HAPPENED RIGHT BEFORE THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS OTHER CAUCUS FOR THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS WHERE THE RANK-AND-FILE MEMBERS GO IN AND TELL THE SPEAKER WHAT THEY WANT AND AIR ALL OF THEIR GRIEVANCES AND IDEAS.

AND THIS ISSUE I BELIEVE CAME UP A LOT.

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE TIMING.

THINGS LIKE THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN, HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINE BAN, I DO NOT THINK WE ARE SERIOUSLY ON THE TABLE BEFORE THIS BUT THE ODDS ARE PROBABLY STILL UNLIKELY THAT IT HAPPENS BUT IT IS A LIVE ISSUE NOW BEING DEBATED.

SOME PEOPLE ARE REALLY PUSHING FOR IT SO THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES IS THAT POSSIBLE OR AS DAN SAID, ARE THEY GOING TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING BUT OFTEN IN THE PAST THEY LOOK FOR SOMETHING ELSE THEY CAN DO THAT IS NOT ALL THE WAY TO THOSE BANDS BUT TO PASS -- BANS BUT THIS PASS -- BUT TO PASS SOME THING ON GUN-CONTROL PEER THERE WAS A HUGE SHIFT IN MOMENTUM AMONG A LOT OF LAWMAKERS.

JIM: AND THE DYNAMIC IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT IS NOT THERE ANYMORE.

PATRICK: IT IS A VERY DIFFERENT DYNAMIC.

DAN: I DON'T THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE HOUSE.

I THINK YOUR SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE MAJORITY OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TENDS TO BE MORE PRO-GUN.

STEPH: HE SAID AT THE CANNABIS SIGNING WHEN GOVERNOR MCKEE HANDED THE PEN TO SENATOR MILLER, HE SAID SEND ME THE GUN BILLS AND I WILL SIGN THEM.

THE FACT SENATOR MILLER BROUGHT IT UP IN THE REMARKS AND THAT IS WHY IT WAS MORE SUBDUED BECAUSE IT FELT TRIVIAL WE WERE TALKING ABOUT MARIJUANA WHEN SOMETHING SO TERRIBLE HAD HAPPENED AND WHEN MOST OF THE PEOPLE AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE WANT AND ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN AND HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINE BAND.

IT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT, THE FACT THE GOVERNOR IS SIGNING SOMETHING AND SAYING SEND ME THOSE GUN BILLS AND I WILL SIGN IT TOO.

IT IS A LIVE ISSUE AND AS DAN POINTED OUT, THEY DON'T USUALLY PASS MAJOR GROUNDBREAKING, MULTIPLE PIECES OF MAJOR GROUNDBREAKING LEGISLATION IN ONE SESSION.

THEY USUALLY SAY THINGS FOR FUTURE YEARS BUT IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAPPENS, THIS WILL CERTAINLY GET A LOT OF DEBATE BEFORE THE SESSION.

JIM: IF YOU DID NOT READ YOUR COLUMN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT READ IT, YOU MADE A GREAT POINT AND POINTED OUT HISTORICALLY ABOUT HOW WE WILL GIVE YOU JUST ENOUGH TO SATISFY YOU THIS YEAR, IT WILL BE THIS OR THAT.

GOD FORBID WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SURPASS -- BE ABLE TO PASS MAJOR LEGISLATION ONE SESSION.

DAN: YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALK INTO GUM AT THE SAME TIME.

TRADITIONALLY, IT IS NOT ABOUT NECESSARILY WHAT EVERYBODY BELIEVES IN.

I THINK YOU HAVE A MAJORITY ON GUN-CONTROL ISSUES, IT MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, YOU HAVE THE SENATE JUDICIARY PROBLEM.

IT IS TO ADDITIONALLY THAT YOU WILL HAVE GAY MARRIAGE SO WE WILL HOLD OFF ON EVERY OTHER LEFT-LEANING BILL.

YEAR-OVER-YEAR, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS FOR WOMEN, THINGS AT THAT.

THIS YEAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE WEED BILL YEAR AND THAT WAS IT.

EVERYBODY SHOULD BE HAPPY WITH THAT.

I DO THINK THINGS MAY HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN TEXAS BUT LAWMAKERS DO LIKE TO HOLD THINGS BACK.

THEY LOVE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE IN A NONELECTION YEAR.

WHERE IS LAST -- THERE IS LESS PRESSURE ON YOU AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

JIM: WE ARE ROUNDING THE BAND FROM MEMORIAL DAY, TRADITIONALLY THE HOMESTRETCH.

THIS YEAR, ELECTION YEAR, PLENTY OF MONEY AROUND.

SO WE WILL NOT BE HERE JULY 4.

WHAT SHOULD WE KEEP OUR EYE ON OTHER THAN CANNABIS OUT-OF-THE-WAY, THE GUNS AND PLAY, WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE BE LOOKING AT?

PATRICK: LOTS OF STUFF.

THERE IS TAXES.

WITH THAT, WHAT WILL THEY DO WITH THAT NEARLY $900 MILLION SURPLUS?

LOOKS LIKELY THE CAR TAX WILL GO AWAY A YEAR EARLY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR.

IF IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR, PEOPLE ARE WORRIED AND THEY BREAK THE GLASS AND LOOK FOR A CAR TAX.

I THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN.

THE QUESTION IS, WILL THERE BE MORE THAN THAT?

COULD THERE BE A SALES TAX CUT?

COULD THERE BE SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS THE GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS TO CUT CHECKS TO PEOPLE?

THAT IS A POSSIBILITY.

THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT STUFF.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR LOOKING AT THE PRIMARY HE IS FACING WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT IS KIND OF NUMBER ONE.

THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES.

THE ABORTION MEDICAID THING, BEFORE, GUNS AND THE SHOOTING HAPPENED, THE SUPREME COURT DECISION WAS IN EVERYONE'S MIND.

AND A LOT OF FOLKS WERE REALLY PUSHING TO ALLOW MEDICAID TO PAY FOR ABORTIONS AND FOR STATE EMPLOYEES INSURANCE TO COVER IT.

THAT IS KIND OF PUSHED TO THE BACKGROUND BUT IS HANGING OUT THERE.

THERE IS THAT NANTUCKET SOCCER STADIUM WHICH NEEDS MORE MONEY FROM THE STATE AND IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN THAT, WHERE THE GOVERNOR HAS COME TO AN AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE MONEY FOR THAT, SO THERE IS A WHOLE LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS THAT THEY WILL BE HASHING OUT.

STEPH: THERE IS ALSO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BILL OF AGO, SEEMED LIKE WE WILL DEFINITELY DO THIS THIS YEAR BUT I WONDER, AND THIS IS THE BILL THAT -- THE LAW THAT PROTECTS POLICE OFFICERS ACCUSED OF WRONGDOING AND THEY WERE GOING FELL APART ON THE LAST DAY.

I WONDER IF THAT COULD GET PUSHED TO THE BACK BURNER BECAUSE THEY WON A FOCUS ON GUNS OR SOMETHING THAT IS MORE PRESSING, MORE URGENT, THOUGH FOLKS THAT WANT TO REFORM OR REPEAL SAY THAT IS URGENT AS WELL.

PATRICK: THAT IS ONE WHERE I THINK THE TIMING, THE MOMENT TO DO THAT FOR THE SUPPORTERS WAS LAST YEAR.

AND PERSONALITIES AND THE DESIRE FOR THE PERFECT GOT IN THE WAY OF SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE CLEARLY PASSED.

JIM: DON'T LET PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF GOOD.

OR GREAT.

WHATEVER IT IS.

THEY WERE WILLING TO PULL THE BILL AT THE END AND THAT WAS WHEN YOU REMOVED FROM GEORGE FLOYD AND I YOU WERE TWO YEARS REMOVED.

WHAT YOU LOOKING AT?

DAN: THE BIG QUESTION FOR ME, YOU HAD A GOOD STORY IN THE JOURNAL ABOUT THIS AND TO ME IT SEEMED LIKE I THINK THE LONGER IT GOES THE LESS MOMENTUM YOU HAVE AND YOU GET INTO ANY ELECTION YEAR AND THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS, IF IT IS NOT A VOLATILE SUMMER, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE A POLICE OFFICER WITH SOME RECENCY IN A POLICE OFFICER POTENTIALLY DOING SOMETHING WRONG, IF NONE OF THAT HAPPENS, THE CONVERSATION BECOMES MUCH MORE -- PEOPLE ARE MUCH LESS -- LAWMAKERS ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO BE WILLING TO CONSIDERED GOING AFTER POLICE OFFICERS.

I DO NOT WANT TO DO IT FOR NO REASON OR FOR WHAT THEY WOULD VIEW AS NO REASON, SO IF YOU HAVE A QUIET SUMMER, I THINK THEY WOULD NOT BE PUSHING FOR IT ALL.

I THINK THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET IT DONE BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION BUT THERE ARE NOW LOTS OF ISSUES STACKED UP.

JIM: THEY HAVE COVER.

I AGREE THE URGENCY OF THE MOMENT BUT THEY HAVE COVER BECAUSE THE SPEAKER NOT ONLY TOLD ME IN THIS SHOW BUT WHEN I DID THAT STORY I AM FOR THESE CHANGES AND HE USUALLY DOES NOT SAY THAT.

HE WAS ON THE RECORD.

IT MIGHT GET LOST IN OTHER THINGS BUT WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT BUDGET?

USUALLY ONCE THE BUDGET SALES, THEN EVERYTHING, YOU'VE GOT TO DONE QUICKLY BECAUSE THEN PEOPLE ARE READY TO GET OUT.

DAN: THEY ARE TRYING TO GET A BUDGET NEXT WEEK.

I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT WILL HAPPEN, THAT BEING THE HOUSE DELIVER ITS VERSION.

THOSE NEGOTIATIONS ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND THAT IS THE KEY THING -- ALL OF THIS OTHER STUFF IS PUT IN PLAY WITH THE BUDGET.

THEY ARE ALL INTERRELATED AND WILL BE TRADED AND MIXED TOGETHER AND THINGS WILL BE BALANCED OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER.

JIM: DO THEY HAVE A BIG BOARD?

I KNOW THEY DON'T LET US IN ON THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.

TODAY HAVE A BIG BOARD SAYING THE CHIT IS HERE FOR THIS, THE CHIT IS HERE FOR THIS.

DAN: I BELIEVE THERE IS A LIST.

IT SET ON THE THIRD FOR WHEN THIS GETS NEGOTIATED AND THE SPEAKER AND SENATE -- JIM: COMES OUT OF THE PIPE OF THE SPEAKER?

DAN: I BELIEVE THERE ARE PIECES OF PAPER WITH LISTS.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: DAN, DID YOU HAVE IN 2022 ON YOUR BINGO CARD STEFAN PRY RUNNING AGAINST JAMES AGAINST A PRIMARY FOR TREASURER?

DAN: CERTAINLY NOT.

IT'S AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT.

JIM: HE HAS BEEN RUMORED FOR A LONG TIME.

DAN: THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN HEARING STEFAN PRIOR WOULD RUN FOR THIS.

I THINK WE ALL THOUGHT A YEAR AGO STEFAN PRIOR MIGHT FOLLOW GINA RAIMONDO TO GO TO WASHINGTON AND FIND A NEW JOB.

JIM: HE WAS KIND OF ON THE OUT WITH MICKEY.

PERSONALLY, THEY WERE DOING WELL , PERSONALLY THEY WERE DOING WELL BUT HE, ALL OF THE ROLLOUT AND COMMERCE AND EVERYTHING, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT HE WOULD GET SWEAT OUT -- SWEPT OUT.

THEY FORMED A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.

DAN: ONE, WE SHOULD SAY STEFAN PRIOR IS A BRILLIANT GUY SO HE IS A TALENTED GUY BUT HE IS THE GREATEST SUCK UP IN THE HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND POLITICS.

YOU HEAR HIM EVERY TIME HE IS ON AN INTERVIEW CREDITING -- PATRICK: THE GOVERNOR IS BRILLIANT.

DAN: TRANSFORMATIVE GOVERNOR AND MAYOR.

HE MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD.

I'M SURE DAN MCKEE LIKES TO BE TOLD HOW SMART HE IS SO THEY DID BECOME -- THEY DID FORM A LITTLE ALLIANCE.

HE WILL BE REALLY FORMIDABLE IN THIS RACE AND WILL RAISE A TON OF MONEY AND WILL HAVE AN INTERESTING DONOR LIST.

I THINK IT WILL BE A LITTLE LIKE GINA RAIMONDO A BUNCH OF YEARS AGO.

YOU WILL SEE NATIONAL NAMES ON THE LIST.

I THINK PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED WITH HIM, LABORERS, THAT CROWD, I THINK THEY WILL BE WILLING TO AT LEAST GIVE HIM A CHANCE BUT JAMES WILL HAVE GRASSROOTS.

I THINK HE HAS ORGANIZED WELL, WE ALL GET EMAILS EVERYDAY WITH ENDORSEMENTS FOR HIM, SO THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING PRIMARY RACES.

STEPH: THE FACT THAT PRIOR GOT THE ENDORSEMENT FROM THE CITIES AND TOWNS, DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE, HOURS AFTER HE ANNOUNCED, SHOWS THAT SHE SAID IN AN INTERVIEW ON 12 NEWS YESTERDAY THAT THAT WAS THE IMPETUS FOR HIM TO FINALLY ANNOUNCE BECAUSE HE KNEW THE ENDORSEMENT WAS ABOUT TO BE DECIDED AND IT WAS LIKE WILL HE OR WON'T HE.

HE HAS TO GET IN THE RACE OR DECIDE HE WILL NOT GET IN THE RACE.

PATRICK: THE COVETED DEMOCRATIC TALENT.

[LAUGHTER] STEPH: BUT HE SAYS HE ALREADY PICKED UP A NUMBER OF ENDORSEMENTS BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE RACE FOR A WHILE.

IT WAS CERTAINLY A LITTLE BIT LATE I GUESS FOR PRIOR TO GET IN BUT THERE IS STILL A MONTH LEFT UNTIL YOU HAVE TO DECLARE.

DAN: I'M ALSO INTERESTED TO SEE HOW PRIOR TRANSITIONS FROM A BUREAUCRAT, AND THAT IS PART OF WHEN YOU ARE THE BUREAUCRAT YOU LOOK TO THE GUY IN CHARGE AND YOU FIGHTER THEM.

BUT IT IS DIFFERENT TO BE THE CANDIDATE, ESPECIALLY TO HAVE AN OPPONENT IN A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

HOW HE TRANSITIONED -- HE'S VERY DETAIL ORIENTED AND THE QUESTION IS CAN HE DISTILL MESSAGES AND GET THEM OUT WHERE THEY CONNECT WITH PEOPLE?

AND TREASURER IS NOT THE MOST EMOTIONAL TOPIC.

IT IS NOT AN OFFICE WHERE YOU ARE DEALING WITH HIGH-PROFILE THIRD RAIL ISSUES.

SO THAT PLAYS IN HIS FAVOR BUT CAN HE GET PEOPLE TO REALLY LIKE HIM WILL BE AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

JIM:JIM: HE ALSO SAID ABOUT THE SCHOOL BOND, HE TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE IT RELATABLE.

THE THING ABOUT DEOSA, I THINK HE WAS THE RIGHT GUY FOR THE RIGHT TIME, HE MAKES IT SOUND LIKE HE DID THIS GREAT TURNAROUND.

HE WAS ON TRAINING WHEELS FOR THE WHOLE TIME HE WAS THERE.

THE STATE BUDGET COMMISSIONER, WHOEVER WAS OVERSEEING, THE BUDGET WAS DONE FOR HIM YEAR TO YEAR.

WHEN HE ANNOUNCED I THOUGHT DOES HE REALLY HAVE THE FINANCIAL BACKGROUND TO BE TREASURER?

DAN: IT'S A LEGITIMATE QUESTION.

CERTAINLY HE WOULD ARGUE I WAS ELECTED BY MULTIPLE TIMES AND I WAS A MAYOR SO ALL THAT.

SO YOU DO HAVE THAT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE BUT THIS WILL BE THE ARGUMENT, THIS WILL BE THE ARGUMENTS ONE DAY TO COMPARE THE CAREER PATH OF STEFAN PRIOR VERSUS JAMES DEOSA.

PRIOR WILL HAVE A MUCH BETTER ARGUMENT THAT HE IS READY TO DO THIS HIGH-LEVEL JOB.

ALL THAT BEING SAID, NONE OF THAT MATTERS TO THE VOTERS NECESSARILY AND IF JAMES DEOSA WORKS HARD, HE HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE GOVERNOR SO THAT WILL HELP HIM.

IF HE HAS GRASSROOTS SUPPORT, I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE ENOUGH -- HE WILL BE THE LEFTY CANDIDATE IN THE RACE SO TO SPEAK AND I THINK THAT WILL HELP HIM IN THIS STATE, CERTAINLY IN A PRIMARY.

SO THIS WILL BE AN INTERESTING RACE FOR AN OFFICE THAT IS NOT INTERESTING AT ALL.

JIM: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CHANNEL 12 POLE YOU GUYS HAD A COUPLE'S AGO IN CONJUNCTION WITH ROGER WILLIAMS.

I DO NOT KNOW IF IT SURPRISE PEOPLE OR NOT, NELLIE GORBEA OH SAID INTERNAL POLLING THAT SHE IS DOING WELL ALL ALONG.

THEY ARE IN A VIRTUAL DEAD HEAT.

STEPH: IT WAS IN THE MARGIN OF ERROR.

THERE CAN AS THE POLLS SHOWED, UNDECIDED IS IN THE LEAD.

SO I THINK IT WAS 37%, I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, WERE UNDECIDED.

THEREUPON TO VOTERS FOR ANY OF THE CANDIDATES TO PICK UP.

THE QUESTION IS WHO WILL GET THEM BUT NOT CAN MICKEY AND CORREA.

A LOT OF IT IS ABOUT NAME RECOGNITION.

IT WAS BEFORE HELENA FOLKS GOT ON THE AIR WITH TV ADS.

BOTH OF THEM ARE STATE WHAT OFFICEHOLDERS AND EVERYONE KNOWS WHO THEY ARE, MOST PEOPLE KNOW WHO GORE BAY IS, SO THERE IS PLAYING TIME FOR THE OTHER CANDIDATES TO PICK UP THE UNDECIDEDS.

JIM: WHAT WAS UP AT THAT, THE CHAIRS ENDORSING NOT ONLY GO BAIL BUT DEBORAH DARIO?

IT WAS ANYBODY BUT MCKEE.

WAS OR SOMETHING BEHIND THE SCENES I MISSED?

DAN: NOT THAT I CAN REPORT AT THE TIME.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: AFTER THE SHOW, WILL YOU TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON?

DAN: THERE ARE RUMORS.

BUT YEAH, IT IS AN OBSCURE GROUP, THERE ARE PERSONALITIES INVOLVED.

LET'S SAY THAT.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH CONNECTIONS AND JOBS AND STUFF THAT MIGHT PLAY INTO THAT.

GOING BACK TO THE POLE, MICKEY HAS HAD A YEAR IN RELATIVELY FAVORABLE CIRCUMSTANCES INTO IT IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY AND COVID AND NOT HAVING A CHALLENGER WHO EVERYONE KNOWS AND IS THE FRONTRUNNER TO CHALLENGE HIM.

HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND CONSOLIDATE THINGS YET.

THAT IS KIND OF WHAT THAT SHOWED AND NOW THE QUESTION IS CAN ANYONE ELSE REALLY -- CAN NELLY MAKE THAT CASE OR CAN HELENA WITH HER ADVERTISING GET HER NAME RECOGNITION UP?

AND TAKE THAT SPOT.

JIM: KUDOS AND OUTRAGES.

DAN: PATRICK SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT THAT IS INTERESTING FOR GOVERNOR MCKEE, THEY HAVE ALL THIS MONEY TO SPEND, DO THEY WANT TO FIND A WAY TO CUT CHECKS TO PEOPLE?

THAT CAN CHANGE PEOPLE'S OPINIONS REALLY EASILY AND HE NEEDS -- GOVERNOR MCKEE NEEDS SOME SORT OF BIG VICTORY WHETHER IT IS THE SALES TAX CUT, SOMETHING ELSE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW HE IS NOT LOOKING GOOD.

JIM: SETH MAGAZINER WOULD LOVE THAT BECAUSE THE CHECKS WOULD COME.

STEPH: I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY -- JIM: RIGHT?

STEPH: CAN THEY SOMEHOW MAKE IT SAY DAN MCKEE?

JIM: IT WAS LIKE DONALD TRUMP TRYING TO SIGN THE CHECK.

AFTER, WHAT YOU HAVE?

PATRICK: IT WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO GO TO TEXAS.

THE OUTRAGE I GUESS OTHER THAN THE OBVIOUS ONE OF JUST HOW UNSPEAKABLE EVERYTHING IS IS THAT IT DOES NOT APPEAR THE -- AT LEAST THE COMMUNICATIONS PEOPLE FOR THE SPOKESPEOPLE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN TEXAS CAN GET THEIR STORIES STRAIGHT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

SO KUDOS TO ANYONE SURVIVING DOWN THERE.

IT IS SO UNSPEAKABLE BUT THEY HAVE GOT TOGETHER SO TOGETHER.

STEPH: IT IS HARD TO BE OUTRAGED OTHER THAN -- ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE MASS MURDER OF CHILDREN.

AS A JOURNALIST, AS PATRICK MENTIONED, AT THESE PRESS CONFERENCES THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, AS A FRIDAY MORNING, HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LAY OUT THE TIMELINE YET OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE APPARENTLY OUR GUNMEN WAS IN THE SCHOOL.

JIM: HE SAID ONE OF THEIR GUYS ENGAGED WITH HIM AND THEN SAID SUMMARY WAS NOT THERE.

STEPH: THEY INITIALLY SET A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER ENGAGED BUT THEN HE SAID HE WENT IN THE BACK DOOR.

PARENTS SAY THEY WERE SCREAMING AT OFFICERS TO RUN IN THE BUILDING AND THEY WERE NOT DOING SO.

I DO NOT KNOW THE FACTS, I'M NOT REPORTING ON THE GROUND IN TEXAS BUT TO BE THREE DAYS LATER FOR THE PUBLIC AND THE VICTIMS FAMILIES TO REALLY NOT EVEN KNOW THE BASIC FACTS IS I THINK OUTRAGEOUS.

JIM: MR. MCGOWAN, YOU GET THE LAST MINUTE.

DAN: IT WILL BE THE TRIFECTA.

THE ONLY ISSUE ANYBODY CARES ABOUT, WHAT HAPPENED IN TEXAS.

AS WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT WHAT BILLS COULD PASS THE STATE LEVEL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE KEEP THE SPOTLIGHT ON CONGRESS.

GETTING THINGS DONE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL HE SUDDENLY COULD HAVE UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT COULD REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WOULD NOT HAVE NECESSARILY STOPPED WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED THERE BUT COULD STOP A FUTURE ONE.

I THINK AS MUCH AS I HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT TRYING TO GET OUR STATE LAWMAKERS TO GET ON BOARD WITH THINGS, SOMEBODY REALLY NEEDS TO PUSH CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT BIDEN NEEDS TO PUSH THEM ALONG TO GET SOME THING DONE.

JIM: DO YOU THINK THERE IS ENOUGH TO BRING 10 REPUBLICANS OVER?

PATRICK: IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT.

I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE TO END THE FILIBUSTER.

JIM: BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

IT IS ALWAYS A QUICK HALF-HOUR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DAN, PATRICK, STEPH, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.

IF YOU DON'T CATCH US FRIDAY AT 7:00 OR SUNDAY AT NOON, CHECK US OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, TWITTER, AND ALL OF OUR SHOWS ARE ARCHIVED AT RIPBS.ORG/LIVELY.

AND WHAT IS BETTER THAN TAKING US ON YOUR PODCAST?

HE WENT TO LISTEN TO MAY POLITICAL, MUSIC, THEN TAE LIVELY ON YOUR WALK.

WE WILL BE HERE, EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING QUICKLY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR AND WE WILL HAVE IT ALL COVERED NEXT WEEK AS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.

[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRSSES] [CAPTIONING PREFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] >> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI I AM JOHN HAYZENWHITE JR.