JIM: WHAT ARE THE KEY ISSUES LAWMAKERS WILL TAKE UP AND 2024.

THE PARTIAL CLOSER OF THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE CONTINUES TO AFFECT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY.

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 FOR A REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE, THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL'’S PATRICK ANDERSON.

NANCY LAVIN FROM THE RHODE ISLAND CURRENT AND ED FITZPATRICK WITH THE BOSTON GLOBE.

HELLO AND WELCOME INTO OUR FIRST PROGRAM OF 2024.

IT IS GREAT TO BE WITH YOU FOR ANOTHER YEAR OF "LIVELY."

WHAT WILL FACE LAWMAKERS IN THIS ELECTION YEAR?

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN JANUARY OFTEN CHANGES BY THE TIME THE SPEAKER HITS THE GAVEL FOR THE FINAL TIME IN JUNE OR JULY.

EVERYONE ON OUR PANEL WILL HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT AT THE STATEHOUSE TO SEE IT EVOLVE.

WELCOME.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY.

NANCY, THE SPEAKER IS TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL BUDGET STORM CLOUDS.

WE SEEM TO HAVE GONE FROM FLUSH TO LET'’S BE CAREFUL IN THIS BUDGET SEASON.

NANCY: I THINK EVERYONE KNEW THIS WAS COMING.

THE FORECASTS FOR REVENUE GROWTH ARE THAT IT WILL BE NOT A RECESSION BUT SLOWING AND ALL THE FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY HAS TO BE ALLOCATED BY THE END OF DECEMBER 2024.

WHETHER IT WILL ACTUALLY BE SPENT IN TIME WILL B -- FOUR HAS TO BE RETURNED IS ANOTHER QUESTION.

EVERYONE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS TIGHTENING OF THE PURSESTRINGS FOR A WHILE.

JIM: IT IS LIKE OLD TIMES, PATRICK.

IT'’S A $250 MILLION DEFICIT.

WE ARE NOT THERE YET.

I DO THINK ANY MONEY IS GOING BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY WILL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SPEND IT.

PATRICK: IT'’S NOT.

THE SPEAKER TALKING ABOUT HOW THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE TIGHT IS LIKE A CHRISTMAS CARD OR NEW YEAR'’S GREETING TIDING.

IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.

SINCE THE RECESSION.

THAT WAS BUDGET PROBLEMS.

THESE ARE A DIFFERENT CATEGORY.

THIS IS MORE THE SPEAKER SEEING A CONGA LINE OF SPECIAL INTERESTS AND HIS COLLEAGUES, LAWMAKERS SEEING WE STILL DO HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD BUDGET PICTURE AND REALIZING THEY ARE ASKING FOR THIS, THAT, THE MOON, THE STARS.

THIS IS A WAY OF TAMPING DOWN NEXT VACATIONS AS BEST HE AND OTHER STATE LEADERS CAN TO TRY TO QUELL SOME OF THAT -- SOME OF THOSE DEMANDS FOR EVERYTHING.

THE BUDGET IS STILL IN FAIRLY GOOD SHAPE.

IT IS TRUE IT IS NOT AS GOOD AS IT WAS WHEN THERE WAS FEDERAL MONEY JUST FLOWING IN.

THERE IS ROUGHLY $100 BILLION SURPLUS -- $100 MILLION SURPLUS.

THERE IS STILL UNSPENT FEDERAL MONEY.

THERE IS STILL MONEY TO BE FOUND.

THERE JUST ISN'’T UNLIMITED MONEY AND THE DEMANDS KEEP ROLLING IN.

THAT IS REALLY WHAT HE'’S -- ED: IT'’S LIKE A PREEMPTIVE STRIKE.

THERE ARE ALL THESE REQUESTS OUT THERE.

$100 MILLION FOR HOUSING, $100 MILLION FIRST-AID ARCHIVE.

HE'’S TRYING TO SEND A MESSAGE TO COLLEAGUES IT WILL NOT BE UNLIMITED.

THE BUDGET IS UP TO $14 BILLION.

ALTHOUGH THAT FEDERAL SPIGOT WILL DRY UP SOON, YOU KNOW, IT'’S A HEFTY AMOUNT.

JIM: WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON THE GLOBE PODCAST.

PATRICK, DURING THE CAMPAIGN WITH ASHLEY KAYLA'’S, GOVERNOR MCKEE WAS ASKED ALL THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT HAS TO BE RUN THROUGH SO THAT IS WHITE IS $14 BILLION.

-- WHY IT IS $14 BILLION.

WHAT WILL IT SETTLE BACK IN AT?

HE SAID AT THE TIME IT WOULD BE $11.5 BILLION, MAYBE $12 BILLION.

DID WE SEE BUDGET THAT WILL BE LESS THAN WHAT THEY ARE NOW WHEN THE FEDERAL MONEY RUNS OUT?

PATRICK: WE EXPECT THE NEXT BUDGET WILL GO DOWN.

THAT IS WHAT THEY THINK.

I DON'’T THINK IT'’S GOING TO GO DOWN TO THAT LEVEL.

ONCE IT GOES DOWN, IT WILL THEN CREEP SLOWLY BACK UP.

WE WILL PROBABLY BE BACK IF WE GET DOWN BELOW THE $14 BILLION, WE WILL BE BACK THERE NOT TOO LONG.

THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT DO, THE EXPIRATION OF THE FEDERAL MONEY WHERE THEY DID USE IT TO GIVE BONUSES DURING THE PANDEMIC TO WORKERS.

THERE ARE SOME ONGOING THINGS.

SOME OF THE HEALTH CARE MONEY THAT WITH THE HOSPITAL'’SS.

FOLKS ARE WORRIED ABOUT BAILOUTS FOR THE HOSPITALS.

THERE ARE DEMANDS ON THE BUDGET THAT DO COME WITH END OF THIS PANDEMIC.

PLUS, THE INFLATION HITS STATE GOVERNMENT ON A LAG WHERE THE RACES NEGOTIATED AFTER THE INFLATION STARTS ARE NOW STARTING TO HIT.

THERE ARE BUDGET PRESSURES BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THE BUDGET COLLAPSE BACK DOWN TO WERE A REALLY LOW LEVEL.

JIM: ANY CONVERSATION WITH THE SPEAKER STARTS OUT WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOUSING.

I'’M HEARING A LITTLE DIFFERENT TONE FROM THE SENATE.

TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU HEARD IN HIS OPENING SPEECH ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE SESSION.

NANCY: IT'’S A LOT OF SORT OF CONGRATULATORY AND NOT UNDESERVED BUT CONGRATULATIONS ON EVERYTHING WE ACHIEVED LAST YEAR, SENDING THIS MESSAGE OF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CURTAIL OR DON'’T ASK FOR TOO MUCH THIS YEAR.

IT WAS ALSO INTERESTING.

HE HAD A COUPLE OF POINTED CRITIQUES IN WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A FEEL-GOOD SPEECH.

TALKING ABOUT THE HOUSING PACKAGE THAT MOST OF WHICH PASSED LAST YEAR AND A LOT OF THE NEW LAWS IMPLEMENT IT JANUARY 1.

HE SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE TRYING TO CIRCUMVENT OR NOT GO ALONG WITH THESE NEW LAWS THAT ARE AIMING TO STREAMLINE AND PROMOTE NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

HE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A COUPLE OF JABS.

I DON'’T KNOW IT'’S NECESSARILY A JAB BUT THEY ARE ASKING -- HE IS ASKING ALL NUMBERS OF THE HOUSE TO VOLUNTARILY LIMIT THE NUMBER OF BILLS THEY INTRODUCE THIS YEAR TO 15 PER PERSON, WHICH I GUESS IS A SORT OF REACTION TO THE NUMBER INTRODUCED LAST YEAR WHICH WAS I THINK MORE THAN 2500 ACROSS BOTH CHAMBERS.

JIM: THAT'’S A LOT OF BILLS THAT WILL NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY.

ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HE DID NOT CALL OUT NARRAGANSETT BY NAME BUT NARRAGANSETT KINDA TRIED TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF AN END AROUND, MY WORDS, FROM THE STATE LAW.

STATE LAW IS HARD TO GET AROUND.

ED: YEAH.

NOT ONLY IN THE FIRST DAY MESSAGE BUT YESTERDAY THERE WAS AN INTERFAITH COALITION WITH THE VIGIL IN THE ROTUNDA.

HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW SOME COMMUNITIES DON'’T WANT MORE HOUSING.

THEY DON'’T WANT -- THE STATUS QUO IS NOT GOOD.

I WANT TO SEE THESE COMMUNITIES OBEY THE LAWS WE HAVE PASSED.

WHAT IS THE THREAT BEHIND THAT, I DON'’T KNOW.

THAT IS DEFINITELY TE MESSAGE HE IS SENDING.

PATRICK: I THINK THE THREAT IS LEGAL ACTION, PROBABLY FROM A PROPERTY OWNER.

THAT IS THE SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN AN FOLKS ARE WATCHING, INCLUDING AT THE STATEHOUSE.

THAT SOMEONE IN NARRAGANSETT WHO OWNS PROPERTY WILL CHALLENGE THE ORDINANCE THAT THE TOWN PASSED, TAKE IT TO COURT, AND THEY CAN ENFORCE THE LAW THAT WEIGHT.

-- THAT WAY.

THAT CAN BE DAMAGING FOR THE TOWN.

MORE LIKELY THAN PASSING A SPECIFIC LAW TO ATTACK NARRAGANSETT OR GET AROUND OTHER COMMUNITIES, ALTHOUGH THAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE IF THERE IS NOT COURT ACTION.

JIM: YOU ALSO HEAR THE SPEAKER SAYING A LOT OF THIS IS NOT -- SOME OF THE LOSS DID NOT KICK IN UNTIL JUST THIS MONTH.

.

WHEN HE 24 WILL BE THE YEAR.

HERE THE LEADERSHIP SAYING THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR MORE LAWS.

A LOT OF THE MONEY HAS NOT GONE OUT THE DOOR YET.

NANCY: THERE WAS A NEW -- I DON'’T KNOW IF IT IS A BOMBSHELL REPORT.

FROM THE SENATE FISCAL OFFICE THAT PATRICK HAS ALREADY BEATEN ME TO WRITE ABOUT ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL STEMLESS MONEY GIVEN TO THE NEW DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING.

WHICH HAS AGAIN ASKED FOR MORE MONEY IN THE BUDGET, INCLUDING $100 MILLION CAPITAL BOND.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING HAS NOT RESPONDED TO ANY OF THE REQUESTS ABOUT THE STATUS OF ITS $321 MILLION SPENDIN IN VARIOUS HOUSING PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THIS REPORT.

REGARDING THIS PROGRAM, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT DID NOT RESPOND.

THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT DID NOT RESPOND.

THEY ARE CHECKING IN ON ALL THESE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SPENT WITH FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY KNOWING THERE IS A CLOCK TO ALLOCATE IT.

I THINK BOTH THE SPEAKER AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT WERE PRETTY CLEAR IN INTERVIEWS WE DID WITH THEM THAT THEY ARE NOT OPPOSED TO MORE HOUSING PROGRAMS BUT THEY HAVE NOT SEEN A LOT OF THE RECEIPTS ON HOW THE MONEY THEY HAVE ALLOCATED IS BEING USED OR THE RESULTS OF THAT.

JIM: HE DID NOT WANT TO FOLLOW -- JOSH DASHER MEMBER JUST SAW YOUR AGO?

HE WAS TOTALLY NONRESPONSIVE AND GOT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP'’S SKIN.

PATRICK: HE DID GET BACK TO THEM TODAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.

MAYBE THEY HAD OTHER THINGS ON THEIR MIND.

I THINK WHAT COMES OUT WITH THIS IS THE EFFORT -- THE WAY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS IN THE STATE ARE DONE WITH THIS KIND OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THESE NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS GETTING FEDERAL AND STATE MONEY, IT'’S VERY COMPLICATED AND CONVOLUTED AND IT TAKES YEARS AND SOMETIMES DECADES TO GET THESE PROJECTS.

EVEN SMALL PROJECTS TO GET MOVING.

IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE -- YOU WERE NEVER GOING TO SEE THAT MONEY INSTANTLY GO UP WITH CONSTRUCTION UNLESS THE STATE GETS INTO THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING THE HOUSING ITSELF.

WE ARE GOING TO PUT THESE APARTMENT BLOCKS DOWN HERE.

HERE IS THE MONEY, DO IT.

THE WAY WE DO IT JUST TAKES AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF TIME.

ED: THE SPEAKER SEEMS TO BE PUSHING FOR THAT ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS BUILDING.

JIM: WHAT DO WE CALL THOSE?

GRANNY FLAT.

ED: THAT SEEMS TO BE HIS POINT OF EMPHASIS ON THE FIRST DAY.

JIM: I WONDER WITH $100 MILLION BOND, HE ROLL OFF EVERY YEAR AND WE HAD A TREMENDOUS LEHIGH DEBT OVER THE LAST FOUR DECADES IN RHODE ISLAND.

I TALKED TO SETH WHEN HE WAS TREASURER WHEN THEY WERE PROPOSING SCHOOL BONDS.

SOME OTHER THAT WAS ROLLING OFF.

HE SAID I THINK WE CAN DO IT.

THEY HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED HALF A BILLION DOLLARS.

WITH AN ASK FOR ANOTHER $100 HOW MUCH DEBT IS GOING TO BE ACCEPTABLE?

BONDS USUALLY GO THROUGH BUT $100 MILLION MORE FOR HOUSING AFTER WE HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED TO $50 MILLION, I WONDER IF THAT MAKES IT OUT OF THE END OF THE SESSION.

ED: WE HAVE ALREADY PASSED ALL THESE LAWS, ALLOCATED ALL THIS MONEY.

HE DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE MUCH APPETITE FOR APPROVING MORE.

JIM: WHAT ELSE ARE YOU LOOKING AT THIS SESSION?

NANCY: POLICE REFORM HAS COME UP A LOT IN BOTH OF THEIR OPENING REMARKS, THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE HOUSE SPEAKER.

THEY ALLUDED TO SOME MEASURES TO AMEND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BILL OF RIGHTS.

I THINK WHAT WAS INTERESTING TO ME ABOUT THAT IS ON THE HEELS OF THAT THIS GROUP OF COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS CAME OUT WITH A SEPARATE SET OF POLICE REFORMS.

THEY DID NOT MENTION LIEB OR IN THEIR LIST OF OTHER WAYS TO REFORM.

POLICE OVERSIGHT AND MONITOING.

THAT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE EVERYONE IS SORT OF AGREEING THAT THE FOREGOING CONCLUSION.

NOW THEY ARE SETTING THEIR SIGHTS ON WHAT ELSE WE CAN GET IN THIS SESSION.

GIVEN THAT IT'’S BEEN THE TOPIC OF MANY LONG COMMITTEE HEARINGS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, REALLY SINCE 2020 THAT I'’VE KNOWN ABOUT, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT THERE IS ACTUALLY CHANGES TO THAT CAPACITY BOTH CHAMBERS THIS YEAR.

PATRICK: DO PEOPLE LIKE MEDICAID AND HEALTH CARE FINANCING?

WE WILL HAVE TO READ UP ON THAT.

JIM: ARE YOU DREADING THAT?

PATRICK: YES.

NANCY: YES.

PATRICK: SOMETIMES I WAKE UP IN A COLD SWEAT.

THE FINANCING OF HEALTH CARE IS CONTINUING TO GROW AS AN ISSUE AND PROMINENT.

THE ISSUES WITH IT AND EVERY TOP LEADER I HAVE TALKED TO HAS RAISED MEDICAID IF NOT THEIR FIRST AND SECOND THING THAT THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT.

ED: MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT AND HOW IT TIES IN WITH A NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS THAT STAY IN RHODE ISLAND IS GOING TO BE A TOPLINE ISSUE.

A LESSER ONE IS THAT LENDING BILL THAT PASSED THE HOUSE LAST YEAR BUT DID NOT PASS THE SENATE.

THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME MOMENTUM.

FORMER SPEAKER MURPHY FOUGHT THAT FOR YEARS BUT IT DID PASS THE HOUSE LAST YEAR.

IT'’LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

JIM: UPON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BILL OF RIGHTS, I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY -- I DON'’T KNOW IF IT WAS THE SPEAKER OR LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE.

THEY WANT TO GET A BILL OUT AND DONE EARLY.

THE ONLY TIME I REMEMBER ANY MAJOR PIECE OF LEGISLATION GOING THROUGH EARLY IN THE SESSION WHERE THEY DON'’T DO BARGAINING WAS THE TRUCK TOLLS IN 2017.

THAT WAS A OVER FROM THE RAIMONDO ADMINISTRATION.

HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?

THE DEVIL -- THE THREE MAIN ISSUES ARE THE COMPOSITION OF THE PANEL, HOW LONG YOU CAN SUSPEND AN OFFICER WITHOUT PAY SHORT OF GOING TO A HEARING, AND POLICE CHIEF TALKING ABOUT IT.

THEY HAVE STILL GOT TO GET SOME -- THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REACH THAT COMPROMISE.

HOW WILL THEY GET THAT DONE EARLY IN THE SESSION?

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT -- PATRICK: IF I HAD TO GUESS I WOULD NOT SAY THAT ONE.

THEY HAVE BEEN DOING ON SOME ISSUES WHERE THEY DO COME TO AN AGREEMENT, BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP.

THEY ARE DOING STUFF EARLIER AND MORE FREQUENTLY NOW.

I DON'’T NECESSARILY THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THEM.

SOMEONE WILL HAVE AN OBJECTION.

THEN PROVIDES AN INCENTIVE TO DRAG IT ON AND TO TRY AND EXERT LEVERAGE AND USE IT AS A BARGAINING CHIP.

IT WILL GO DOWN, AT LEAST SOMEWHERE TOWARDS THE END.

IT DOES FEEL LIKE SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN ON THAT THIS YEAR.

EVEN IF IT DOESN'’T MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHOW WE DID SOMETHING ON THIS AT THIS POINT AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF PROMISING TO DO IT AND SAYING THIS IS THE YEAR, THIS IS THE YEAR.

IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE TOO MANY SUPPORTING IT NOT TO DO SOMETHING.

NANCY: THE DEVIL IS IN THE THE DETAILS.

ROGERIO SAID HE WANTED THE SAME BILL THAT PASSED THE SENATE LAST YEAR THAT DID NOT PASS THE HOUSE.

EVEN WITHIN THE SENATE ONE OF THE BILL'’S ORIGINAL SPONSORS TOOK HER NAME OFF THE BILL BECAUSE THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE AS IT EVOLVED.

SHE WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF IT ANYMORE.

AGAIN, I DON'’T KNOW BUT I DON'’T SEE THAT BEING SOMETHING THEY CAN ALL GET TO AGREEMENT ON SUPER EARLY.

JIM: THE SECRETARY OF STATE WANTS $100 MILLION FOR A NEW STATE ARCHIVES YEEZY HIM.

THE TREASURER TALKED ABOUT TAXPAYER MONEY FUNDING SO-CALLED BABY BONDS THAT PEOPLE UNDER A CERTAIN INCOME LEVEL YOU WOULD INVEST MONEY AND THEY WOULD GET THAT LATER IN LIFE.

I WONDER WHAT THE APPETITE FOR THAT IS AS WE ARE BEGINNING TO HEAD INTO TOUGHER TIMES.

ED: THE SECRETARY OF STATE MENTIONED THERE'’S A LOT OF INTEREST IN RHODE ISLAND HISTORY.

HE'’S BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR A STATE ARCHIVES.

IT'’S IN THE -- IT IS TOUGH TO GET PUBLIC ACCESS TO A LOT OF THE ARCHIVES NOW.

IT IS $100 MILLION.

THAT'’S A LOT BUT THE GOVERNOR DID SAY ON THE DAY WHEN THEY WERE BRINGING DOWN THE INDEPENDENT MANDATE HE WOULD LIKE TO PUT THAT -- SEE THAT MOVE FORWARD.

JIM: YOU ARE HAPPY WITH $50 MILLION OR $75 MILLION?

ED: I THINK THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT WOULD BE $100 MILLION BUT THEY CAN TRY TO USE SOME PHILANTHROPIC MONEY AND FEDERAL MONEY TO SUPPLEMENT.

JIM: WHO HAS GOTTEN A PICTURE WITH THEMSELVES WITH THE INDEPENDENT MAN?

LET'’S TAKE A QUICK POLL.

YOU.

YES, NO?

NANCY: I HAVE NOT TAKEN A SELFIE BUT I HAVE WALKED BY AND TAKE A LOOK.

OR AGAINST THE $100 MILLION STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING BUT I HAVE BEEN AMAZED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE STOPPING BY THE STATEHOUSE TO SEE THE INDEPENDENCE MAN AND TAKE A SELFIE.

I THINK THEY HAVE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF MAKING THAT INTO A MARKETING KIND OF COUP.

JIM: MAYBE I SHOULD GO AFTER THE SHOW.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DAYS LEFT.

WHENEVER I WALK INTO THE STATEHOUSE -- WHAT IS HUMMEL DOING HERE?

I'’M HERE TO SEE THE INDEPENDENT MAN.

PATRICK: AFTER THE RENOVATION WORK WHERE'’S HE GOING?

WE EXPECT SOME KIND OF WORLD TOUR.

JIM: THEY SHOULD RUN A LITTLE TRACTOR IN DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE.

HAVE A TICKERTAPE PARADE.

PATRICK: THAT IS YOUR IDEA.

JIM: ONLY MY IDEA.

I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT TALK ABOUT POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS ACT.

I KNOW SENATOR DEPALMA HAS BEEN CHAMPIONING THIS AND DOING A LOT OF OFF-SEASON WORK.

IT'’S IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO THE PUBLIC?

ED: FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

THERE ARE 47 CHANGES THAT WOULD BE MADE UNDER THAT BILL THAT SENATOR DEPALMA HAS BEEN WORKING ON IN THE SENATE AND REPRESENTATIVE SOLOMON AND THE HOUSE.

IT WOULD PROVIDE GREATER ACCESS TO SOME OF THE EMAILS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHICH OTHER STATES PROVIDE.

IT WOULD PROVIDE ACCESS TO 911 CALLS THAT YOU SEE IN MANY OTHER STATES, FLORIDA AND OTHERS.

HE WOULD INCREASE FINES FOR VIOLATIONS.

IT IS NOT JUST IMPORTANT FOR A JOURNALIST BECAUSE EVERY DAY IN THIS STATE THERE ARE STORIES PROVIDING VALUABLE INFORMATION TO RESIDENCE ABOUT THEIR GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF REQUESTS.

IT WOULD BE A HUGE BENEFIT FOR THE PUBLIC.

NANCY: I THINK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN DO THEIR OWN PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS.

JIM: WHAT A NOVEL IDEA.

NANCY: I THINK PEOPLE DON'’T REALIZE IT IS NOT JUST JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE THIS SECRET POWER OR TOOL.

WE MAYBE HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE WITH HOW TO CRAFT OR THE RESOURCES OF THE COMPANY TO FIGHT A DENIAL OF A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST OR GET THE AG TO DO IT FOR YOU BUT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO REQUEST PUBLIC RECORDS THEMSELVES.

I THINK MORE TRANSPARENCY IN TERMS OF ACCESS ON HOW TO DO IT AND THE TYPES OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING.

JIM: IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE.

THE FEELING IS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ERR ON THE SIDE OF NOT GETTING IT OUT.

TRACY BRITTON WHO I WORKED WITH AT THE JOURNAL FOR YEARS AND TAUGHT AT BROWN UNIVERSITY IS AN ADJUNCT.

SHE HAD A CLASS EVERY YEAR.

FAN OUT TO TOWN HALLS AND THEY WOULD GO -- YOU DON'’T HAVE TO GIVE YOUR NAME OR REASON.

I WANT THIS DOCUMENT.

THE TOWN CLERK WOULD SAY WHY YOU WANT THAT.

IT IS TYPICAL ACROSS THE STATE.

WE FACE THIS BUT THE PUBLIC CAN'’T EVEN GET INFORMATION ON THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT.

PATRICK: DON'’T GET MY HOPES UP THAT THERE'’S GOING TO BE PUBLIC RECORDS REFORM.

I HAVE BEEN TURNED DOWN TOO MANY TIMES TO GET MY HOPES UP.

I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

ONCE THE PUBLIC HAS REALIZED THIS, THERE ARE MORE REQUESTS COMING IN.

THE STATE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT.

THEY ARE MAKING IT -- THEY ARE LITIGATING EVERYTHING.

THAT IS UNTENABLE.

WE CANNOT LITIGATE A REQUEST FOR EVERY SINGLE DOCUMENT.

IT CANNOT BE A COURT FIGHT.

JIM: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE.

LOOKS GOOD OUTRAGES AND/OR KUDOS.

ED: PATRICK'’S CALLING TOM MOONEY HAD A STORY ABOUT ST. MARY'’S HOME FOR TREATMENT CENTER FOR YOUTH IN NORTH PROVIDENCE.

THE REPORT THAT DETAILED THE VIOLENCE, THE ASSAULTS, SEXUAL ASSAULT OF KIDS WAS OUTRAGEOUS.

THAT IS MY OUTREACH THIS WEEK.

JIM: NANCY?

NANCY: I THINK IT IS A KUDOS.

THE STATEHOUSE HAS GOTTEN A WEBSITE REDESIGN.

THE COST IS $240,000.

THAT'’S A NON-WEB DESIGN EXPERT.

I DON'’T KNOW IF THAT IS A GOOD PRICE OR NOT.

IT LOOKS MUCH MORE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING.

AS SOMEONE WHO CAME INTO THE COVERING STATE POLITICS MUCH MORE RECENTLY THAN ED AN PATRICK I FOUND THE OLD WEBSITE VERY DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE AND UNDERSTAND.

I HAVE NOT COMBED THROUGH EVERYTHING WITH THE REDESIGN BUT I'’M HOPEFUL FOR JOURNALISTS AND PEOPLE THE $240,000 WAS A GOOD THING.

JIM: PATRICK?

PATRICK: ED HAD MY OUTREACH BUT I WILL JUMP ON TOP OF THE SPECIFIC PART OF IT.

HE MENTIONED THE MOST SERIOUS STUFF ABOUT THE ISSUES AT ST. MARY'’S.

IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THAT, THEY HAD A BIKER GANG ESSENTIALLY DOING SECURITY AT THE HOME.

IT WAS ALMOST LIKE -- IT SOUNDED LIKE A SET OF HER ULTIMATE -- ALTAMONT.

I CAN'’T IMAGINE WHAT THEY WERE THINKING.

JIM: WE DO THE ONLY IN RHODE ISLAND MOMENT IN OUR YEAR-END SHOW EVERY YEAR.

WE HAVE TO BREAK THIS DOWN.

WE ARE ALL WEEK IN AND IS THE BIKER GANG AT ST. MARY'’S.

HOPEFULLY I WILL REMEMBER THAT A YEAR FROM NOW.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET OVER THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE FROM ANYWHERE IN THE STATE, YOU KNOW IT'’S BEEN A CHALLENGE.

THIS WAS BREAKING A MONTH AGO AS WE WERE GETTING READY TO GO TO OUR YEAR-END SHOWS AND WE HAVE NOT REALLY TALKED ABOUT IT MUCH.

LET'’S TALK ABOUT -- REWIND THE CLOCK IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT'’S RESPONSE TO THIS.

I WONDER WHAT YOUR THOUGHT IS AS A REPORTER LOOKING ABOUT HOW THOSE INITIAL DAYS AND WEEKS WERE HANDLED.

NANCY: I'’M CERTAINLY NO EXPERT IN CRISIS GIVEN OCCASIONS BUT THE PEOPLE WHO I HAVE INTERVIEWED ABOUT HOW THIS WAS HANDLED FROM A CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS STANDPOINT DID NOT SEEM TO THINK THEY DID A GREAT JOB.

THE GOVERNOR WAS NOT AT THE DAY OF PRESS CONFERENCE.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME CRITICISM OF REPORTERS FOR ASKING SOME -- WHAT MANY CONSIDER TO BE JUSTIFIABLE QUESTIONS ABOUT LEADERSHIP REPERCUSSIONS FOR WHAT MAYBE WAS FAILED TO BE UNCOVERED EARLIER ABOUT THE BRIDGE.

THE OTHER INTERESTING THING TO ME IS KIND OF HOW QUIET -- IT WENT FROM NOT JUST IN THE NEWS BUT AMONG LEADERSHIP WITH DAILY PRESS CONFERENCES ALL OVER THE PLACE TO PRETTY QUIET.

HOUSE SPEAKER SHEKARCHI GAVE MENTION OF THE BRIDGE AND A LINE OF HIS EIGHT PAGE INTRODUCTION.

JIM: TO THAT SURPRISE YOU?

NANCY: IT DID.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT EXTENDING TEMPORARY CAREGIVER INSURANCE BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT AFFECTS PEOPLE'’S DAY-TO-DAY LIVES, IT IS NOT THOSE THINGS.

IT IS TRYING TO GET TO WORK AND SCHOOL AND TO THE HOSPITAL.

JIM: TRYING TO GET TO "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" THIS MORNING.

THERE IS A LITTLE TRICKLE WITH EVERYBODY.

ED: SNAPPING AT JOURNALISTS AND NOT BEING THERE ON THE DAY WHEN ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT THE WAY TO HANDLE IT.

THAT IS MITIGATED BY THE FACT THAT THE BRIDGE -- THE BYPASS LANES REOPENED WITHIN A WEEK.

I THINK THE OUTRAGE WAS SHORT-LIVED.

PATRICK: IT WILL DEPEND ON WHAT INSPECTORS AND OTHERS FIND IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD AND IF THERE ARE WHISTLEBLOWERS, ANYTHING TO INDICATE FOLKS AT D.O.T.

EITHER SUSPECTED OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS A PROBLEM OR THAT ALL OF THE MESS IN REPAIRING THE BRIDGE, THE CONTRACTING AND PROCUREMENT MESS IN THE YEARS BEFORE THIS ALL BROKE CONTRIBUTED IN SOME WAY TO THIS BEING A PROBLEM.

THAT WILL BRING THIS VERY MUCH BACK TO LIFE, IF THERE IS ANYTHING.

JIM: THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON A LONG TIME.

I WAS TALKING WITH ED BEFORE WE STARTED.

THEY NARROWED FROM FIVE LANES TO TWO IN RAIMONDO'’S SECOND ELECTION.

SOMEONE AT CRISIS COMMUNICATION SAID LET'’S GO AFTER THE ELECTION.

THERE WAS A SUIT WITH DELAY THINGS.

DON'’T YOU THINK THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, WHICH HAS PUMPED TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN WOULD WANT TO DO AN INVESTIGATION?

NANCY: IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH.

NOW THEY HAVE HIRED THIS PR CONSULTING GROUP.

JIM: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

NANCY: I'’M NOT SURE TO BE HONEST.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'’S A PRIVATE FIRM THAT HAS EXPERTISE RATHER THAN HAVING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHICH IS FUNDING AND HAS THE OVERSIGHT MECHANISMS.

JIM: WHICH KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT FEDERAL HIGHWAYS APPARENTLY.

NANCY: IT'’S WHERE THAT FHA WAS ALL ANYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF REVIEW IMMEDIATELY AFTER ANOTHER HAVE DISAPPEARED FROM THE CONVERSATION.

ED: OR THEY DON'’T TO PUBLICIZE WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

I THINK WE EXPECT -- WELL, MAYBE THEY WANT TO BE.

I THINK WE EXPECT THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

I GUESS AT THIS POINT WE HOPE THEY ARE DOING IT AND ARE JUST BEING SECRETIVE AND NOT TELLING US ABOUT IT.

ED: YOU SAW THE REPUBLICANS THIS WEEK CALL FOR AN INSPECTOR GENERAL TO LOOK AT ISSUES LIKE THAT.

THAT'’S AN UPHILL BATTLE TO GET PASSED.

THERE WILL ALSO BE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE HEARINGS TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED.

JIM: WE WILL DO A LIVELY POLL.

AT WHAT DATE TO THE PULL THE PLUG ON THE FAIRIES FROM BRISTOL -- FERRIES FROM BRISTOL?

PATRICK: WHEN IS THE SUPER BOWL?

JIM: FEBRUARY 12 OR 13TH.

NANCY: IF I HAD IT MY WAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AFTER CHRISTMAS.

PEOPLE TOOK IT ONCE AS A NOVELTY AND IS NOT BEING USED AS AN ALTERNATE FORM OF COMMUTING OR GETTING WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.

GIVEN THE COSTS -- JIM: AND AT 25 DEGREES TODAY.

ED: DURING THE BLIZZARD I WILL BE OUT THERE.

I WILL GO WITH MID FEBRUARY.

JIM: WE SHALL SEE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS FIRST PROGRAM OF LIVELY PROGRAMMING.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

WE HAVE HER ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.

WE WILL TALK TO TOP LEADERS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE AS THE PRIORITIES COMING UP.

IF YOU DON'’T CATCH IS FRIDAY AT 7:00 AND SUNDAY AT NOON, SEE ALL OF OUR SHOWS ARCHIVED AT RIPBS.ORG/LIVELY.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS "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] [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