>> THIS WEEK, THE GOVERNOR BIDS FAREWELL TO RHODE ISLAND WITH HER FOR -- WITH HER FINAL SATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

QUESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS CONTINUE TO AMOUNT OVER THE WOEFUL VACCINE ROLLOUT.

>> THE LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY: >> THE LIKELY EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED ANALYSIS, I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS GREAT PROGRAM FOR RHODE ISLAND PBS.

[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] QUEST JOINING US ON THAT PANEL, THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE WOMAN FOR THE RHODE ISLAND REPUBLICAN PARTY, BUBBA WALLACE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION RHODE ISLAND AND SECRETARY FOR THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF RHODE ISLAND BILLY HUNT.

>> WELCOME EVERYBODY WE APPRECIATE YOU SPENDING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

SHE HAS DUCT PUBLIC APPEARANCES AND REPORTER QUESTIONS FOR JUST SHY OF SIX WEEKS, BUT WHEN STACY EMERGED TO ADDRESS A STATEWIDE TELEVISION AUDIENCE AND A VIRTUALLY EMPTY HOUSE CHAMBER TO TAKE A VICTORY LAP FOR HER LAST SIX YEARS BEFORE SHE HEADS TO WASHINGTON.

WE PUT TOGETHER A HIGHLIGHT REEL.

GOV.

RAIMONDO: 2020 WAS A YEAR WE WILL NEVER FORGET.

2021 WILL BE OUR YEAR OF REBUILDING.

RHODE ISLAND IS IN A GOOD, STABLE PLACE.

AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE ENDURED OUR CHALLENGES HAVE UNITED AND INSPIRED US.

WE BUILT WORLD-CLASS FIELD HOSPITALS IN A MATTER OF WEEKS.

WE ESTABLISHED THE BEST IN THE NATION COVID TESTING AND WE ARE ON A MISSION TO VACCINATE EVERY SINGLE RHODE ISLANDER.

THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS STRONG , BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE ARE STRONG.

THESE PAST SIX YEARS WE HAVE MADE INVESTMENTS IN RHODE ISLANDERS, SKILLS, EDUCATION, JOB CREATION INFRASTRUCTURE HEALTH CARE, EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY.

I HAVE TRIED TO BRING CHANGE TO THIS STATE.

IN THE LAST SIX YEARS, RHODE ISLAND STEPPED UP OVER AND OVER.

COMMITTING TO BELIEVING THAT CHANGE WAS POSSIBLE.

>> NO WORD ON WHEN THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS GOING TO BE SWORN IN.

IT MIGHT BE NEXT WEEK DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS IN WASHINGTON.

SENATOR JESSICA DE LA CRUZ GAVE THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE, WE HAVE OUR OUR OWN REPUBLICAN RESPONSE HERE.

LEON LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU -- LEE ANN LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU.

THE STATE OF THE STATE IS USUALLY THE FLOWERY LANGUAGE.

LEE ANN: AS A FAREWELL ADDRESS SHE HAD ALL OF THE NOTES WE WOULD EXPECT.

ACKNOWLEDGING THE PAIN AND LOSS OF THE PAST YEAR AND HIGHLIGHTING THE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCY OF THE PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND.

AND AN INSPIRATIONAL NOTE FOR YOUNG WOMEN.

AS THE STATE OF THE STATE SHE DID NOT REFLECT WHERE WE ARE.

SHE SAID WE ARE IN A GOOD PLACE AS FAR AS COVID-19.

AS SHE SPOKE TO AN EMPTY ROOM.

WE ARE NOT IN A GOOD PLACE -- WE ARE FAR FROM BACK TO NORMAL.

UNDER THIS GOVERNOR, RHODE ISLAND WAS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME WAS THE WORST IN THE WORLD FOR PER CAPITA INFECTION.

OUR NUMBERS HAVE IMPROVED ONLY AFTER REACHING SUCH A TERRIBLE POINT.

VACCINE ROLLOUT IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE NATION, OUR ECONOMY IS HARD HIT BY THE VACCINE.

MUCH OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS YET TO BE SEEN AND THAT IS CONCERNING.

IT DID NOT ADDRESS THOSE STRONG AND RESILIENT RHODE ISLANDERS.

SHE SAID THERE WOULD BE NO DISRUPTION AS FAR AS THE COVID, BUT THERE ALREADY IS A DISRUPTION.

SHE HAS BEEN AWOL.

SHE HAS NOT BEEN ANSWERING QUESTIONS, ON THE FRONT LINES TALKING TO PEOPLE.

PEOPLE TO GET USED TO HER BEING THERE, AT THE BEGINNING SHE DID A GOOD JOB COMMUNICATING.

NOW IT SEEMS LIKE, I HAVE TO GO, JOE IS CALLING, WE ARE LEAVING RHODE ISLAND BEHIND.

THE ONE THING SHE PUSHED WAS THE FUTURE OF THE STATE AND ASKED LAWMAKERS TO PASS WAS A INCREASE TO MINIMUM WAGE.

WHEN SMALL BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE THIS COULD BE THE FINAL STRAW FOR A LOT OF THEM.

A CRUSHING BLOW.

SHE NEVER ADDRESSED THE BLOATED BUDGET.

HER ACCOMPISHMENTS, FREE COLLEGE TUITION, EXPENSIVE SUBSIDIZED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, WITH A VERY HIGH TAXPAYER-FUNDED PRICE TAG.

>> LET ME HAVE BILLY JUMP IN.

LARGE PICTURE I THOUGHT THE GOVERNOR GOT GOOD REVIEWS EARLY IN THE SPRING.

I THINK IT IS A TOUGH NOTE TO LEAVE ON.

I UNDERSTAND WASHINGTON IS MUZZLING HER, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD A SOUR TASTE THE LAST SIX WEEKS, FOR BETTER OR WORSE THAT MIGHT OVERSHADOW SOME OF WHAT SHE HAS DONE.

BILLY: IT IS EASY FOR HER TO DEFINE THE TERMS OF WHAT SHE IS GRADING HERSELF ON AND NOT NECESSARILY HER GOALS WHEN SHE STARTED TO TAKE OFFICE.

IF YOU LOOK BACK ON HER INAUGURATION SPEECH SHE TALKED ABOUT CREATING JOBS, ESPECIALLY IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR.

THAT HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE HER TERM IN OFFICE, THEY LOST ABOUT $2000 -- THEY LOST ABOUT 2000 JOBS.

THOSE JOBS HAVE BEEN MADE UP FOR IN THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR, I WILL NOT SAY IF THAT IS FOR THE BEST.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING FROM OUT OF STATE TO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

SHE TALKED ABOUT REDUCING THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT OF THE STATE AS A LEEANN MENTIONED EARLIER.

THAT WAS NOT MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE IS A DEFICIT PROTECTED, IF IT WAS NOT FOR RELIEF FUNDS THAT CAME IN AND BUILT OUT THE STATE GOVERNMENT WE WOULD BE IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION.

SHE TALKS A LOT ABOUT EQUITY WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION.

ONE OF HER GOALS WHEN SHE STARTED WAS TO MODERNIZE SCHOOL BUILDINGS TO GIVE EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

THAT HAS BEEN A FAILURE IN HER TENURE.

THERE WAS A JOHN HOPKINS REPORTS ABOUT THE PROGRESS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND HOW FAILING OUR SCHOOL IS.

THIS PANDEMIC HAS PUT A FINE POINT ON THE CONDITION OF OUR SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RETROFIT CLASSROOMS TO MAKE THEM A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

>> ROBERT?

BOB: SHE HEADS ON THE KEY POINT, IT WAS NOT A STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, IT WAS A FAREWELL ADDRESS.

IT WAS A FINE FAREWELL ADDRESS AND NOT SURPRISINGLY TOUTED THE MANY AREAS THAT SHE IS PROUD OF.

THE REAL STATE OF THE STATE WILL COME FROM GOVERNOR MICKEY WHEN HE -- MCKEE WHEN HE DOES HIS BUDGET ADDRESS.

IT IS TOO EARLY TO WRITE THE LEGACY OF A GOVERNOR THAT HAS NOT EVEN LEFT YET.

SOMETIMES HISTORY INTERFERES AND THE COLLECTIVE MEMORY OF RHODE ISLAND WILL FOCUS ON THE HIGH POINTS AND LOW POINTS.

ONE GOVERNOR IS KNOWN FOR HELPING US HANDLE THE BLIZZARD OF 78 THROUGH COMMUNICATION EVERY DAY, ONE OF THE POINTS THAT HAS BEEN RAISED ABOUT THE LACK OF CUTE -- LACK OF COMMUNICATION LATELY.

ALL OF GOOD BUSINESS AND EDUCATION WENT AWAY BECAUSE OF THE SHORTCOMINGS, ANOTHER INHERITED A BANKING CRISIS AND CANNOT DO ANYTHING HE WANTED TO DO.

GOVERNOR COLLINS HAD GOOD TIMES TO NAVIGATE WITH.

SADLY ANOTHER GOVERNOR IS BEST REMEMBERED FOR THE COMPASSION THAT HE HAD DURING THE STATION FIRE.

LINCOLN WAS LINKED AND I -- LINK WAS LINK AND I THINK HE IS ONE OF YOURS NOW BILLY, YOU CAN DO HIS LEGACY.

RAYMUNDO HAS THE HANGOVER THE PENSION CHANGES, AND THE PANDEMIC.

I WISH HER WELL IN WASHINGTON, TO THE EXTENT OF THE YOUNGER CABINET MEMBERS THAT JOE BIDEN HAS CHOSEN, I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO BRING A LOT OF ENERGY INTO THE BITING CABINET.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE WONDERFUL.

IT IS TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE LEGACY, THAT WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE FUTURE.

>> AS SHE HEADS ON WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT WILL BE YOU, WITH GOVERNOR MCKEE COMING IN PRETTY SOON, HE HAS ALREADY STARTED PUTTING TOGETHER A TRANSITION TEAM, YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE ADVISORY COMMITTEES, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR OUT OF A ADMINISTRATION WITH HIM.

WHAT WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE?

LEEANN: HE IS GOING TO HAVE A LOTS OF SERIOUS CHALLENGES AHEAD OF HIM.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW HE FACES THOSE.

HE HAS BEEN SO FAR A CHAMPION OF SMALL BUSINESS, EDUCATION AS FAR AS CHARTER SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL CHOICE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM MAINTAIN THOSE VALUES.

WE ARE SEEING THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG WITH THE FALLOUT FROM COVID.

EVERYBODY IS IN THAT PERIOD WHERE WE ARE GETTING ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING BUT THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE CLOSURES, MORE PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOBS.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THAT DOWNTURN CONTINUED AND ONLY INCREASING.

I DO NOT ENVY THE JOB AHEAD OF HIM.

HE WILL HAVE TO WORK WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THAT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY.

WHAT IS HE IS TRYING TO DO IS BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, HE DID NOT HAVE THAT MUCH BECAUSE THERE IS NOT MUCH MUNICATION BETWEEN HIM AND THE GOVERNOR DID HE DID NOT HAVE A GOOD GRASP ON THE SITUATION, SHE DID NOT INCLUDE HIM IN HER INNER CIRCLE.

FIRST HE HAS TO GET UP TO SPEED.

WHICH IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE AND DEAL WITH THIS FALLOUT OF EVERYTHING ELSE.

INCLUDING THE BUDGET.

AND THE IDEA WE ARE GOING TO FIX EVERYTHING BY INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE, IT IS SCARY.

I DO NOT THINK THE ANSWER TO INCREASING PEOPLE'S WEALTH IS TO INCREASE THE BURDEN ON BUSINESSES.

IT IS TO DECREASE THE BUDGET AND THE GOVERNMENT AND DECREASE TAXES SO THEY CAN KEEP MORE MONEY THEY EARN.

THE PERSPECTIVE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE CANNOT MAKE THAT CONNECTION IS SCARY.

>> BOB IS IT FAIR TO SAY TO SAY YOU HAD A TOMATO IS GOVERNOR WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT SCHOOL SPIRIT IS THAT AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION?

BOB: IT IS RHODE ISLAND.

SAME TUMULTUOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH INCOMING GOVERNOR MCKEE ON THAT ISSUE THAT I DID WITHOUT -- WITH OUTGOING GOVERNOR RAIMONDO ON PENSIONS.

HE COULD'VE MY FATHER TO SERVE ON THE PENSION BOARD 20 YEARS AGO, KATE WOULD BE A ONE-YEAR GAY, HE SERVED FOUR ADMINISTRATIONS FOR 15 YEARS.

OUR FAMILIES KNOW EACH OTHER, IT IS A RHODE ISLAND THING.

I WAS A BROWN GRAB FOR LINCOLN, I HAVE A MASTERS, WE WENT TO THE SAME HIGH SCHOOL, CUMBERLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

WITH MY DAY JOB I WILL FIGHT WITH YOU ON ISSUES WHERE WE DISAGREE AND WE DISAGREE WITH THEN MAYOR MCKEE.

HE IS A DEMOCRAT WHO SHARES MY DEMOCRATIC VALUES ON MOST THINGS.

WE WILL FIND OUT WHERE DIFFERENCES ARE.

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, HE GETS A FRESH START, CLEAN SLATE AS THE TOKEN DEMOCRAT ON THE PANEL.

YOUR HARD -- YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE, I APPROACH PROBLEMS LIKE I'M THE CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

WE HAVE AN INCUMBENT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, LET'S MAKE HIM AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE STATE.

HIS FOCUS WILL BE WITHIN ROAD -- WITHIN RHODE ISLAND.

HE KNOWS ALL THE PLAYERS, THE NEIGHBORS, TOWN ADMINISTRATORS.

THE BEST TOUCHSTONES MAYBE WILL BE LET'S EXECUTE GOVERNMENT SERVICES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND.

ESPECIALLY DURING A PANDEMIC, I CAN DEAL WITH THAT.

THAT WILL BE A GREAT START.

>> BOB'S BOOK ON RHODE ISLAND GOVERNORS WILL BE COMING OUT LATER THIS YEAR, YOU CAN GET IT ON AMAZON.

BILLY, I THINK WITH MCKE HIS FOCUS HAS BEEN WITH SMALL BUSINESS YOU WONDER IF THE RESTRICTIONS ARE GOING TO LOOSE UP, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

BILLY: HE SEEMED TO HAVE A LASER FOCUS ON THE SMALL BUSINESS.

HE FILLED THE VACUUM CLEARLY BY THE ADMINISTRATION IGNORING THE WHOLE SITUATION.

DAN MCKEE HAS HAD A MORE MODERATE APPROACH, EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE, WHICH WILL SERVE HIM WELL.

-- WAS NOT THE PERFECT LIBERTARIAN BUT HE RAN A BUDGET SURPLUS OF THREE OUT OF THE FOUR YEARS, HOPEFULLY WE CAN SEE SOMETHING SIMILAR WITH MCKEE.

THE FOCUS ON SMALL BUSINESS AS THEY MENTIONED IN THE REBUTTAL FOR THE REPUBLICANS, WE HAVE LOST ABOUT 40% OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE STATE.

THEY NEED TO HAVE SUPPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION WAS ON THE RADIO AND TALKING ABOUT LOOSENING REGULATIONS.

IT WAS SOMETHING THEY PUT IN PLACE THREE DAYS AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT, SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE FLIPPED THE SWITCH.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON GETTING THE ADMISSION RATION TO FOCUS ON SMALL BUSINESSES AND GET OUR ECONOMY RUNNING.

THE VACCINE ROLLOUT HAS BEGUN AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A PLAN IN PLACE BEFORE IT BECOMES AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

>> LET'S SHIFT GEARS, THE VACCINE ROLLOUT CONTINUES TO BE PROBLEMATIC.

I'VE SAID THIS ON THE SHOW THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE HAD A BIG PLANT AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE RUN INTO EIGHT ROADBLOCK, MISCOMMUNICATION.

BOB YOU ARE OF ONE OF 10,000 PEOPLE APPOINTED TO AN ADVISORY BOARD, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THIS ADVISORY BOARD.

I ASSUME YOU WERE BROUGHT ON FOR THE EDUCATIONALERSPECTIVE.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING THIS BOARD CAN DO?

BOB: WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING YESTERDAY WHICH WAS MOSTLY LISTENING TO TERRIFIC EXPERTS GIVE EVERYBODY BACKGROUND EXPLANATION ON WHERE WE ARE.

THE FIRST THING THAT GOVERNOR MCKEE'S ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO DO IS COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC WHAT IS GOING ON, WHAT IS WORKING, WHAT IS NOT.

DEPENDING, WE GET TO THE OVERAGE IN THE TOPIC A LITTLE MORE, THE WORD PRIORITY HAS CONFUSED PEOPLE.

THE WAYI WOULD EXPLAIN IT, SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, IS SAVING LIVES.

I HAVE SEEN MISREPORTING ON THIS ISSUE.

THE FIRST PRIORITY HAS TO BE SAVING LIVES.

IF YOU TOOK ALL RHODE ISLANDERS AND LINED THEM UP BY AGE, YOU WOULD SAY THE DATA SAYS IF YOU ARE OVER 75, OVER 65, YOU CAN DIE.

THOSE GROUPS BECOME TOP OF THE PRIORITY.

THEN YOU FIGURE OUT WHO THEY ARE EXPOSED TO.

CONGREGATE CARE SETTING HIM UP THERE EXPOSED TO EACH OTHER AND CAREGIVERS.

YOU HAVE TO GIVE THE FIRST RESPONDERS, POLICE, FIRE, EVERYBODY ELSE VACCINATED.

THAT CREW GETS ON THE LIST BEFORE YOU START A SUBSET OF THAT ARE MY MEMBERS.

I HAVE TEACHERS AND PROFESSORS OVER 65.

THE DEBATE BECOMES INTERESTING AND WE DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THAT TODAY.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT DEBATE BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLY.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT SOURCES OF SUPPLY.

I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE MADONNA -- MODERNA AND PFIZER VACCINE SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR THE FOLKS WHO HAVE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY OF PASSING AWAY.

>> LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.

HE SAID IT A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT TEACHERS AND LEGISLATORS OR WHATEVER, DID THE UNION TAKE A POSITION ON -- WHERE YOU WHISPERING IN HIS EAR?

SHOULD TEACHERS BE AHEAD OF SOME OTHER GROUPS?

BOB: THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE MISUNDERSTANDING AND THE WORD PRIORITY, YOU WANT TO PUT A 25 EUROS TEACHER AHEAD OF MY GRANDMOTHER, WE DID NOT SAY THAT.

WE SAID WHAT THE CDC SAID AND WHAT ABOUT 22 STATES HAVE ALREADY DONE, AFTER YOU GET TO THE EVERYBODY OVER 65, UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS AND FIRST RESPONDER, THEN YOU HAVE THE DEBATE.

IN RHODE ISLAND THEY HAVE COMMUNICATED THEY ARE GOING TO GO BY AGE TRONCHES, I DO NOT AGREE THAT IS THE BEST WAY BASED ON WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN 22 OTHER STATES.

AND THE CDC SAID ABOUT FORWARD FACING PROFESSIONS INCLUDING K-12 EDUCATION.

WE WILL NOT GET THERE UNTIL WE HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE.

LEANNE JUMPED IN.

LEEANN: NOW THE MISSION IS TO VACCINATE EVERY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, THAT IS A DISTRACTION FROM THE FACT THAT THE ROLLOUT IS FAILING.

WE ARE THE LAST TO START AGE-BASED VACCINATIONS.

WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT HOW VULNERABLE OUR ELDERLY POPULATION IS.

YET WE HAVE NOT BEEN RESPONSIVE AND GETTING VACCINES.

WHY?

WE ARE RANKING AMONG THE SLOWEST , WHILE NEW STRAINS ARE EMERGING THAT ARE MORE TRANSMISSIBLE, WE ARE NOT IN A GOOD PLACE.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A LACK OF COMMUNICATION.

MOST SENIORS DO NOT KNOW IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET THE VACCINE.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO.

IF YOU TRAVEL THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WEBSITE IT IS DIFFICULT ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS WHO ARE NOT THE BEST AT NAVIGATING COMPUTERS.

THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE COMMUNICATION AND UNIFORMITY FROM CITY TO CITY AND TOWN TO TOWN.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT STEPS FOR DIFFERENT CITIES AND TOWNS.

THERE IS NO CENTRALIZED IDEA OF HOW THIS WILL HAPPEN.

IF BOB IS TELLING US THEY'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT WHO GETS THE VACCINE, HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO FIGURE OUT HOW THAT IS HAPPENING?

THE COMMUNICATION IS LACKING.

WE NEED A BETTER SYSTEM, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE SYSTEM IS.

WE SHOULD KNOW WHO THE PRIORITIES ARE, AND WHEN.

PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF ARE TOLD NOT UNTIL THE SUMMER.

>> AND WHY?

WHO IS GETTING IT AND WHY.

WE ARE A SMALL WORLD AND PEOPLE SEE REPORTS FROM OTHER STATES AND FRIENDS.

YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE EVERYBODY COMFORTABLE THAT THE SYSTEM IS FAIR.

THEY HAVE NOT DONE A GOOD JOB COMMUNICATING WHAT THE SYSTEM IS.

I USE MYSELF AND I AM SOMEWHAT COMPUTER SAVVY, IF I CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT, HOW CAN I HELP MY THAT'S COMPARATIVE TO OTHER STATES, WE HAVE TO TELL THE STORY.

HAVING A PRESS CONFERENCE AT 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON IS NOT ENOUGH, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WORKING, KIDS ARE AT SCHOOL, THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE THREE COMPUTERS GOING AND THREE KIDS ON THE SCREEN OR ARE PICKING SOMEBODY UP.

WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB COMMUNICATING WHAT THE CURRENT BILLY: I WANT TO TAKE EVERYBODY BACK TO JANUARY OF LAST YEAR, WHAT THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY WAS AND IT WAS WITH THE TRANSPORT, SOMETHING THAT ONLY AFFECTED A SMALL PORTION OF THE STATE.

THE IDEA THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO VACCINATE EVERY PERSON IS LAUGHABLE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE HANDLED BY THE STATE DIRECTLY, IT SHOULD BE HANDLED BY PHYSICIANS AND PHARMACIES.

THEY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE, THEY KNOW WHAT THE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS ARE WITHOUT VIOLATING HIPAA REQUIREMENTS.

THEY HAVE THE SCHEDULING ABILITY TO TAKE PHONE CALLS, ONLINE PORTALS, ESTABLISHED AND READY TO GO TO ROLLOUT THIS VACCINE.

SEE DO NOT HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF RULES AND STANDARDS APPLIED ACROSS ALL 39 CITIES AND TOWNS.

IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE SCENARIOS OF PEOPLE TRYING TO CALL THEIR TIME HOW -- THERE TOWN HALL, MULTIPLE BUSY SIGNALS, GIVING PERSONAL INFORMATION OUT TO RANDOM PEOPLE.

HAVING EIGHT SHORT SUPPLY WITH DIFFERENT STANDARDS ABOUT WHO IS GETTING THE VACCINE.

RHODE ISLAND RANKS AT THE BOTTOM FOR AGE-BASED PROGRAMS AND WE HAVE RECEIVED OVER HALF OF OUR SUPPLY AND IS TAKING TWO AND HALF WEEKS FOR THOSE TO BE PUT OUT TO THE POPULATION.

THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM, WE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS VACCINE SINCE MID-DECEMBER AND THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT MID FEBRUARY EFORE THEY GET A REGISTRATION PORTAL.

IF THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT THE ONE SHOULD NOT BE IN CHARGE OF IT, THEY SHOULD DISTRIBUTED TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

BOB: I WOULD NOT GO AS FAR AS BILLY.

SOMETIMES IT IS APPROPRIATE TO GET TO THE VACCINES TO WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE, SOMETIMES IT IS PERFECT TO GET THE PEOPLE TO READ THE VACCINES ARE.

IN A CONGREGATE CARE SETTING, TRAPPED AT HOME, MOBILITY ISSUES, WE HAVE TO GET IT TO YOU IN YOUR HOME.

WE HAVE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE GEARED UP AND READY TO GO.

I DO NOT DISAGREE THAT CVS AND WALGREENS AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE ARE GOING TO BE AN ELEMENT.

IT GOES BACK TO COMMUNICATION EXPLAINED WHAT WERE DOING WHY WE ARE DOING AND WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT.

>> WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES LEFT FOR OUTRAGES, KEPT THEM TIGHT -- KEEP THEM TIGHT.

LEEANN: STATE SENATOR JESSICA DE LA CRUZ AND THE HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICANS, KUDOS TO THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE A DETAILED RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF THE STATE OUTLINING FIVE KEY POINTS THAT REPUBLICANS WILL FOCUS ON TO GET THE STATE ON TRACK.

LIMITING GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY POWERS, INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO APPROVE THE EXTENSION OF THE EMERGENCY POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR.

AND LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT.

THE DESIGNATED SUPPORT ACT, THAT THEY ARE INTRODUCING IS GREAT.

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE AFFECTED BY COVID-19 AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE IN TOUCH WITH THEIR FAMILY, LOVED ONES.

ONE PERSON THAT CAN DESIGNATE AS THEIR SUPPORT PERSON, THE PROPOSAL OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL MORATORIUM, MAKING SURE FEDERAL MONEY IS DISPERSED PROPERLY, AND THE LINE ITEM VETO.

>> WE GOT THE RESPONSE ALL OVER AGAIN.

BILLY?

BOB: I HAVE AN OUTRAGE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN BARRINGTON AS A RESULT OF THE CITY TRY TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE ROLLOUT.

THEY TRY TO ROLLOUT A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS, THERE WAS UNCLEAR MESSAGING, YOU HAD A BUNCH OF 80 AND 90-YEAR-OLD RESIDENTS SHOWING UP IN SUBZERO TEMPERATURES TRY TO GET IN LINE LIKE THEY WERE WAITING FOR THE NEW IPHONE.

ONLY TO BE MET BY A LOCKED DOOR SAYING THEY WERE NOT EVEN REGISTERED.

IT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

>> BOB MAYBE YOU CAN TELL MCKEE YOU WERE GOING TO BRING A GUEST AND YOU CAN HAVE BILLY RESUME IN -- ZOOM IN.

BILLY: I THINK HIS SENTIMENTS WILL BE EXPRESSED AS THIS GOES FORWARD.

MY OUTRAGE PLEAT REQUEST -- PLEA REQUEST IS TO STOP COVERING VACCINE DISTRIBUTION LIKE IT IS A HORSE RACE POLITICAL FIGHT.

WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC, PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

ALL OF US HAVE LOST LOVED ONES OR HAVE LOVED ONES WHO HAVE GOTTEN THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE.

STOP TALKING ABOUT IT LIKE IT IS A KNIFE FIGHT.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT.

THE CDC HAS GUIDELINES.

WE HAD GOOD IDEAS ON THIS SHOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS AND IT DOES NOT HELP ANYONE AND THE PUBLIC WHEN THE HEADLINES ARE MISLEADING.

THE GOAL AND PRIORITY IS SAVING LIVES.

>> DULY NOTED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE WE WILL CONTINUE THIS ONLINE WITH OUR BONUS SEGMENT, LIVELY EXTRA.

COME BACK AND WATCH THEM.

THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE MAIN PROGRAM.

COME BACK AND IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GO ON MY COME BACK NEXT WEEK AS THE LIVELY EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.

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