JIM: THIS WEEK, THE LONG-AWAITED SCHOOL ASSESSMENT SCORES.

HOW DID STUDENTS DO?

THE TIDEWATER LANDING PROJECT ON TRACK WITH THE HELP OF A MYSTERY MILLIONAIRE.

>> FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS ON THE POLITICAL ISSUES FACING RHODE ISLANDERS.

I'’M A PROUD SUPPORTER.

JIM: JOINING US, RAYMOND BACCARI , PROGRAM MANAGER FOR ANCHOR TV AT RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE, IAN DONNIS, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR ANDERSON, STATEHOUSE REPORTER.

I'’M JIM HUMMEL.

LET THE PARSING BEGIN.

THE TEST RESULTS ARE IN, RICAS, DRAWING VARIED REACTION.

THE NUMBERS ARE UP OVER LAST YEAR.

CRITICS NOTE THEY ARE STILL BELOW PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS AND WE ARE BEHIND OUR NEIGHBOR TO THE NORTH, MASSACHUSETTS.

IT'’S ALL RELATIVE.

A THIRD OF THE KIDS IN RHODE ISLAND ARE AT PROFICIENCY FOR MATH AND ENGLISH.

IAN: EVEN IN THE MORE AFFLUENT COMMUNITIES WHERE SCHOOLS PERFORMANCE IS BETTER, A THIRD OF KIDS ARE BELOW STANDARD.

LET'’S FACE IT, THE EFFORT HAS BEEN AN ABJECT FAILURE AND OF COURSE THE PANDEMIC WAS A MASSIVE CURVEBALL.

THERE WILL BE BACKTRACKING.

WE'’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A QUARTER-CENTURY AND THERE HAS BEEN MEAGER PROCESS.

MASSACHUSETTS PURSUEDA NEW EFFORT IN THE 1990'’S.

DIFFERENT FUNDING.

APPROACH TO MORE EQUITABLE, THEY REALLY HAD AGAINST.

-- GAINS.

WE HAVE NOT KEPT A CONSISTENT STANDARD.

>> A THIRD ARE PROFICIENT IN ELA.

MATH IS ABYSMAL.

EVEN THE SENATORS ACKNOWLEDGED IT.

MAYBE WE HAVE TO LOOK TO MCAS, MAYBE SOMETHING LIKE THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT FOR EDUCATION OR LOOK AT FUNDING.

>> IT HAS A GROUNDHOG DAY EFFECT AT THIS POINT.

NOT A LOT HAS CHANGED.

NOTHING HAS IMPROVED MUCH.

THERE IS A STASIS.

THERE IS A LOT LESS ENERGY AROUND EXACTLY WHAT THE PLAN SHOULD BE.

THERE ARE IDEAS.

THERE IS NOT MOMENTUM BEHIND ANY.

ONE PART IS DIFFICULTY OF THE TEST AND THE FACT THAT PROFICIENT IS NOT EASY TO OBTAIN.

MASSACHUSETTS, WHICH DOES BETTER, IF YOU GO ON PROFICIENCY, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE PROFICIENT IS LOW.

GIVES A NEGATIVE PERCEPTION AROUND RESULTS.

WHEN THEY ARE REPORTED, IT MAKES EVERYTHING FEEL LIKE A FAILURE EVEN IN STATES THAT ARE "SUCCEEDING."

THAT IS MORE OF THE OPTICS OF IT.

AS FOR WHAT RHODE ISLAND DOES TO IMPROVE, IT IS UNCLEAR.

THERE HAS BEEN FOCUSED AROUND SECOND-LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

THEY DID BETTER IN THESE RESULTS.

THERE'’S BEEN MORE MONEY PUMPED IN THIS YEAR AND THERE PROBABLY WILL BE MORE BUT IT IS NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT IS MOVING SPECIFIC CHANGES.

JIM: MASSACHUSETTS GOT A PLAN.

THEY STUCK TO IT.

RHODE ISLAND, THE LEGISLATURE GOT INVOLVED.

THERE WAS STANDARDIZED TESTING.

YOU HAVE TO STICK TO THE PLAN.

>> PEOPLE IN RHODE ISLAND HAVE MADE THIS OBSERVATION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONSISTENT PLAN.

YET HERE WE ARE.

>> LOOKING AT TEST SCORES, ONE OF THE MANY ISSUES GOING ON IN EDUCATION.

CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, TEACHER SHORTAGES.

THANKFULLY, I GOT MY K-12 EDUCATION DONE BEFORE COVID BUT I IMAGINE IT MADE THINGS WORSE.

JIM: YOU ALSO WONDER.

WE LOOKED AT THE STATE.

THEN WE HAD THE HOPKINS REPORT IN PROVIDENCE.

SO MUCH ENERGY HAS BEEN SUCKED INTO THAT.

SHE'’S HAD A MUCH LOWER PROFILE.

I DON'’T KNOW WHY.

DURING COVID, WE SAW HER A LOT.

I WONDER IF THE EYE HAS BEEN OFF THE BALL BECAUSE PROVIDENCE TOOK UP SO MUCH TIME.

PATRICK: COULD BE.

SHE WAS SOMEONE PEOPLE WERE SPECULATING WOULD BE TRANSITIONING FROM RAMONDA TO MCKEE.

SHE STAYED LONGER.

PROVIDENCE TAKEOVER HAS BEEN A MESS.

IT DOESN'’T, FROM THE OUTSIDE, APPEAR TO HAVE DIRECTION.

NO ONE KNOWS WHERE IT IS GOING.

NO ONE LIKES IT.

NO ONE WANTS IT, EVEN THE PEOPLE DOING IT.

IT'’S MOVING ON ITS OWN MOMENTUM.

IT IS SORT OF PLODDING ALONG.

I'’M NOT CERTAIN WHAT THE ENDGAME IS.

JIM: PROVIDENCE MAYOR SMILEY HAS INDICATED HE WANTS TO BRING IT BACK, CERTAINLY NOT RIGHT AWAY.

WE ARE IN LIMBO.

>> THE LOSERS IN THIS ARE THE KIDS.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SO LONG.

THOUSANDS OF KIDS HAVE HAD SUBSTANDARD EDUCATIONS OVER TIME.

JIM: TALK LAST SPRING ABOUT RETIREES WHO HAD THEIR COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS FROZEN.

THEY HAVE THE PENSION REFORM.

THERE WAS DISCUSSION.

WE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME WITH INFLATION.

THE NEWSBANK, THE STATE TREASURER IS PUTTING TOGETHER A STUDY GROUP.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE PENSION ABUSES.

A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE ARE 30, 40, $50,000.

NOT GETTING ANY COST-OF-LIVING.

IS THE LEGISLATURE DRIVING THIS?

THE TREASURER?

PATRICK: MORE THE LEGISLATURE.

JIM: LATE IN THE SESSION LAST YEAR.

PATRICK: IT WAS TRIGGERED BY INFLATION, BY THE ECONOMY.

SOMETHING IN THE PERCEPTION AROUND THIS ISSUE CLICKED AND FLIPPED TOWARD THE RETIREES.

THERE HAS BEEN A STRONG FEELING THEY GOT A RAW DEAL FOR YEARS.

IT SEEMED PARTICULARLY UNFAIR, THE COSTS RISING THE WAY THEY WERE.

WE SPENT A YEAR THE PREVIOUS SUMMER TALKING ABOUT GAS PRICES.

THE POLITICS OF THAT ISSUE TURNED LAST YEAR.

NOTHING HAPPENED ON IT.

THERE IS THE YEAR WHERE YOU SET THE STAGE FOR SOMETHING, THEN OFF IN THE NEXT YEAR SOMETHING HAPPENS.

THERE IS A LOT OF MOMENTUM TO DO SOMETHING FOR RETIREES ON COLAS.

ELECTION, THAT WILL HELP.

HE IS UNION ALIGNED.

I DON'’T THINK RETIREES SHOULD EXPECT TO GET THERE3% COMPOUNDED COLAS BACK.

WE ARE NOT GOING BACK TO 2010.

THERE WILL PROBABLY BE SOMETHING.

>> AGREE.

A COUPLE LAWMAKERS, LIKE PAT SERPA, WHO WAS OUTSPOKEN INVERSE PRE -- WHO WAS OUTSPOKEN, EXPRESSING REGRET OF THE OVERHAUL.

THE GENERAL TREASURER IN 2011 WAS BACK IN THE STATEHOUSE THIS WEEK, AS PART OF A PROFILE FOR 60 MINUTES.

SHE GAVE THE COLD SHOULDER TO A COUPLE LOCAL REPORTER FRIENDS, INCLUDING PATRICK, WHO WANTED TO SAY HELLO.

[LAUGHTER] GINA RAIMONDO MADE HER NAME THROUGH THOSE OVERHAULS.

SHE BECAME A DARLING OF THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

THAT BLEW UP HER REPUTATION NATIONALLY.

THAT DOESN'’T MEAN THE EFFORT WAS MISPLACED.

YES, THE PENSION SYSTEM WAS UNDERFUNDED.

SAME TIME, THERE WAS NO SIMILAR CONCERN EXPRESSED ABOUT THE ONEROUS, POSTEMPLOYMENT, POST-RETIREE EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR HEALTH CARE, WHICH ARE VERY STAGGERING IN RHODE ISLAND.

JIM: OPEC IS SINKING A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WARWICK.

>> WE DON'’T HAVE COMPARABLE CONCERN ABOUT THAT.

IT IS LIKELY THESE RETIREES WILL GET A LITTLE SOMETHING.

>> LIKE EDUCATION, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

RIGHT NOW, THE PENSION FUND WILL HIT THE 80% MARK IN 2031.

JIM: AUTOMATIC TRIGGER.

>> PROVIDENCE JOURNAL HAD THIS, HOW MANY RETIREES ARE GOING TO BE AROUND BY '’31?

ANOTHER INTERESTING THING IN KATHY'’S ARTICLE, A RETIREE WAS ASKED WHY NO ONE WAS APPOINTED.

JIM: I DON'’T KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGE IS, THAT THEY ARE NOT KIDDING SOCIAL SECURITY.

>> THIS IS THEIR ONLY PENSION.

>> IT IS IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES.

I DON'’T REMEMBER THE HISTORY OF WHY THAT HAPPENED.

IT SEEMED A BAD DECISION TO DO IT THAT WAY.

THERE IS A SUBGROUP OF PEOPLE IN A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT SITUATION.

THEY MAKE A SYMPATHETIC CASE TO DO SOMETHING.

THEY ALSO SHOW THE MESS CREATED WITH THIS ISSUE, AND HAS BEEN CREATED OVER DECADES.

>> FOOTNOTE.

MATT BROWN'’S TRIED RUNNING ON THIS ISSUE.

HOW THE DECO?

NOT SO WELL.

SPENCER DICKERSON TRIED THE SAME THING IN THE PRIMARY.

GOT 1% OF THE VOTE.

THAT RESONATED OUTSIDE THE LEGISLATURE AS A GALVANIZING POLITICAL ISSUE.

JIM: LET'’S GET TO THE REAL STUFF.

GINA RAIMONDO BLOWING YOU OFF AT THE STATEHOUSE.

60 MINUTES.

SET THE SCENE.

LINDSAY, WHO I JUST SAW IN A BUNKER IN ISRAEL, DECIDES TO COME TO THE WAR ZONE OF RHODE ISLAND.

>> SOMETIMES YOU CAN TELL AT THE STATEHOUSE WHEN SOMETHING IS AFOOT.

THE PARKING LOT IS TWITTER.

SOMETHING WAS GOING ON.

THAT WAS A RUMOR, SECRETARY GINA RAIMONDO WAS HERE.

PEOPLE ARE ALL SPECULATING ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS.

WITH THE MOST FREQUENT BEING, SHE IS GOING TO BE THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICK.

BIDEN IS GOING TO DITCH HARRIS AND CHOOSE GINA RAIMONDO, WHICH IS UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN.

THE SPECULATION WAS THIS WAS TO BURNISH GINA RAIMONDO, TO GET HER IN EVERYONE'’S MIND.

I DON'’T KNOW WHAT THE MOTIVATION WAS, GOING BACK TO HER GOVERNOR DAYS, GINA HAS ALWAYS HAD THIS ABILITY TO CULTIVATE CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF THE NATIONAL MAINSTREAM MEDIA AND GET THESE PARTICULARLY FAWNING PIECES.

JIM: SHE DID NOT WANT TO MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH YOU.

PATRICK: SHE KNOWS IT IS DIFFERENT.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: SHE PROBABLY DOES NOT APPRECIATE IT.

>> IT MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT THINGS WILL LOOK LIKE IN '’28?

WHAT IF A SENATE SEAT OPENS IN RHODE ISLAND?

SHE IS GETTING MORE NATIONAL ATTENTION.

JIM: SHE HAS HAD NO PROBLEM GAINING ATTENTION.

>> TED COINED THE PHRASE "GINA RAIMONDO MEDIA" WHEN SHE WAS STILL GENERAL TREASURER.

SHE HAS COME A LONG WAY GOVERNOR, WHEN SHE WAS SOMETIMES PESKY REPORTERS LIKE US.

JIM: LIKE YOU.

>> RIGHT.

SHE'’S EVOLVED AS FAR AS HER EASE IN RESPONDING TO MEDIA INQUIRIES.

SHE'’S GOT RESPECT ACROSS THE AISLE IN WASHINGTON.

REPUBLICANS LIKE HER.

WHEN SHE WAS IN RHODE ISLAND, LIBERALS THOUGHT SHE WAS TOO CONSERVATIVE.

CONSERVATIVES THOUGHT SHE WAS TOO LIBERAL.

SHE IS PRO-BUSINESS DEMOCRAT.

SHE WAS A RISING STAR IN NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC POLITICS.

JIM: SHE COULDN'’T JUST SAY HELLO?

HEY REMEMBER ME, WE USED TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP HERE?

PATRICK: THERE IS THAT.

[LAUGHTER] I THINK THEY WANTED -- THEY ARE PROBABLY UNDER ORDERS BY 60 MINUTES TO KEEP EVERYTHING UNDER WRAPS AND NOT SPOIL THE BIG REVEAL OF GINA BEING ON TV.

I DON'’T KNOW.

OR IT WAS SOMETHING I WROTE BACK IN 2015.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: DON'’T GO OVER TO THAT GUY.

IF I SHOWED UP, IT WOULD BE LIKE THAT INTERACTION OVER THE VETERANS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT COME OUT.

CD1, THE QUIETEST RACE YOU WILL EVER HEAR.

INTERESTING WE HAVE THIS PANEL.

YOU WORLD DOING THE CONGRESSIONAL DEBATES LAST YEAR.

YOU ASKED EARLY ON FOR DAVE AND GARY, EVEN YOU GOT BLOWN OFF.

RAYMOND: GABE DECLINED.

GARY ACCEPTED.

GABE IS GOING TO DO TWO DEBATES.

JIM: THEY WERE NERVOUS ABOUT THOSE RAYMOND BACCARI PENETRATING QUESTIONS.

THEY DIDN'’T WANT TO FACE YOU.

pRAYMOND: WE REACHED OUT TWO DYS AFTER THE PRIMARY RESULTS AND TRIED TO GET HIM TO DO IT IN PERSON AT OUR TV OR STUDIO -- TV STUDIO.

JIM: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?

IT IS FLIPPED.

GARY LEONARD, WE COULDN'’T GET A HOLD OF DURING THE PRIMARY AND NOW HE IS EVERYWHERE.

>> IT WAS SURPRISING.

FIRST-TIME CANDIDATE.

OVERWHELMING ADVANTAGES.

DEMOCRAT RUNNING IN PREDOMINANTLY DEMOCRATIC CD1.

HE WELCOMED OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE PART IN FORUMS AND DEBATES IN THE PRIMARY.

WE INVITED HIM AND LEONARD TO BE PART OF A FORUM WITH THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL.

THEY DECLINED.

LEONARD SAID HE WOULD DO IT.

INSTEAD I AM HAVING THEM BOTH COME IN FOR SEPARATE INTERVIEWS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

VOTERS LOSE SOMETHING WHEN THEY DON'’T GET TO SEE HEAD-TO-HEAD.

>> THAT'’S A BIG THING ABOUT THIS, SOMETHING THAT GETS ME DISAPPOINTED.

LOOK AT THE GOVERNORS RACE.

ANALYSTS ARGUED IT WAS SAFELY DEMOCRAT.

4 DEBATES.

TWO TV, ONE RADIO.

KLEIN NOT DO 3-4?

THE VOTERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW.

TURNOUT IS GOING TO BE LOW.

SPECIAL ELECTION.

FIRST-TIME CANDIDATES.

IT'’S NOT FAIR TO THE VOTERS.

JIM: GINA BLOWS YOU OFF, PATRICK IS NOT ON THE DEBATE.

I HOPE YOU NOT TAKING THIS PERSONALLY.

[LAUGHTER] >> I AM NOT AS SURPRISED BY THIS.

[LAUGHTER] IT'’S NOT A PERSONAL THING.

I THINK FROM THE BEGINNING IT WAS LIKELY GABE WOULD NO BE EAGER TO DO ANY DEBATES GIVEN HIS POSITION.

THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK FROM WASHINGTON OPERATIVES.

HE'’S DOING TWO?

JIM: YOU MEAN THAT THE LOT?

PATRICK: THAT'’S A LOT.

THERE'’S NOT A HUGE ADVANTAGE TO GABE, GIVEN WHERE EVERYONE THINKS HE IS AND HOW THEY THINK LEONARD A HUGE AMOUNT OF AIRTIME OR ANY AIRTIME.

JIM: HE HAS TO WIN BY 30 POINTS INSTEAD OF 40.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

PATRICK: YEAH.

BUT HE'’S NOT FEELING PRESSURE FROM US OR ANYONE ELSE TO DO FIVE DEBATES.

THERE IS MUCH PRESSURE ON HIM GIVEN WHERE THINGS ARE.

HE'’S GOING TO DO AS FEW AS HE THINKS HE CAN GET AWAY WITH.

>> PIGGYBACKING OFF THAT, THERE IS A CULTURE NOW ARE CANDIDATES SKIPPED DEBATES OR DOING THEM AT THE LAST SECOND RIGHT BEFORE EARLY VOTING STARTED.

THAT HAS TO STOP.

IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE VOTERS.

NOT FAIR TO US, TRYING TO DO OUR JOB.

JIM: RAYMOND IS RIGHT.

>> THE LARGER TREND, CANDIDATES, POLITICIANS ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT CONTROLLING THE MESSAGE AND LIMITING UNSCRIPTED MOMENTS IN FACING QUESTIONS FROM REPORTERS.

RAYMOND: ONE DIFFERENT DYNAMIC NOW IS EARLY VOTING.

IT IS TWO DEBATES BUT THEY ARE HAPPENING RIGHT TOWARD THE END.

OF THE PEOPLE WHO DO VOTE, MANY WILL HAVE ALREADY VOTED EARLY THROUGH THE MAIL BEFORE THE BATES HAPPENED.

THAT'’S A NEW DYNAMIC THAT EXACERBATES THE CONCERNS.

>> IT RUINS THE CHANCES OF HAVING A GOOD GAFF.

JIM: THEY DON'’T WANT THAT.

WE'’VE TALKED ABOUT THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP, THE CCR TAXPAYER-FUNDED TUITION.

THERE ARE SOME CAVEATS.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

THE GOVERNOR AND A LOT OF POLITICIANS WERE OUT THERE CELEBRATING LAST WEEK.

>> THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST UPDATE I DO ON THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP FOR A WHILE.

I'’VE BEEN COVERING IT SINCE THE BILL WAS WRITTEN.

321 STUDENTS WERE ELIGIBLE.

207 UTILIZED IT.

THE OTHERS HAD GRANTS TO COME WITH THE BILL.

WE HAD A CEREMONIAL SIGNING AT THE QUAD, PACKED WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

IT WAS THE MOST PACKED I HAD EVER SEEN THERE.

YOU HAD THE CEREMONIAL SIGNING.

SPEAKERS, BRETT MCNAMARA WROTE THE HOUSE VERSION.

THEY HAVE A STUDENT WHO TALKED ABOUT HOW IT IMPACTED THEM.

JIM: IT SEEMS THERE WERE FEWER PEOPLE THAN THEY HAD PROJECTED.

>> I DON'’T HAVE THE FIGURES ON HOW MUCH THE PILOT PROGRAM FUNDING HAS BEEN UTILIZED SO FAR BUT THE RECRUITING FOR FALL '’23 WAS ALREADY MOSTLY DONE WHEN THIS BILL WAS SIGNED IN JUNE.

THE NEXT RECRUITING FOR THE NEXT FRESHMAN CLASS WILL BE THE REAL TEST.

THERE IS GOING TO NEED TO BE AN INCREASE IN PR ABOUT THIS.

WE ARE SEEING THAT BUT TO GET THE DESIRED FIGURES, THEY HAVE TO DOUBLE DOWN.

JIM: YOU HAVE NEWS ON THE LABOR FRONT.

IAN: GEORGE IS A FAMILIAR FIGURE IN RHODE ISLAND.

STALWART OF THE LOCAL LBOR MOVEMENT FOR 40 YEARS, ONE TIME BODYGUARD TO CESAR CHAVEZ.

AS OF JANUARY 1, HE WILL GO TO A PART-TIME ROLE AND BEGIN A TRANSITION, HE WILL BE SUCCEEDED BY PATRICK CROWLEY, WHO WILL NOW MAINTAIN THE ROLE OF SECRETARY-TREASURER, AFL CIO, TEACHERS UNION, HE'’S GOING TO THE AFL CIO STARTING JANUARY TO TAKE ON MORE RESPONSE ABILITY.

JIM: I'’VE BEEN IN THIS MARKET FOR YEARS.

I DON'’T REMEMBER HIS PREDECESSOR.

GEORGE SEEMS TO BE SYNONYMOUS WITH IT.

IT IS A SEISMIC SHIFT IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

IAN: GEORGE'’S INFLUENTIAL.

VERY FAMILIAR AT THE STATEHOUSE, KNOWN, WIDELY KNOWN IN RHODE ISLAND, THE POLITICAL SPHERE.

>> PATRICK RALLY'’S PROFILE AT THE STATEHOUSE, AND OTHER AREAS OF STATE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN RISING FOR THE LAST YEAR.

JIM: PLUG.

YOU'’RE DOING A DEBATE FOR THE SENATE DISTRICT ONE SEAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MY GOOD FRIEND AND I HAVE DONE A FEW DEBATES.

IN THE PRIMARY SEASON, WE DID ONE FOR CD1, 1% AT ONE.

NOW WE ARE DOING A GENERAL.

MONDAY TAPING IN THE MORNING, THEN 5:00 P.M., IN PERSON, AT OUR TV STUDIO, IT WILL AIR LATER THAT DAY AROUND 5 P.M. ON THE ANCHOR TV YOUTUBE.

JIM: IT SHOULD BE LIVELY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT WILL PROBABLY BE ONE OF THE ONLY DEBATES.

THIS WILL BE ONE TO WATCH IF YOU ARE INCENTIVIZED.

JIM: LET'’S GO TO OUTRAGEOUS OR KUDOS.

PATRICK: PEOPLE ARE SICK OF HEARING JOURNALISTS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT DENYING PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS BUT I WILL DO ANOTHER ONE.

I'’VE PUT IN A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PICKLE BALL.

THERE IS AN OBSCURE STATEBOARD THAT HAS APPROVED, I DON'’T EXACTLY KNOW, A LOAN GUARANTEE FOR SOME KIND OF PICKLE BALL FACILITY SOMEWHERE.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED TO FILL IN THE GAPS.

PATRICK: EXACTLY.

YOU ARE GETTING TO MY POINT.

THE STATE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY DOCUMENTS OR ANY EXPLANATION FOR WHERE THIS IS GOING, WHY THEY ARE GUARANTEEING , IF NOT ISSUING A $5 BILLION BOND FOR A PICKLE BALL FACILITY, WHATEVER THIS MIGHT BE -- $5 MILLION.

AND, THE PAID SPOKESPERSON I THINK THE COMMERCE CORPORATION SAID IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL OF THE STATE NOT TO, TO RELEASE ANY PIECE OF PAPER THAT DID NOT, THAT WAS NOT, THAT DOES NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY SINGLE POSSIBLE EXEMPTION THAT THEY COULD UNDER THE LINE, WHICH IS NOT TRUE.

THAT IS NOT WHAT THE LAW SAYS.

THAT IS HOW THE STATE GOVERNMENT, HOW THE LAWYERS IN THE KEY ADMINISTRATION ARE TREATING IT.

THAT THEY HAVE TO WITHHOLD CERTAIN AGENCIES, HAVE THE APPROACH, EVERYTHING THEY POSSIBLY CAN, WHICH IS BASICALLY EVERYTHING.

IAN: WHILE WE ARE TALKING ON TRANSPARENCY, I WILL GIVE PATRICK KUDOS FOR A STORY HE HAD IN THE LAST WEEK HOW THE RHODE ISLAND FC SOCCER TEAM IS GETTING FINANCIALLY GUARANTEED IN ITS ARENA CONSTRUCTION BY A MEMBER OF THE OWNERSHIP GROUP.

THE STICKING POINT IS HOW THIS PERSON IS NOT BEING IDENTIFIED.

THIS PROJECT IS GETTING PUBLIC MONEY.

ALL OF US ON THIS PANEL WOULD AGREE THERE SHOULD BE MORE, RATHER THAN LESS SUNLIGHT ON THIS.

THERE IS NOTHING GOOD THAT COMES FROM THIS LACK OF DISCLOSURE.

THE TEAM CAN SAY IT ILLUSTRATES SKIN IN THE GAME, IF A PROJECT SUFFERS FINANCIALLY, OWNERSHIP WILL FACE THAT LOSS BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER TO HAVE MORE DISCLOSURE.

JIM: IT ALL BEGINS TO BLUR.

TAVERAS BROUGHT IN SOMEONE WHO'’S SALARY WAS HALF FUNDED BY THE RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION.

THERE WAS AN ISSUE.

PUBLIC, PRIVATE, I GET IT.

IS AND IT BETTER TO AIR ON THE SIDE OF LET'’S GET IT ALL OUT ON THE TABLE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

RAYMOND: MY OUTRAGE, ELON MUSK IS THINKING ABOUT CHARGING NEW USERS ONE DOLLAR TO TWEET AND RETWEET, POST AND REPOST.

EVER SINCE HE BOUGHT TWITTER.

JIM: HE'’S GOT TO MAKE UP FOR THE $46 BILLION THAT WENT RIGHT DOWN THE TUBE.

RAYMOND: WE GET A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

I WAS INTERACTING WITH IAN, PATRICK, YOU, WHEN I WAS STARTING ON TWITTER.

I LOVE THE PLATFORM.

TO SEE IT GO TO THE SHAPE IT IS IN NOW, IT HURTS.

JIM: PATRICK, YOU HAD A GREAT OUTERR ARTICLE ABOUT THE RIPTA BOARD.

THE TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR HAS BEEN APPOINTED CHAIRMAN.

THERE'’S A LOT OF DYNAMICS.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT WANTED TO DISSOLVE IT INTO DOT.

HE WANTED TO HAVE A PERFORMANCE REVIEW, A MANAGEMENT STUDY.

THAT WAS INTERESTING.

PATRICK: IT IS A FOOD FIGHT AND A POWER PLAY AT RIPTA.

I DON'’T KNOW HOW IT IS GOING TO SHAKE OUT.

IT LOOKS LIKE ALBINI WANTS TO TAKE THE WHOLE THING OVER.

THERE IS A FIGHT BEHIND THE SCENES AND IN THE STATEHOUSE ABOUT WHETHER HE SHOULD.

JIM: IN HIS DEFENSE, IF THEY ARE LOOKING AT A LOOMING THING, HE WANTED TO GET AN OUTSIDE LOOK.

RIPTA PEOPLE SAID WE CAN DO THAT INTERNALLY.

SOMETIMES YOU NEED A FRESH LOOK FROM THE OUTSIDE.

PATRICK: FOR BRING IN MORE CONSULTANTS AT HIGH PRICES TO WRITE MORE REPORTS.

SOMEONE HAS TO TAKE CHARGE AND HAVE VISION FOR WHAT TO DO AND THE QUESTION IS, IS THAT THE GOVERNOR?

IS THAT SOMEONE WHO CAN PUT THE FUNDING AND MONEY BEHIND IT?

RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUTSIDE AND DON'’T HAVE THAT AUTHORITY TO SPEND THE MONEY, WHO ARE DOING THE FIGHTING ON EITHER SIDE.

>> THREE NEED ANOTHER INSPECTOR GENERAL?

JIM: OH MY GOODNESS!

IT'’S A WHOLE ANOTHER SHOW.

IAN: THE HISTORY OF RIPTA, SHOWS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN POORLY FUNDED.

WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE ROBUST.

IT TAKES MONEY.

JIM: SCOTT HAS BROUGHT IN A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE HIGHER LEVEL.

I GET THOSE EMAILS.

YOU PROBABLY DO.

WHAT ABOUT AN INDEPENDENT PERSON?

THIS IS JUSTIFIED, WE NEED THESE PEOPLE FOR, YOU CAN TRIM SOME DOWN.

THAT IS MAYBE WHAT AN OUTSIDE PERSON, I UNDERSTAND THE CONSULTANT SITUATION, TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT WHAT OF THESE POSITIONS BEING FUNDED?

>> THAT IS FAIR.

IT IS WORTH RE-EXAMINING THE GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY IN RHODE ISLAND, IF IT CAN BE MADE MORE EFFICIENT.

JIM: BECAUSE ALL THE TIME.

QUICK 30 MINUTES.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

WE DON'’T KNOW WHAT'’S GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE WILL BE HERE TO ANALYZE ALL OF IT.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

A LIVELY EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] ANNOUNCER: A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS INTO POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.