JIM: THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT," THE GOVERNOR DELIVERS HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

HE’S ASKING EVERYONE TO GET ON TEAM RHODE ISLAND.

THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER OFFERS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

WE WILL HEAR FROM HIM.

ANOUNCER: "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- JOHN: HI, I AM JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. 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 ON THE PANEL, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR EMILY LYNCH.

BILLY HUNT, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF RHODE ISLAND.

AND, POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR JIM VINCENT.

WELCOME TO LIVELY.

THE GOVERNOR PAINTED A ROSY PICTURE, SAYING THE STATE IS STRONG AND HAS MADE INVESTMENTS IN KEY AREAS DURING HIS THREE YEARS AS GOVERNOR.

HE FOLLOWED THAT UP WITH THE RELEASE OF A $13.7 BILLION PROPOSED BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR THAT WILL ALSO ASK VOTERS TO APPROVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF BORROWING IN THE FORM OF BOND ISSUES.

WE WILL GET TO THAT LATER.

FIRST’SOME EXCERPTS FROM THE GOVERNORS 45 MINUTE ADDRESS TO A JOINT SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK.

>> GOOD TEAMS ARE BUILT WHEN TALENTED INDIVIDUALS DO THEIR BEST.

BUT THE BEST TEAMS, THE VERY BEST TEAMS ARE BUILT WHEN TALENTED INDIVIDUALS USE THEIR SKILLS TO HELP OTHERS DO THEIR VERY BEST.

WHEN I BECAME GOVERNOR I BELIEVED RHODE ISLAND COULD DO BETTER, BE BETTER THAN JUST A GOOD TEAM.

WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPROVING TEST SCORES AND CLOSING THE GAP BETWEEN RHODE ISLAND AND MASSACHUSETTS BY 2030.

RHODE ISLAND BEGAN TO MOVE THE NEEDLE THIS YEAR, WE WANT TO ENSURE PROGRESS WILL CONTINUE.

THAT IS WHY MY BUDGET WILL PROPOSE $15 MILLION FOR MATH AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS COACHING FOR STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS TO HELP US MEET THE GOAL AHEAD OF US.

LET’S GET THIS DONE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

TEAM RHODE ISLAND WILL CONTINUE USING OUR SKILLS TO MAKE OUR STATE ONE OF THE VERY BEST IN THE NATION.

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A TEAM THAT HAS EACH OTHER’S BACKS.

THE STATE OF THE STATE IS STRONG.

JIM: EMILY, LET’S START WITH YOU.

IT MAKES YOU WANT TO SUIT OUT AND GET OUT ON THE COURT.

EMILY: THAT’S RIGHT.

JIM: WE WILL GET INTO SPECIFICS.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS?

EMILY: THAT HE SET THE AGENDA AND THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF SOMETHING LIKE A STATE OF THE STATE OR STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.

FOR THE LEADER TO SAY WHAT HIS PRIORITIES ARE OF HOUSING, INCREASING INCOME, EDUCATION.

HE’S CLAIMING CREDIT FOR LOWERING TAXES ALONG WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HE IS TALKING ABOUT HOW ATTENDANCE HAS INCREASED.

HE IS TALKING ABOUT OVERALL HOW THIS IS A GREAT STATE TO RAISE A FAMILY.

PLEASE PRESENTING HIMSELF WITH THIS THEME OF BEING THE TEAM CAPTAIN WHERE HE CAN CREATE THIS TEAM OR WORK WITH OTHERS THAT I THINK WILL END UP BEING HIS THEME FOR 2026 AND CONTINUING ON WITH HOW HE CAN LEAD A TEAM TO IMPROVE RHODE ISLAND.

JIM: YOU MEAN ULTIMATELY WHEN HE GETS THE REELECTION?

EMILY: EXACTLY.

BILLY: IT WAS A GOOD PRESENTATION.

HE HAS A POSITIVE OUTLOOK AND HE’S TRYING TO PAINT A ROSY PICTURE FOR WHAT THE FUTURE IS.

FOR A GOVERNOR WHO WON WITH 60% OF THE VOTE, YOU WOULD EXPECT HIM TO HAVE A MORE DYNAMIC AND MORE SERIOUS GOALS HE’S TRYING TO FOCUS ON TO GET ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE COURSE OF HIS GOVERNORSHIP.

HIS BOLD PLAN LAST TIME WAS A .15% REDUCTION IN THE SALES TAX.

THAT WAS NOT MENTIONED IN THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

THERE IS NO REAL BIG CHANGE OR BIG PLANT THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE THAT HE’S PUSHING THROUGH.

HE SEEMS TO BE GOING WITH THE FLOW.

THE ISSUES HE CHAMPIONED AND TALKED ABOUT AND GOT THE BIGGEST APPLAUSE OF THE NIGHT LITERALLY FELL INTO HIS LAP IN THE CASE OF THE INDEPENDENT MAN.

I THINK THERE IS NEED OF PLANNING AND MORE LEADERSHIP ON HIS END TO SET THE AGENDA AND NOT JUST GO WITH THE FLOW ABOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS SAYING.

JIM: I LIKED THE SPEECH.

I LIKED THE SPORTS ANALOGY THINGS HE WAS DOING IN THE SPEECH.

THERE ARE SEVERAL QUICK HITTERS I THOUGHT WERE PARTICULARLY GOOD.

I THOUGHT THE $100 MILLION BOND FOR HOUSING WAS GREAT.

WE ARE IN A HOUSING CRISIS.

ANY TYPE OF MONEY THAT WAS SPENT ON HUIZINGA -- HOUSING IS IMPORTANT.

$36 MILLION FOR ENGLISH-LANGUAGE LEARNING.

$15 MILLION FOR ENGLISH AND MATH COACHING.

ALL OF THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN EDUCATION.

IF WE ARE GOING TO MATCH MASSACHUSETTS WE NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON DOLLARS INTO EDUCATION.

JOB CREATION.

I LIKE THE $135 MILLION BONDS FOR THE LIFESCIENCES LAB IDEA.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF CYBERSECURITY BUILDING BECAUSE WE HAVE TO CREATE JOBS OF THE FUTURE IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE WORKING AND BE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED IN JOBS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

EVEN RETIREES.

AT SOME POINT EVEN I WILL RETIRE.

I LIKE THAT THEY MOVED THE EXCEPTION TO $50,000.

$500 A YEAR, I’LL TAKE IT.

EARLY INTERVENTION.

THE KIDS ON WAITING LISTS FOR DISABILITIES.

THEY WILL BE $4 MILLION.

WE SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY KIDS ON A WAITLIST.

JIM: THAT STORY WAS HERE.

IT WAS REALLY SOBERING ABOUT HOW LONG PEOPLE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THOSE SERVICES.

LET ME GET BACK TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

$250 MILLION ACCOUNTED FOR.

A LOT OF THAT HAS NOT GONE OUT THE DOOR.

I WONDER WHAT THE APPETITE WILL BE FOR ANOTHER BOND.

IF YOU GET TO THE BOND, THE BONDS USUALLY PASS.

I WONDER WHAT THE APPETITE WILL BE IN THE SENATE.

THEY WANT TO SEE RESULTS.

ARE WE GOING TO PUT $100 MILLION ON TOP OF THE $250 MILLION?

EMILY: I THINK YOUR POINT IS VALID AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT HOW THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS A WHOLE GOING TO REACT TO IT.

I THINK THE LEADERS HAVE BEEN A BIT HESITANT TO BE ON BOARD WITH MORE HOUSING FUNDS BECAUSE THEY ARE WAITING TO SEE WHAT IS BEING DONE WITH THE HOUSING FUNDING THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE.

JIM V.: HOUSING WHEN TIMES.

IT’S NOT A TECHIE OMETHING YOU DO OVERNIGHT.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT PHASES OF HOUSING THAT MUST BE MET.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING VERSUS OTHER KINDS OF HOUSING.

I AM THINKING ONCE THE PROCESS IS COMMUNICATED WELL TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THEY HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF HOW LONG IT TAKES TO DO CERTAIN KINDS OF THINGS THAT I THINK WE WILL BE OK IN THE HOUSING INVESTMENT ARE GOING TO BE MADE.

BILLY: THE HOUSING TAKES TIME.

EVEN FROM THE TIME THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN IN OFFICE YOU HAVE NOT SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ANY TYPE OF HOUSING.

WEATHERBY GENERAL HOUSING STOCK HAS BEEN BASICALLY FLAT FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE ARE ADDING 400 TO 500 UNITS A YEAR.

ONLY 50 ARE TYPICALLY OWNER-OCCUPIED.

WE ARE DUMPING A LOT OF MONEY INTO THESE PROGRAMS AND WE ARE NOT SEEING A LOT OF RESULT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE QUESTIONING IT.

IF YOU LOOK AT CENSUS DATA AND YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, THE POPULATION HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH FLATLINED.

WE SEEM TO BE BUILDING HOUSES EVERY YEAR ALTHOUGH NOT AS HIGH AS IT WAS BEFORE THE 2008 CRASH.

PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHERE ARE ALL THESE HOUSING UNITS GOING AND WHY AREN’T WE SOLVING THE PROBLEM?

IS IT BECAUSE OF THE INFLUX IN IMMIGRATION?

INFLUX IN POPULATION OR JUST ARE THESE HOUSING UNITS NOT MATERIALIZING?

JIM V.: THAT BAFFLES ME.

YOU LOOK AT THE CENSUS DATA IN THE LAST 50 TO 70 YEARS.

RHODE ISLAND IS ONE MILLION PEOPLE.

50,000 MORE OR 50,000 LESS.

IT IS NOT LIKE A HUGE INFLUX IN POPULATION.

PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE PEOPLE -- FIVE PEOPLE IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD.

NOW YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THEIR OWN PERSONAL HOUSES.

YOU HAVE DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLD FORMATIONS HAPPENING.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS DRIVING IT.

THE FACT WE ARE NOT LIVING THE SAME WAY WE DID 50 YEARS AGO WITH 10 PEOPLE IN THE SAME FAMILY LIVING IN ONE HOUSE.

JIM: YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE INSTEAD HAVING MULTIPLE GENERATIONS LIVING IN THE SAME HOUSE YOU KNOW HAVE A LOT MORE DIVORCE FAMILIES.

NOT ONLY DOES THE PARENT HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH OOM FOR THEIR KIDS BUT NOW THEY’RE DIVORCED SPOUSE HAS TO HAVE ENOUGH ROOM AS WELL.

YOU HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD NATURALLY BE LIVING TOGETHER BEFOREHAND AND NOW LIVING IN TWO SEPARATE HOUSES THAT BOTH NEED TO HAVE ROOM FOR THE CHILDREN.

YOU SEE AN INCREASE IN PEOPLE AND KIDS BEING WARDS OF THE STATE AND GOING THROUGH THAT AND DEALING WITH THE PROBLEMS LIKE THAT.

I KNOW SITUATIONS FOR FAMILIES WHO HAVE TAKEN A FOSTER KIDS NEEDED TO HAVE MORE ROOM BASED O STATE REGULATIONS ON LIVING CONDITIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THE MORE AND MORE THE STATE GETS INVOLVED IN THESE TYPES OF ISSUES, THE MORE AND MORE IS GOING TO MAKE IT LESS HOUSING STOCK AVAILABLE FOR RHODE ISLANDERS IN GENERAL.

EMILY: I ALSO THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT I BELIEVE BROUGHT UP ABOUT LAND-USE AND BEING STRATEGIC ABOUT WHERE ARE THESE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS GOING AND WORKING WITH MINAS APOLOGIES TO -- MUNICIPALITIES TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR FAMILY TO GET THE GROCERY STORES, TO WORK, ETC.

JIM: IT IS NOT A NEW ISSUE AT URI.

SO MANY KIDS LIVE OFF-CAMPUS.

I FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT JOHNSON AND WALES WILL REQUIRE THEIR STUDENTS THREE YEARS ON CAMPUS.

I’M NOT SURE THAT WILL WORK WITH EVERY CAMPUS BUT IT’S AN EFFORT TO FREE UP MORE HOUSING THAT MAYBE STUDENTS ARE TAKING.

EMILY: HOUSING IS AN ISSUE IN SOUTH KINGSTOWN, ON THE CAMPUS OF URI.

THERE ARE GRAD STUDENT STRUGGLING TO FIND HOUSING.

THAT IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE.

JIM V.: WE ARE DEAD LAST HOUSING PRODUCTION IN THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE 50TH AND WE HAVE BEEN THAT FOR DECADES.

HOUSING PRODUCTION, WE NEED 24,000 UNITS TO BE -- SO WE WILL NOT BE IN A SO-CALLED CRISIS.

24,000.

THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF UNITS.

JIM: YOU CANNOT JUST SNAP YOUR FINGERS AND SPEND $250 MILLION.

THAT’S A YEARS LONG PROCESS.

JIM V.: IT TAKES TIME BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE.

IF YOU DON’T DO IT YOU DON’T HAVE ANYTHING IN THE PROBLEM GETS EXACERBATED.

THESE HOUSEHOLD FORMATIONS, I AGREE WITH YOU IN TERMS OF THAT AND WHAT I SAID ABOUT PEOPLE LIVING IN THE SAME HOUSE.

WE HAVE TO CREATE UNITS.

IF WE DON’T, THERE IS SPECULATION IN TERMS OF CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS AND PEOPLE COMING DOWN BECAUSE HOUSING IS RELATIVELY CHEAPER.

I READ SOMETHING OF THE DAY OR LAST NIGHT THAT IT WILL BE ONE OF THE -- PROVIDENCE WILL BE ONE OF THE FIVE HOTTEST HOUSING MARKETS IN THE COUNTRY.

ALL THAT DOES IS PUT PRESSURE ON THE VALUE.

JIM: THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF PEOPLE LIVING IN THE PROVIDENCE -- JIM V.: ARE FROM BOSTON.

BILLY: FOR PEOPLE GETTING RETIRED AROUND THE VERGE OF RETIREMENT.

IS NOT NECESSARILY THE PEOPLE -- THE GOVERNOR IS CALLING ON TO HELP US KEEP THE YOUNGER PEOPLE AND STOPPING THE BRAIN DRAIN.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE IN REZA FAMILY HERE.

-- RAISE A FAMILY HERE.

JIM: LET’S TALK ABOUT EDUCATION.

MASSACHUSETTS IS THE GOLD STANDARD AND WE ARE TRYING TO BE LIKE MASSACHUSETTS.

DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING FROM THE GOVERNOR?

YOU GUYS HAVE KIDS IN SCHOOL.

THAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE FOCUSED ON BILLY: THE EDUCATION AND RHODE ISLAND IS A MESS.

CERTAIN THINGS OF HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL, AND HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT IN VARIOUS ARTICLES IS A LOT OF IT IS THE REIMBURSEMENT THEY ARE DOING FOR STUDENTS AFTER THEY LEAVE SCHOOL FOR WHATEVER REASON.

THEY GO TO A CHARTER SCHOOL OR THEY MOVE TO BACKFILL THAT TRANSITION SUPPORT.

YOU THINK OF IT HOW MUCH MONEY THE STATE IS PAYING FOR KIDS NOT TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TO MAINTAIN THE SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

WE VOTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SCHOOL BONDING IN THE LAST SPECIAL ELECTION TO REBUILD ALL THE SCHOOLS AND INVEST THIS FUNDING.

WE SEE INVOLVEMENTS DECLINING IN OUR STATE.

IT MAKES ME WONDER WHY WE ARE INVESTING ALL THIS MONEY.

IT IS SIMILAR TO -- WE ARE DUMPING TONS OF MONEY INTO IT.

JIM V.: THAT WILL CHANGE.

THEY ARE PAYNG FOR EMPTY SEATS NOW.

THE WORD IS GOING OUT THAT WE WILL NOT DO THAT.

POTENTIAL LAYOFFS, POTENTIAL RESTRUCTURING OF SCHOOL FUNDING.

BILLY: IT WILL CREATE ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TEACHERS UNIONS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

I DON’T SEE A LOT OF -- BE ON HIS LEARN 65 PROGRAM, UNFUNDED MANDATE FOR TOWNS TO GO ON, I DID NOT SEE A LOT OF -- ANYTHING -- ANY MAJOR PROPOSALS OR INITIATIVES.

A LOT O LITTLE THINGS NIBBLING AROUND THE EDGES TO FILL OUT HIS OWN INDIVIDUAL POLICY, I GUESS.

EMILY: I WAS LOOKING FOR MORE EXAMPLES OF HOW THE LEARN 365 PROGRAM IS WORKING AND MAYBE HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THOSE WHERE HE DID --JIM V.: DO YOU HAVE THAT IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

EMILY: SOUTH KINGSTOWN HAS A PROGRAM.

THAT IS WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM TALK ABOUT THAT AND MAYBE CONNECT IT TO EXAMPLES OF INCREASING ATTENDANCE AND HOW THAT HAS WORKED.

STUDENT COACHING -- AREN’T THE TEACHERS THE COACHES IN THE CLASSROOM?

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT.

I KNOW I HAVE TALKED TO TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATION, AND THEY SAID THEY NEED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

IS THAT A COACH?

IS THAT WHAT HE’S LOOKING FOR?

MORE SOCIAL WORKERS.

THE COMMISSIONER MENTIONED HOW THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT -- SHE’S CONCERNED ABOUT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PRESCHOOL STUDENTS.

WHERE ARE THE TEACHERS COMING FROM?

WE HAVE A TEACHER SHORTAGE.

WE HAD THAT RHODE ISLAND SURVEY INITIATIVE, THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM RHODE ISLAND RESIDENTS NOTICED WAS AN ISSUE FOR RHODE ISLAND SCHOOLS.

I DID NOT SEE A WAY IN WHICH HE’S GOING TO ADDRESS THAT.

JIM: WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH DOCTORS.

WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH ANYTHING AT THIS POINT.

JIM V.: IN TERMS OF TEACHERS,, I TOLD THE GOVERNOR I WILL GO DOWN TO HBCU’S AND WE WILL RECRUIT TEACHERS TO BRING THE BACK TO RHODE ISLAND.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO INVEST IN EDUCATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

$48 MILLION, FROM WHAT I CAN SEE HERE, THAT MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT BUT IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WE HAVE TO INVEST IN ENGLISH LINKAGE LEARNING.

-- LANGUAGE LEARNING.

THAT IS REAL DOLLARS.

THE PRE-K EXPANSION, THAT IS DOLLARS WELL SPENT.

WE LOOK AT THE TEACHERS.

JIM: ON THURSDAY, THE GOVERNOR RELEASED HIS BUDGET.

$13.7 BILLION.

A SLIGHT REDUCTION BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING FEDERAL-AID AND ON TUESDAY NIGHT THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER MY CHIPPENDALE, WHO WAS A GUEST LAST WEEK FOR THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS SHOW, HE STARTED HIS ADDRESS TO THE REBUTTAL TO GOVERNOR MCKEE’S ADDRESS, TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET.

HERE’S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND STANDS AT A DELICATE JUNCTURE.

WE FACE MANY CHALLENGES AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

LAST YEAR’S BUDGET WAS $14 BILLION.

PRIOR TO COVID WE SHOULD BE AROUND $11.5 BILLION THIS YEAR.

WE MUST HOLD THE LINE AND WE MUST BE LOOKING FOR PLACES TO CUT SPENDING.

RHODE ISLAND’S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS COLLAPSING.

WE ARE HEMORRHAGING PRACTITIONERS OF EVERY DISCIPLINE, FROM SPECIALISTS TO SUPPORT PHYSICIANS.

REPUBLICANS CALL FOR A LONG OVERDUE ADJUSTMENT TO OUR MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATE TO KEEP PACE WITH OUR NEIGHBORING STATES.

SOME OF OUR OTHER SOLUTIONS INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH CARE ACT WHICH WILL HELP RETAIN MEDICAL GRADUATES AND RHODE ISLAND.

WE ALSO WANT TO REINSTITUTE ACCESS TO TELEMEDICINE ACROSS STATE LINES.

YOU’VE HEARD REPUBLICANS SPEAK OF INSTITUTING AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL IN RHODE ISLAND, JUST LIKE THE MAJORITY OF STATES HAVE DONE.

THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT CAN SAVE TAXPAYERS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

RHODE ISLAND IS ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL PLACES IN THE WORLD.

WE POSSESS THE ABILITY TO EXCEL BEYOND ALL EXPECTATIONS.

IT IS TIME TO DREAM BIGGER AND EXECUTE SMARTER.

JIM: THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS SOMETHING -- I HAVE DONE STORIES ON THIS FOR YEARS.

THEY HAVE NO APPETITE.

WE TALKED TO THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER LAST WEEK.

DID NOT THINK IT WAS NECESSARY.

JIM V.: THERE’S BEEN SOME PUSHBACK ON THAT.

THEY SAY WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WE HAVE THIS PERSON.

JIM: AUDITOR GENERAL.

JIM V.: THEY SAY IT WOULD BE REDUNDANT.

I’M NOT SURE IF IT WOULD BE OR NOT.

I DON’T REALLY HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION IN TERMS OF WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON WITH THOSE DISCUSSING TRENDS AND WHAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WILL BE DOING.

JIM: IS IT AS SIMPLE AS THEY DO WANT TO GET THE CAMEL’S NOSE UNDER THE TENT?

BILLY: THAT IS THE FEELING.

MORE IMPORTANT THAN INSPECTOR GENERAL WOULD BE A FUNCTIONING SECOND PARTY IN THE STATE TO HOLD SOME ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE LEADERSHIP.

JIM: THAT’S A PRETTY HEFTY POL E. BILLY: I HAVE NO INTEREST OR APPETITE IN EXPANDING THE GOVERNMENT AND ADDING ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.

THERE IS SOME MERIT TO THE IDEA YOU HAVE SOMEBODY KEEPING AN EYE ON THE CHECKBOOK AND MAKING SURE THINGS ARE GOING THE WAY THEY ARE EXPECTED TO.

EMILY: RIGHT.

WE LOOK AT OTHER STATES.

AT LEAST 36 STATES HAVE BEEN INSPECTOR GENERAL.

THE LARGEST AIDS HAVE THEM WITHIN EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS -- THE LARGEST STATES HAVE THEM WITHIN EACH DEPARTMENT.

MASSACHUSETTS AND CONNECTICUT HAVE THEM IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES.

I BELIEVE CONNECTICUT IS MORE FOCUSED ON THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS VERSUS MASSACHUSETTS LOOKING AT WAYS THE STATE -- WASTE AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS.

IF WE ARE COMPARING OTHER STATES, THEY HAVE THIS INSPECTOR GENERAL.

WE LOOK AT THE LOW LEVELS OF TRUST IN THE STATE.

MAYBE THIS WOULD INCREASE YOUR FEELINGS OF TRUSTING THE GOVERNMENT IN EACH OF THE DIFFERENT BRANCHE.

LEVELS OF CORRUPTION IS ANOTHER SURVEY QUESTION FROM THE RHODE ISLAND SURVEY INITIATIVE.

MAYBE THIS WOULD INCREASE TRANSPARENCY.

THAT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE BIPARTISAN, A BIPARTISAN PUSH TO HAVE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL.

JIM: IT SEEMS LIKE THE LEADERSHIP IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE REVENUE.

NOT THAT WE HAVE TO COVER PROGRAMS.

WE NEED REVENUE AND THIS MIGHT DO IT.

AS YOU WERE SAYING THE PLURAL, WE MIGHT HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE TERM INSPECTORS GENERAL LIKE ATTORNEYS GENERAL.

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BILL OF RIGHTS.

WE HEARD FROM THE LEADERSHIP.

EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE ON BOARD TO GET IT DONE AND GET IT DONE QUICKLY.

YOU ARE ON THE COMMISSION.

WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FINISH.

ARE YOU HEARING AT ALL ANY MOVEMENT EARLY IN THIS SESSION OR DO YOU THINK THIS WILL BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS?

IT DID NOT MAKE IT THROUGH LAST YEAR BECAUSE THEY RAN OUT OF TIME.

JIM V.: TWO THINGS.

I WAS ON THE SENATE COMMISSION.

TWO, EVERYBODY KNOWS I’M FOR THE FULL REPEAL LIKE THEY HAVEN’T 30 SEVEN OTHER STATES.

I’M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH.

IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO MAKE SENSE TO ME FOR SOMETHING TO BE COMPROMISED AND YOU HAVE SOME KIND OF REFORM THAT WILL PROBABLY NOT DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY.

I DID RUN INTO THE SPEAKER YESTERDAY.

HE SAID I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO SEE THE HOUSE VERSION.

I THINK YOU WOULD LIKE THAT MORE AND THE ADVOCATES WOULD LIKE THAT MORE AS WELL THAN PREVIOUS.

WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN FROM WHAT I’M HEARING.

SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN.

WHETHER OR NOT THE ADVOCATES WILL LIKE IT, I DOUBT IT, BUT SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING.

JIM: ANYTHING ELSE IN THE BUDGET THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU OR STUFF THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP AN ION AS THE SESSION UNFOLDS -- EYE ON AS THE SESSION UNFOLDS?

BILLY: HE TALKED ABOUT RAISING PER CAPITA INCOME.

JIM: WHERE DID THAT FIGURE COME FROM?

BILLY: GARY SASS, THEY WERE GOING BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THIS ON TWITTER AFTER HE MADE THE COMMENT.

IF YOU LOOK HISTORICALLY THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS WE HAVE GROWN PER CAPITA INCOME BY ABOUT -- I’M SORRY.

THE IDEA OF GOING UP TO $20,000 IN THE NEXT FIVE OR SIX YEARS IS NOT THAT BIG OF A STRETCH IN MY OPINION.

IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET PROJECTIONS AND THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS, THEY BETTER HOPE THEY REACH THAT GOAL OR ELSE THEY WILL HAVE A REVENUE SHORTFALL AND A BUDGET DEFICIT.

I DON’T GET IS NECESSARILY A BOLD ASK TO HIT THAT $20,000 MARK.

IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE GOING THAT TREND ANYWAY.

THAT IS LIKE SAYING I WILL MAKE A FEW FREE THROWS IN MY BASKETBALL GAME.

JIM: COACH MCKEE.

ANYTHING ELSE IN THE BUDGET?

EMILY: IT’S IMPORTANT THAT MCKEE IS PROPOSING MORE FUNDING TO INCREASE NORI AND WOMEN -- MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES TO BE A KEY PLAYER IN THE STATE.

JIM: LET’S GO TO OUTRAGES AND/OR KUDOS.

MR. VINCENT?

JIM V.: DRUMROLL PLEASE.

I HAVE A KUDO.

JIM: MY GOODNESS.

JIM V.: THAT SURPRISED YOU.

THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGE MELISSA DEBOSE.

SHE CAME TO ME AND SAID I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO BE A REFERENCE.

I WOULD LIKE TO PUT MY NAME IN FOR U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE.

WE HAVE THREE IN RHODE ISLAND.

I SAID SURE.

I TALKED TO SENATORS WHITE HOUSE AND SENATOR REED.

IT’S A LONG SHOT BECAUSE YOU HAVE 70 PEOPLE THAT ARE QUALIFIED.

THEY BOTH AGREED SHE WAS THE BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE.

THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED HER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN WHO WILL HAVE TO GO BEFORE THE U.S. SENATE, HER NAME.

IT’S A GREAT STORY.

SHE GREW UP IN MOUNT HOPE.

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE.

STARTED TEACHING AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL.

WENT TO LAW SCHOOL AT NIGHT.

WORKED FOR THE ASSISTANT -- AS AN ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL.

BECAME A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE.

NOW SHE WILL BE THE FIRST BLACK U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE I FEEL IN RHODE ISLAND HISTORY, MAKING HISTORY ONCE AGAIN.

JIM: DID YOU PUT HER OVER THE FINISH LINE?

JIM V.: NOT ME.

SHE HAD THE BEST RECORD.

JIM: IT’S AMAZING AND 2024 WE ARE TALKING WITH THE FIRST ON THE FEDERAL COURT.

BILLY?

BILLY: I PROMISED MY MOM I WOULD BRING THIS UP.

AFTER ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER BUDGET YEAR AND ALL THE PROMISES MADE IN THE STATE ADDRESS, STATE RETIREES ARE NOT GOING TO BE -- SEEMINGLY NOT GOING TO BE SEEING AND INCREASING.

COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS THEY KICKED THE CAN TO THE STATE TREASURER.

IT’S BEEN SINCE 2016 WHERE THEY PASSED LEGISLATION.

IT IS SOMETHING WITH THE INCREASED AMOUNT OF INFLATION THAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING IT DUE TO BIDENONMICSMICS AND EXTORT NARROW LARGE EVENT OF STIMULUS MONEY WE COULD’VE DONE SOMETHING TO HELP FULLY FUND THEIR PENSION AND HELP THEM WITH THE COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.

THEY ARE DISPLAYED IN THE WAITING GAME FOR THE RETIREES TO PASS ON AND WILL NOT HAVE TO BE A PROBLEM ANYMORE.

JIM: YOU ARE NOT CONFIDENT ANYTHING WILL HAPPEN?

BILLY: THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS.

ONCE ANYTHING IT’S 80% FUNDED THEY WILL REINSTITUTE -- JIM: THAT’S LIKE 2031.

BILLY: THERE RETIREES, THEY PUT THEIR MONEY AND WHILE THEY WERE WORKING.

IT IS NOT LIKE THEY DIDN’T CONTRIBUTE.

IT IS SOLELY A PROBLEM OF THE GOVERNMENT.

IT IS SOMETHING THEY NEED TO ADDRESS AND FIX.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DEPENDING ON THAT MONEY.

A LOT OF THEM DID NOT COLLECT SOCIAL SECURITY AS PART OF THEIR DEAL.

18 OR 19 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND THEY ARE COUNTING ON THESE COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.

IT IS SOMETHING THE STATE NEEDS TO ADDRESS.

JIM: FASTER?

-- PROFESSOR?

EMILY: MORE OF A CONCERN ABOUT FLOODING IN THE STATE.

OVER THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS WE HAVE SEEN FLOODING.

PERSONALLY, MY CHILDRENS’ SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED.

THEY HAD DELAYS.

BUSINESSES WERE CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.

WE CAN SEE CONCERNS OF TOURISM.

YOU LOOK AT WESTERLY AND YOU SEE THE SAND DUNES THAT ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE, ON THE ROAD, EVERYWHERE.

WE HAVE THIS CONCERN ABOUT FLOOD MITIGATION THAT HAVE SURPRISED WAS NOT ADDRESSED IN THE STATE OF THE STATE OR MENTIONED AT ALL IN THE SPEECH.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK OUR STATE LEADERS, AND I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO FOR FLOOD MITIGATION.

JIM: WE JUST HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION IS SOMETHING THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS PUSHING, JOHN MARION FROM COMMON CAUSE.

WE COULD DO A WHOLE SHOW ABOUT ELECTIONS, MY DO THAT AT SOME POINT.

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION?

EMILY: I SUPPORT SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION TO ALLOW ANY INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS.

IT’S A GOOD THING.

WE SEE OTHER STATES THAT ARE DOING IT AS WELL.

WE WOULD NOT BE THE FIRST.

JIM V.: TOTALLY UNSUPPORTIVE IT.

22 STATES HAVE IT.

IT WILL INCREASE BLOOD VOTER TURNOUT, LATINO VOTER TURNOUT AND YOUNG PEOPLE VOTER TURNOUT.

BILLY: I’M NOT AGAINST IT PER SE BUT MY WHOLE THING IS WE ARE MAKING IT A LOT EASIER FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO VOTE AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CHOICES THEY HAVE TO VOTE FOR.

MY PRIORITY WOULD BE MORE TOWARDS ALLOWING FOR DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW TO BE AVAILABLE ON THE BALLOT SO PEOPLE WHO REGISTER THE SAME DAY TO VOTE CAN ACTUALLY VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE THAT REPRESENTS THEIR BELIEFS.

JIM: YOU GET GOING ON THAT.

BILLY: I’M WORKING ON IT.

JIM: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

JIM, EMILY, BILLY.

WE ARE STILL SAYING HAPPY NEW YEAR THROUGH JANUARY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND WE WILL HAVE IT COVERED WITH THE BREAKDOWN AND ANALYSIS.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

JOIN US BACK HERE AS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

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

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] [CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] ♪ ANOUNCER: "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- JOHN: HI, I AM JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. 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