JIM: THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT."

A BIGWIG AND STATE GOVERNMENT WITH THE INAUGURATION OF THE STATES OFFICERS AND ANOTHER SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE CONTINUED STALEMATE IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WHAT WILL IT MEAN IN THE LONG RUN?

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> FOR OVER 30 YEARS, "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE 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, BROWN UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR WENDY SCHILLER, BOSTON GLOBE COLUMNIST DAN MCGOWAN, AND FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARK MARCELLO -- MIKE MARCELLO.

WELCOME TO OUR FIRST PROGRAM FOR 2023.

IT'’S GREAT TO BE BACK.

IT WAS A PACKED WEEK LYRICALLY HERE AND IN WASHINGTON.

GOV.

MCKEE WAS SWORN INTO HIS FIRST FULL TERM ON TUESDAY AT THE RHODE ISLAND CONVENTION CENTER.

DURING HIS 13-MINUTE SPEECH, HE EXPECT FROM HIS ADMINISTRATION.

HERE IS A LITTLE OF WHAT HE SAID.

GOV.

MCKEE: I THINK I HAVE THE LONGEST TRANSITION FOR A GOVERNOR TO A FOUR-YEAR TERM.

RHODE ISLAND, THIS IS OUR TIME.

THIS IS OUR MOMENT.

IT IS OUR TURN.

AND I NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE THE MOST OF IT.

EACH AND EVERY RHODE ISLANDER HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS NEXT CHAPTER.

AS YOUR GOVERNOR, I'’M ASKING YOU TO DO THE WORK WITH US.

AND TO BEGIN NETWORK, WE ARE STARTING WITH OUR RHODE ISLAND 2030 PLAN, AND THESE THREE% GOALS.

FIRST, INVESTING IN ENSURING ALL RHODE ISLANDERS HAVE THE SKILLS TO GET GOOD PAYING JOBS.

SECOND, RAISING EDUCATION OUTCOMES FOR OUR CHILDREN TO REACH MASSACHUSETTS LEVELS BY 2030.

FINALLY, CREATING HEALTHIER RHODE ISLAND, WHERE WE REDUCE ILLNESS AND IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR ALL OF US.

IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE.

CHALLENGES ARE WORTH THE EFFORT.

BUT I KNOW RHODE ISLAND IS UP FOR THE TASK.

JIM: WENDY, LET'’S START WITH YOU.

IT SOUNDED MORE LIKE A STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH BUT IT IS AN INAUGURATION.

HE WILL BE DOING STATE OF THE STATE LATER THIS MONTH.

I KNOW THAT YOU WERE DOING ANALYSIS FOR CHANNEL 10.

WENDY: I THOUGHT THE GOVERNOR GAVE A RELATIVELY POLISHED SPEECH.

HE HAS GROWN INTO THIS JOB AFTER TAKING OVER ABRUPTLY.

YOU CAN TELL HE HAS GAINED MORE CONFIDENCE, WINNING A TOUGH PRIMARY AND ELECTION.% HE FEELS LIKE HE HAS SETTLED IN, LAYING OUT AN AGENDA.

YOU CAN QUIBBLE ABOUT WHO WILL HAVE MORE POWER, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OR THE GOVERNOR.

WE KNOW CONSTITUTIONALLY, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS PRETTY POWERFUL, BUT THE GOALS SET OUT WERE DOABLE, CLEAR.

AS A RHODE ISLANDER, I'’M HOPING THAT HE TAKES THAT CONFIDENCE, MOMENTUM, FOLLOWS UP ON WHAT HE SAYS HE WANTS TO DO.

>> I THINK YOU NAILED IT, HE IS MUCH MORE CONFIDENT FOR GOOD REASON.

WHEN YOU REALLY RUN AWAY WITH YOUR GENERAL ELECTION, WHERE LOTS OF PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE VERY CLOSE.

HE IS FEELING VERY GOOD.

KIDS WOULD SAY HE IS FEELING HIMSELF.

THAT GOAL OF REACHING MASSACHUSETTS EDUCATION LEVELS WAS ONE THAT HE PROPOSED FOR THE FIRST TIME ON ELECTION NIGHT AFTER HIS VICTORY SPEECH,THE FIRST TIME HE QUANTIFIED IT IN THAT WAY.

IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO DO.

MASSACHUSETTS WILL GET BETTER, TOO.

I THINK IT'’S A REAL CHALLENGE.

WITH PROVIDENCE SCHOOLS, YOU CANNOT GET TO MASSACHUSETTS LEVELS WITHOUT RAISING SCORES EXPONENTIALLY IN PROVIDENCE SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN A REAL CLEAR PLAN FOR HOW TO DO THAT THERE YET.

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, BUT I ADMIRE THE AMBITION.

I LOVE CARVING EDUCATION.

I HOPE WE GET THERE.

IT WOULD RAISE ALL OF OUR VALUE.

>> I THINK IT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO REACH THAT GOAL.

THEY PASS IT, BULLET BACK.

>> STANDARDIZED TESTS.

>> EVERY YEAR, WE WILL EVALUATE TEACHERS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF ED PUT THAT OUT AND THEN SAID IF YOU ARE AN EXCELLENT TEACHER, YOU CAN SKIP A YEAR.

I THINK HE HAS A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

I THINK THEY ARE EAGER TO START WORKING WITH AN.

>> IT IS A NICE DILEMMA TO HAVE, SO MUCH MONEY.

AT THE SAME TIME, PEOPLE WANT THAT PIE.

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING GOING INTO THIS SESSION?

MIKE: THERE WILL BE COMPUTING PRIORITIES.

THERE WILL BE SOME THAT WANT TO PUT TAX CUTS THROUGH, THE MORE CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS, AND THEN THE LIBERAL SIDE THAT WANT TO SPEND ON HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS.

IT WILL BE A BATTLE.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR RIGHTLY PROPOSED SALES TAX RELIEF.

TWO THIRDS OF STATES HAVE ALREADY PASSED SOME SORT OF TAX RELIEF BECAUSE OF THE SURPLUSES THEY HAVE.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO CHANGE THE SALES TAX.

JIM: I HAVE NOT HEARD A NUMBER YET, I DON'’ NEED TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT IF YOU LOWERED IT TO 6.25, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT TRANSLATES TO IN DOLLARS?

MIKE: IT HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED BUT HAS TO BE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS.

>> CERTAINLY TENS OF MILLIONS.

WENDY: WHAT I DON'’T AGREE WHAT IS WE HAD A TRUCK TOLL SUSPENSION -- I WAS IN FAVOR OF THOSE.

THAT FED THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO MATCH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON INFRASTRUCTURE.

MICKEY IS ALSO REDUCING THE GASOLINE TAX BY A COUPLE OF PENNIES.

THAT MATTERS PER GALLON.

WHEN YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT, YOU ARE STARTING TO LO SE SERIOUS MONEY USED FOR BRIDGES AND ROADS.

IT IS ALSO INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD, STABLE HOUSING, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FEED KIDS.

THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS THAT GO WITH EXCELLENCE IN SCHOOLS.

UNLESS IT'’S A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, I DON'’T KNOW HOW IT WORKS.

YOU CANNOT JUST PUT IT ALL ON THE TEACHERS.

IT IS COMMUNITY-BASED, HOME-BASED, PARENTAL.

>> THE GOVERNOR IS NOT THE ONLY PERSON FEELING GOOD ABOUT HIMSELF RIGHT NOW.

WE SAT DOWN WITH SENATE PRESIDENT ROGERIO A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, NOT YOUR BEST INTERVIEWER HISTORICALLY, VERY TIGHT, READS OFF OF HIS WORDS.

NOBODY IS MORE CONFIDENT THAN HIM RIGHT NOW.

WINS AN EASY PRIMARY, SOLIDIFIES HIS CHAMBER.

HE HAS HIS AGENDA THAT HE WANTS TO GET DONE.

I THINK THAT ALIGNS MORE WITH TAX CUTS AND FIX LIKE THAT.

THE SPEAKER WINS A PRIMARY WITH OVER 80% OF THE VOTE ON THE LEFT, WINS FROM THE RIGHT.

EVERYBODY IS FEELING VERY GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT PRIORITIES.

I THINK THE SPEAKER IS SAYING HE MAY HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT CUTTING THE SALES TAX.

THERE WILL BE A FIGHT.

>> THE SENATE SAYS THEY WANT TO LOOK AT THE FUNDING FORMULA.

THERE WILL BE A BATTLE THERE.

WITH THE NEW MAJORITY OF THE SENATE, THAT WAS ONE OF HIS PRIORITIES WHEN HE WAS FINANCE CHAIR.

A STUDY COMMISSION ABOUT HOW WE DON'’T HAVE THOSE EDUCATION RATES.

JIM: RHODE ISLANDERS SAY WE HAVE A STATE SURPLUS.

THE SALES TAX IS A TANGIBLE THING.

BUT THAT GAS TAX CUT, IT IS NOT A CUT.

HE IS KEEPING IT FROM GOING UP ANOTHER THREE CENTS.

I WAS LISTENING TO THE CHARLIE BAKER LEAVING.

THEY SENT CHECKS BACK TO PEOPLE.

I KNOW IT'’S ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE -- WENDY: EXCEPT MASSACHUSETTS JUST PAST A 4% TAX ON PEOPLE WITH INCOMES OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.

IF YOU ARE PROGRESSIVE AND YOU SAY THEY ARE RICH, BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND THEIR GENERAL INCOME STREAM, $40,000 TAX.

THIS RACE TO BE LIKE MASSACHUSETTS ALL THE TIME, IT IS BECOMING TAXACHUSETTS.

>> I THINK THAT IS WHY THE GOVERNOR IS LOOKING AT THAT.

LET'’S MAKE US MORE COMPETITIVE.

JIM: DO YOU THINK THERE IS A THOUGHT, THOSE FINANCIAL STORM CLOUDS ARE GOING TO BE IN THE OUT YEARS.

WE ARE FLESH NOW.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FREE RIPTA, THAT GETS BAKED IN, LIKE CCRI.

IF YOU GO THAT FAR, WHEN YOU WERE IN THE OUT YEARS, THAT GETS BAKED IN.

DO YOU THINK IN THE CHAMBER, LEADERSHIP, THEY ARE HESITANT TO GO THAT FAR?

>> I THINK THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME WHOLESALE REFORM OF THE SALES TAX.

THEY WILL KNOW THE REVENUE STREAM THAT THAT PRODUCES.

THEY CAN BUILD THEIR BUDGETS AROUND THAT.

IT IS GOOD TO HAVE A REDUCTION IN THE SALES TAX BECAUSE THAT WILL HELP EVERYBODY.

THEY HELP THE LOWER INCOME INDIVIDUALS WHO BUY MORE.

WENDY: FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, THINKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HAVING PEOPLE BE ABLE TO RIDE THE BUS FOR FREE IF THEY ARE TO IT TO WORK.

BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, ALSO GOOD FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE, STUDENTS GOING TO A JOB AFTER SCHOOL.

>> I AM NOT SAYING I'’M AGAINST IT, BUT IF YOU COMMIT TO THAT -- IT IS NOT A HUGE DOLLAR AMOUNTC.

CRI ULTIMATELY WAS NOT A HUGE -- >> ONCE YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE LIKE, YOU CANNOT TAKE IT AWAY.

>> WHEN THE ECONOMY GOES SOUTH.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS SPEAKERS ARE CAR SKI HAS BEEN CLEAR ABOUT, EVERYBODY IS FOCUSING ON BIG NUMBERS, HOW DO YOU SPEND IT.

THERE ARE LOTS OF PILOT PROGRAMS WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

THIS WILL BE A YEAR TO TAKE A LOOK ABOUT WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'’T?

I DON'’T THINK HE WANTS TO HAVE ANOTHER AMBITIOUS YEAR BEFORE THEY FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD 4, 5, 10 YEARS FROM NOW.

>> WE HAVE SEEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE ALLOCATION AND EXECUTION ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE HAVE NOT HAD YOU ON SINCE THE HOMELESS SITUATION.

THEY ADVOCATED $250 MILLION.

THEY COULDN'’T FIND PEOPLE TO RUN THE THING AT THE ARMORY, SO JUST WRITING A CHECK DOESN'’T ALWAYS DO IT.

I'’M CURIOUS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS ON THE EXECUTION OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WENDY: THAT'’S A GREAT -- CONSTRUCTION TRADES IS WHERE RHODE ISLAND HAS ALWAYS STEPPED UP.

WE STILL HAVE UNDEREMPLOYMENT IN THE SENSE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT WORKING, NOT TAKING JOBS.

WE ALSO HAVE A CRISIS IN OUR REHAB FACILITIES, NURSING HOMES, HOME CARE PROVIDERS.

THERE IS A WORKFORCE ISSUE HERE.

YOU CAN BUILD AND SPEND AND PROVIDE SERVICES, BUT THERE ARE NOT PEOPLE STEPPING FORWARD RIGHT NOW IN BIG ENOUGH NUMBERS TO FILL THOSE JOBS.

THAT IS ALSO TRUE OF THE STATEHOUSE.

THE BUDGET FOR THE GOVERNMENT IS LOWER THAN IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE WE HAVE VACANCIES.

>> POSTSECONDARY COMMISSIONER SAYS BY 2030, YOU'’LL NEED 72% OF ALL JOBS WILL NEED SOME SORT OF CREDENTIAL BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.

CURRENTLY 52%.

SO YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO GET TO THAT 70% RANGE.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU ARE RIGHT, THE ON EMPLOYMENT RATE, 3.6%, BUT IT IS NOT EXACTLY MEANINGFUL.

BUT PEOPLE ARE WORKING JOBS THAT ARE NOT MAKING ENOUGH MONEY TO LIVE.

>> THIS IS THE MOST DIVERSE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WE HAVE HAD IN A LONG TIME.

THE SPEAKER HAD TO DEAL WITH THE FEMALE SENATORS AND REPS, THE ABORTION BILL, AND THEN THE PROGRESSIVES.

DIVERSITY IS GOOD, BUT I WONDER, DOES THAT CHANGE THE DYNAMIC IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY?

>> THEY REALLY HAS NOT BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO BOND OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE OF COVID.

THEY HAVE A NEW CLASS COMING IN THIS YEAR, TWO YEARS AGO.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE MEETING REGULARLY TOGETHER.

THERE WAS NO SPEAKER'’S RACE.

THAT BODES WELL FOR THE SPEAKER.

SOME OF THE MORE PROGRESSIVE PEOPLE WHO GOT ELECTED, PARTICULARLY FROM PROVIDENCE, THEY WILL START TO PUSH MORE ON SOME OF THE ISSUES.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY DON'’T HAVE ALL THE VOTES THEY NEED.

WENDY: IN TERMS OF SPENDING, LOTS YOU WANT TO DO.

IN TERMS OF CODIFICATION, FEDERAL CONGRESS PASSED MARRIAGE EQUALITY.

CONGRESSMAN CICILLINE WAS AN AUTHOR OF THAT BILL.

PROTECTIONS FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, THOSE SEEM PRETTY WELL CODIFIED.

I THINK PEOPLE DON'’T ALWAYS KNOW.

YOU KNOW THIS.

ESTATE FOR MEDICAID IS THE STATE FUND FOR MEDICAID, NOT THE FEDERAL DOLLARS.

THERE IS STILL A PROHIBITION ON USING FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR FUNDING ABORTION.

I DON'’T THINK WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A STREAM OF PEOPLE COMING TO RHODE ISLAND COMING FOR THAT BECAUSE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY STATES THAT COVER IT.

THAT IS SOMETHING PROGRESSIVES WANT TO SEE.

>> I THINK THE SPEAKER HAS ALREADY INDICATED THAT THAT WAS A CAMPING ISSUE.

>> NEW MAYOR, NEW CITY COUNCIL IN PROVIDENCE WILL BE INTERESTING.

BRETT SMILEY IS NOT WHERE RACHEL MILLER IS BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> PROVIDENCE HAS BECOME THE HOT PLACE TO WORK RIGHT NOW IN GOVERNMENT.

BRETT SMILEY --.

>> WHY IS THAT?

>> HE COMES FROM THAT ELITIST GINA RAIMONDO WORLD OF POLITICS.

HE IS SOMEBODY WHO MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL BEFORE HAND.

HE IS SOMEBODY WHO ALREADY HAS THE EXPERIENCE IN PROVIDENCE TO SOME DEGREE.

I THINK HE HAS THE EAR OF A LOT OF THE CEOS IN THE STATE.

>> IT DOESN'’T TAKE THEM SIX MONTHS FIGURE OUT WHERE THE BATHROOM IS.

>> THE CITY COUNCIL, WHICH IS MUCH FURTHER TO THE LEFT, IS A CHALLENGE.

THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT KNOWS HOW TO CUT A DEAL, SHE IS PRAGMATIC.

SHE REPRESENTS THE FEDERAL HILL NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT HAS CHANGED A LOT OVER THE YEARS, BUT THAT IS AN OLD-SCHOOL POLITICAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

SHE WILL PUSH ON ISSUES LIKE REFORMING THE WAY THEY GIVE TAX DEALS.

I THINK EVERYBODY HEARS THAT SHE IS A SOCIALIST BUT IDENTIFIES AS -- THEY ARE GOING TO DEFUND THE POLICE.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DEFUND THE POLICE.

THAT EITHER.

WENDY: SHE HAS A GOOD RELATIONSHIP AS FAR AS I CAN TELL WITH LABOR.

LABOR IS USUALLY PRETTY PROGRESSIVE ECONOMIC ISSUES, BUT NOT ALWAYS ON SOCIAL ISSUES.

SOCIAL ISSUES SEEM TO BE AT THE MOMENT FAIRLY SETTLED IN PROVIDENCE AND THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND SHE DOESN'’T HAVE TO SPEND CAPITAL ON THAT.

THAT MAKES ARE ABLE TO STAY CLOSE TO LABOR IN A WAY THAT MAYBE SHE COULD AND EARLIER.

>> SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS TALKING ABOUT RENT REFORM.

THAT WILL BE INTERESTING IF THAT COMES UP.

>> ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE THE MAYOR WILL LOOK TO THE STATE.

CAN YOU MAYBE IMPOSE SOME SORT OF -- >> SO SHE DOESN'’T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.

BRETT IS A YOUNG MAYOR, HAS BEEN AROUND STATE GOVERNMENT, CITY GOVERNMENT.

I WENT TO HIS INAUGURATION.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

HE IS A TECHNOCRAT.

HE KNOWS HOW TO PUSH THE BUTTONS.

HE SAID WE WANT TO MAKE THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE THE BEST CITY IN AMERICA.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

GOOD SCHOOLS, YOU HAVE SAFE STREETS, PICK UP THE GARBAGE, PLOW THE STREETS.

WENDY: OUR FIRST BLIZZARD.

HE HAS TO BE ON IT.

>> IF YOU HAVE A BAD SNOWSTORM, NO ONE CARES ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO DO.

>> MR. MCGOWAN AND I TAKE A BIG EXCEPTION, WE DIFFER ON THE SPEED HUMPS.

I AM ALL FOR THEM.

WENDY: WHEN I WAS FIRST DRIVING IN HIGH SCHOOL, MY PARENTS CHRYSLER STATION WAGON, I WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP TOO QUICKLY, CRACKED AN OIL PAN, AND IT TOOK ME MONTHS TO PAY THAT BILL.

I AM ALWAYS WARY OF SPEED BUMPS.

THEY CAN STILL KILL THE BOTTOM OF AN OLD CAR.

JUST GO SLOW.

I HATE THEM BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE NECESSARY.

>> THE BIKE PATH'’S, ESPECIALLY ON SOUTH MAIN, HE HAS CRACKED THE DOOR SAYING MAYBE THIS WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA.

>> HE WANTS TO COME ACROSS AS BEING FRIENDLY TO BUSINESS, WHICH MAKES SENSE.

I DON'’T THINK YOU'’LL SEE A MAJOR CHANGE.

IT IS NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL.

>> PEOPLE HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.

JIM: BEFORE WE GET TO NATIONAL, WE HAVE TO GET TO EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON -- LINCOLN ALMOND.

>> A REAL STEADFAST GOVERNOR, PERSON OF INTEGRITY, WAS A FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY, NO CORRUPTION UNDER HIM.

IT IS SAD TO SEE HIM GO.

I THINK HE WILL BE REMEMBERED IN RHODE ISLAND AS A GOOD CARETAKER OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> HE SUCCEEDED THROUGH SONDLAND.

EVERY PRESS CONFERENCE HE WENT TO HE HAD 15 SOUNDBITES.

ALMOND WAS BORN IN A GOOD WAY.

NEVER A WIDTH OF A SCANDAL AT ALL.

I REMEMBER DOING A PROFILE UP AND WHEN I WAS WITH ABC.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR OFF TIME?

HE SAYS, MARILYN AND I LOVE TO GO TO THE BEACH.

I LOVE TO GET IN MY BATHING SUIT.

I DIDN'’T HEAR ANYTHING ELSE HE SAID AFTER THAT INTERVIEW.

[LAUGHTER] I HAD THIS IMAGE OF HIM SMOKING A CIGARETTE DOWN ON SCARBOROUGH.

THERE WERE NO SPOKESPERSON, HE SAID, COME TO MY OFFICE IN A HALF-HOUR.

>> I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO COVER HIM FOR THAT REASON.

WHAT A GREAT CAREER AS A PROSECUTOR.

TWO STINTS OF U.S. ATTORNEY.

ALL THE REPUBLICANS PRIOR TO BUSH JR.

HE ALSO BENEFITED FROM A GREAT ECONOMY IN THE 1990'’S.

BEING A BORN GOVERNOR, IT WAS THE PERFECT TIME TO BE A BORING GOVERNOR.

PEOPLE WERE DOING MUCH BETTER THAN THEY HAD DONE IN THOSE EARLY 90'’S.

>> THAT BRANDED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY -- THEY ARE NO LONGER IN RHODE ISLAND ANYMORE.

OTHER PEOPLE RUNNING WITH HIM ON A STRONG TICKET.

YOU DON'’T SEE THAT ANYMORE.

>> AND WORKED WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THEY MAY HAVE VETOED THEIR FIRST BUDGETS BECAUSE OF LINE ITEMS, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER, ENOUGH TO GET REELECTED.

>> WAS HERE BEFORE YOU CAME TO THE STATE?

WENDY: I WAS HERE FOR THE CAMPAIGN.

HE JUST STRUCK ME AS SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING TO WORK TO REPAIR THE IMAGE OF RHODE ISLAND AS NOT BEING A CORRUPT STATE.

HE HELPED PUSH RHODE ISLAND BETTER IN THAT DIRECTION.

JIM: WASHINGTON, AS OF THIS TAPING ON FRIDAY MORNING -- IT COULD CHANGE BY THE TIME YOU WATCH THIS.

KEVIN MCCARTHY IS 0-11.

HOW DOES THIS PLAY OUT?

WENDY: NOBODY REALLY KNOWS.

I SUSPECT EVENTUALLY, IF MCCARTHY CANNOT GET OVER THE THRESHOLD, STEVE SCALISE PROBABLY STEPS UP AND SAYS I WILL DO IT.

THAN PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSING MCCARTHY BECAUSE THEY DON'’T LIKE HIM PERSONALLY, CAN CLAIM VICTORY.

THAN THEY'’VE GOTTEN ALL OF THESE CONCESSIONS.

LOUISIANA.

MCCARTHY WILL NOT GIVE IN YET, AND HE SHOULDN'’T.

THERE ARE 201 MEMBERS OF HIS CAUCUS THAT ARE VOTING FOR HIM CONSISTENTLY.

THAT IS A HUGE MAJORITY IN THE PARTY.

THEY DON'’T WANT TO BE HELD HOSTAGE TO THESE 20 PEOPLE FOR THE REST OF THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

EVERY DAY THAT THEY ARE VOTING ON SPEAKER, THEY ARE NOT HAVING HEARINGS ON JOE BIDEN AND HUNTER BIDEN'’S LAPTOP, AND THAT'’S A PROBLEM FOR THEIR MOMENTUM.

>> FOUR YEARS AGO, NANCY PELOSI WAS ELECTED, AND SHE ONLY HAD A FIVE-VOTE MAJORITY, AND SHE WAS THE HOUSE.

THIS IS EMBARRASSING NOW.

I LOVE HOW THE REPUBLICANS SAY THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD WORK, IT IS IN THE OPEN.

WE HAVE NO IDEA OF WHAT KIND OF DEALS THEY ARE CUTTING IN BACK ROOMS.

>> AND ISCO LEASE GETS IT -- >> DO YOU REALLY WANT IT?

EVEN IF MCCARTHY WINS, IF THEY ALLOW ONE MEMBER TO CALL A VOTE OF NO-CONFIDENCE ON THE SPEAKER, THAT WILL HAPPEN MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.

>> AND THEN YOU'’LL BE BOGGED DOWN WITH THAT.

>> IF YOU GO BACK A COUPLE OF YEARS WITH PAUL RYAN, HE WAS THE RELUCTANT SPEAKER.

BUT FROM ALL ACCOUNTS, HE HAD TO BE BEGGED TO BECOME THE SPEAKER.

EVERYONE AGREED TO COALESCE AROUND HIM.

I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT, I THINK STEVE SCALISE IS THE LOGICAL NEXT CHOICE.

THE THING IS, I THINK THOSE 20, A LARGE NUMBER OF THEM, I DON'’T KNOW THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO CUT A DEAL.

THEY ARE SHOWING THEY HAVE SOME POWER HERE.

WENDY: IF YOU ARE JOE BIDEN, YOU HAVE JUST COME OFF OF A MIDTERM ELECTION THAT WAS MUCH BETTER THAN THE DEMOCRATS -- FOR THE DEMOCRATS THAN ANYONE EXPECTED, BETTER THAN ANYONE IN 40 YEARS.

YOU HELD THE SENATE.

YOU'’LL GET ALL OF YOUR JUDICIAL NOMINEES.

THE ECONOMY IS DOING BETTER THAN EVERYONE THOUGHT.

YOU ARE RIDING THE WAVE AND JUST WAITING FOR THEM TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER.

IF THEY DON'’T, THEY ARE MUCH LESS OF AN OPPOSITION FORCE TO HIM THAN THEY COULD BE.

RON DESANTIS OR DONALD TRUMP ARE THINKING, WE ARE BLOWING THIS OPPORTUNITY.

IT HAS TO GET FIXED EVENTUALLY.

THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL PROBLEM FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

ACTUALLY AHEAD ON FEDERAL JUDGES THAN TRUMP?

WENDY: JUST BY A FEW.

>> THE SUPREME COURT IS A BIG DEAL, BUT FEDERAL JUDGES, IN SOME WAYS, IS EVEN BIGGER.

WENDY: HE IS A LITTLE BIT AHEAD, A COUPLE.

THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY VACANCIES LEFT ON THE DISTRICT COURT.

CIRCUIT COURT, THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY.

NO QUESTION HE CAN GET THIS DONE WITH THE SENATE.

YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A SLEW OF NOMINATIONS GO THROUGH IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

JUST AS TRUMP DID, HE WILL RESHAPE THE JUDICIARY.

NOW YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE BUSH APPOINTEES, OBAMA, TRUMP, AND BIDEN, EVEN SOME CLINTON HOLDOVERS, WHICH IS GOOD FOR THE JUDICIARY.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE FILIBUSTER IN THE SENATE, REFORMING THE FILIBUSTER, WHAT THE PROGRESSIVES WANTED TO DO, NOW YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND THEY WANT MORE POWER TO ABSTRACT -- ABSTRACT -- OBSTRUCT.

IT IS BREAKING WITH WHAT WE HAVE SEEN.

>> THE PROBLEM IS TWO REPUBLICAN PARTIES.

THE VERY CONSERVATIVE RIGHT WING -- >> YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND CALL THEM THE CRAZIES.

>> IF THIS CANNOT GET SOLVED IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, YOU WONDER WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

I THINK EVENTUALLY THERE WILL BE A SPLIT.

WENDY: PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT POLARIZATION.

WE SAW IN THE SELECTION PEOPLE SPLIT THEIR TICKETS.

VOTERS ARE SMARTER THAN ANYONE GIVES THEM CREDIT FOR.

THIS SPLIT WILL BREAK THAT HOLD ON FEARS POLARIZATION.

JIM: LET'’S GO TO OUTRAGES AND KUDOS.

DAN: MY OUTRAGE IS THE RACKET THAT IS INAUGURATION FUNDRAISING.

IN PROVIDENCE IN PARTICULAR.

GOVERNORS AND MAYORS HAVE ALWAYS RAISED MONEY FOR THEIR INAUGURATION.

THE DIFFERENCE AND GOV.

MCKEE'’S CASE, THEY RAISE THEIR MONEY.

IF THERE IS EXCESS FUNDS, THEY GIVE IT TO THE FOOD PANTRY.

JIM: ELORZA WAS FLYING TO HAWAII.

DAN: BRETT SMILEY RAISED THREE OTHER $50,000 FOR HIS INAUGURATION.

HE IS GOING TO HOLD ONTO ABOUT $150,000 OF IT AND USE IT HOWEVER HE PLEASES AS THE MAYOR.

THE PROBLEM IS, WHO GIVES THE MONEY?

IT IS THE BIGGEST DONORS, THE COMPANIES THAT HAVE THE SCHOOL BUSING CONTRACT.

THAT IS A $20 MILLION CONTRACT.

JANITORIAL CONTRACT.

IN ANY OF THE WORLD, WE WOULD SAY THAT IS CRIMINAL.

NOT THAT IT ISN'’T, BUT THERE HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF CHANGE FROM THE STATE LEVEL TO HAVE MORE REPORTING ON THIS, AT LEAST, TO DISCLOSE IT.

WE DO THIS IN CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING.

MIKE: MINE WILL BE A KUDOS.

WE JUST CAME OFF OF AND GRITTING A BUNCH OF PEOPLE FROM GOVERNOR TO SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT GOT ELECTED.

WITHOUT THEIR HELP, PARTICIPATION, WE WOULD NOT HAVE A DEMOCRACY.

I WISH THEM WELL FOR THE NEW YEAR.

JIM: MIKE HAD A LITTLE HIATUS BECAUSE HE BUMPED HIS HEAD AND RAN FOR LOCAL COUNSEL HE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF POLITICS FOR MANY YEARS.

WENDY: I AGREE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO SMOOTH ELECTIONS.

I WILL FOLLOW UP ON DAN'’S POINT, PAYDAY LENDING.

WE HAVE SEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE ARE AND HAVE SEEN OUTLIER IN THE COUNTRY ON HOW MUCH MONEY WE ALLOW PAYDAY LENDERS TO CHARGE PEOPLE WHO ARE DESPERATE, LOW INCOME, AT THE MARGINAL LEVELS OF OUR SOCIETY WE NEED CASH.

WE ALLOW THEM TO CHARGE EXORBITANT INTEREST AND THERE IS NO MORAL JUSTIFICATION OF THIS.

YOU CAN CAP IT AT A VERY HIGH RATE, BUT HAVING IT BE TO HAVE 50% IS IMMORAL.

>> YOU KNOW WHO REPRESENTS THE PAYDAY LENDERS?

A FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

THAT IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW.

WENDY: IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO STEP UP, TAKE A STAND, REMOVE THAT BURDEN ON THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE MOST MARGINALIZED AND GET IT DONE THIS SESSION.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL REBUILD LOGJAM?

WENDY: PUBLIC PRESSURE, I HOPE.

JIM: PEOPLE TALK ABOUT POTENTIALLY A SPEAKER OUTSIDE THE HOUSE.

WENDY: SPEAKER IS A POLITICAL OFFICER, CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE TO VOTE THE WAY YOU NEED TO GET THEM TO VOTE TO MAKE THE HOUSE FUNCTION.

SOMEBODY FROM THE OUTSIDE WILL HAVE A TOUGH TIME UNLESS IT IS A FORMER MEMBER WHO JUST LEFT.

JIM: THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

MIKE, NICE TO HAVE YOU BACK, WENDY, DAN.

WE ARE ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTS.

WE ARCHIVE ALL OF OUR SHOWS AT WWW.RIPBS.ORG/LIVELY.

NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP SHOW.

FOUR PEOPLE FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TALKING ABOUT THEIR PRIORITIES AND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR IN THE UPCOMING SESSION.

AND THEN WE CAN BREAK IT DOWN FOR THE REMAINING WEEKS OF THE SESSION.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

JOIN US NEXT WEEK AS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE