>>THIS WEEK ON A LIVELY EXPERIMENT, THE MCKEE ADMINISTRATION IS IN FULL GEAR, WE WILL TELL YOU HOW HIS FIRST FULL WEEK HAS GONE.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE HEARING A LOT ABOUT PLANS FOR LEGALIZED MARIJUANA OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.

>>A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY >>FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS ON IMPORTANT POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLAND.

I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS GREAT PROGRAM AT RHODE ISLAND PBS.

>> JOINING US FOR A REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE, STATEHOUSE REPORTER PATRICK ANDERSON, W PRI TARGET 12 INVESTIGATOR STEPH MACHADO AND BOSTON GLOBE REPORTER DAN MCGOWAN.

JIM: WELCOME TO LIVELY.

HIS PREDECESSOR LIKE IN THE TRANSITION TO DRINKING OUT OF A FIREHOSE THAT IS BEEN ALL OF THAT FOR GOVERNOR DAN MCKEE IN HIS FIRST FULL WEEK FROM CONTINUING TO TWEAK THE COVID VACCINATION PLAN TO CARVING OUT A BUDGET, HE HAS MADE SOME SUBTLE AND SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THERE IS A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN.

I'M GLAD WE HAVE A REPORTER HERE BECAUSE WHAT WE DO REVOLVES AROUND THE STATEHOUSE.

FOR WE DIVE INTO THE ISSUES, I WANTED TO DO A LITTLE AROUND THE HORN AND ASK WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN MAYBE IN YOUR FIRST WEEK AND HOW IT WILL BE FOR YOU AS REPORTER COVERING THE MCKEE ADMINISTRATION AS OPPOSED TO A REMINDER ADMINISTRATION.

LET'S START WITH PATRICK.

PATRICK: WE ARE WAITING FOR THE FIRST THING TO HIT MCKEE THAT HE IS NOT EXPECTING AND FOR HIM TO BRANCH A LITTLE BIT.

RIGHT NOW, HE HAS KEPT EVERYTHING VERY FOCUSED ON COVID AND VACCINATIONS.

I THINK HE SAYS SHOTS IN THE ARMS 50 TIMES AT EVERY EVENT.

WHICH IS RIGHT IS FACING BUT AT SOME POINT, HE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH BROADER ISSUES OUTSIDE OF COVID AND THINGS HE DOESN'T EXPECT.

WE GOT A LITTLE TASTE OF HOW HE DEALS WITH HOSTILE QUESTIONING AND STUFF COMING AT HIM THIS WEEK.

HE NEEDS A LITTLE WORK ON THAT.

HE IS KEEPING THINGS VERY SHORT AND YOU DON'T GET THE REALLY WIDE ANSWERS THAT YOU GOT FROM GOVERNOR RAIMONDO WHO IS VERY PRACTICED IN ANSWERING QUESTIONS IN INTERVIEWS AND DEBATES AND CAN EXPOUND FOR A VERY LONG TIME ON A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS, VERY NUANCED AND DETAILED.

HE KEEP THINGS VERY SHORT AND SIMPLE AND SAYS THINGS LIKE THIS IS IMPORTANT, THAT'S THE END.

WE WILL SEE IF THINGS BROADEN OUT A LITTLE BIT AS HE GETS IS FEET.

JIM: STAY POSITIVE, TESTED NEGATIVE.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN, STAFF?

STEPH: GOVERNOR MCKEE IS STARTING TO LEARN THAT EVERYTHING HE SAYS NOW CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT.

WHEN HE WAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, HE COULD CRITICIZE POLICY BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE IT.

NOW HE IS SEEING THAT PEOPLE REALLY LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS AND IF HE IS NOT ABLE TO ARTICULATE A CLEAR ANSWER ON SOMETHING, WE SAW THAT EARLIER THIS WEEK, HE HAD OF A BUG WHERE HE APPEARS TO SAY THAT PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS COULD SIGN UP FOR VACCINES AND THEN DOCTORS HAD TO WALK IT BACK AND SAY THAT WILL BE SOON BUT IT'S NOT OFFICIAL YET.

WE SO THAT DURING THE TRANSITION WHEN HE HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE ON HIS FRONT LAWN TO SAY TEACHERS COULD BE VACCINATED AND WALK THAT BACK AND ONCE HE BECAME GOVERNOR, HE HAS PUT INTO PLACE A VACCINATING -- A VACCINE PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS.

HE IS LEARNING AS HE CONTINUES TO BE QUESTIONED BY REPORTERS ABOUT A VARIETY OF TOPICS EVEN THOUGH HE MIGHT BE AT AN EVENT TO TALK ABOUT COVID COME REPORTERS HAVE MANY THINGS TO ASK HIM ABOUT.

HE HAS A BUDGET COMING OUT LATER TODAY THAT TOUCHES ON MANY SUBJECTS SO THAT'S A LEARNING CURVE FOR THE NEW GOVERNOR.

JIM: DAN?

DAN: I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

TRADITIONALLY, IF YOU ARE MEETING A NEW POLITICIAN OR RUNNING FOR OFFICE FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR SOMEONE RUNNING FOR A BIG DROP FOR THE FIRST TIME, ON THE DEBATE STAGE, THEY HAVE A MINUTE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION AND WILL TAKE 40 SECONDS AND JUST STOP.

IT'S USUALLY A RIGHT OF PASSAGE WHERE THE GINA RAIMONDOS OF THE WORLD CAN FILL THE TIME SLOT AND GO WAY BEYOND.

IN DAN MCKEE'S CASE, HE'S GOT PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE BUT NOT ON THIS SCALE.

LIKE PATRICK SAID, U.S. CAN MAKE QUESTION AND SOMETIMES HE ANSWERS WITH ONE WORD OR TWO WORDS.

IT'S VERY MUCH A LEARNING CURVE.

HE IS GOING TO GET THE HAG OF THIS SO HE WILL END UP BEING MORE SEASONED BY THE TIME HE RUNS FOR THE REELECTION NEXT YEAR.

RIGHT NOW, HE WANTS TO GET HIS WRITTEN POINTS IN HIS HEAD ACROSS AND SAY NOTHING ELSE.

JIM: PATRICK, IT'S DIFFERENT BUT THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.

WE ARE TAPING ON A THURSDAY MORNING AND THEY WILL HAVE THE BRIEFING MIDDAY SO BY THE TIME YOU WATCH THIS COME A LOT OF THE PLANS WILL BE COMING OUT AND YOU -- HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO GLEAN ANYTHING?

THEY USED TO DO THE VIRTUAL HEARING AND THAT'S CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.

HE HAS A HUGE WINDFALL OF FEDERAL MONEY BUT WITH THAT COMES DECISIONS.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT HIS PRIORITIES?

PATRICK: ON THE FEDERAL MONEY, I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS GOING TO BE IN THIS.

THAT WILL BE THE LEGISLATURES CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO HAVE ALL THAT EXTRA MONEY TO PLAY WITH.

AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

I THINK IT'S AN OPEN QUESTION OF HOW FAR MCKEE GOES INTO NEW TERRAIN BEYOND THE THINGS THAT THE REMINDER ADMINISTRATION AND THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES HAVE BEEN WORKING ON.

I DON'T KNOW OF ANYTHING.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS ANY BIG NEW PROJECT COMING OUT.

WE EXPECT MARIJUANA WITH LEGALIZATION TO BE ON THE AGENDA AGAIN.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT IS BEYOND COVID, WHAT ARE MCKEE'S PRIORITIES?

JIM: YOU WOULD THINK THE CAR TAX PHASEOUT AND THE CCRI, YOU WOULD THINK THOSE ARE LOCKED IN AT THE VERY LEAST?

PATRICK: YES, AND ESPECIALLY THE CAR TAX.

I DON'T KNOW QUITE AS MUCH ON PROMISE AND WHAT HIS VISION IS OF THAT.

IT SEEMS TO HAVE SUPPORT IN THE LEGISLATURES SO THAT WOULD BE A GOOD SIGN.

HE HAS JUST BEEN VERY GUARDED ON WHAT KIND OF KNEW THINGS MIGHT BE ON HIS MIND.

JIM: I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOUR IN BACKS BUT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN SO MANY THINGS.

STAY IN YOUR LANE, PEOPLE.

NOW WE LOOK TOWARD THE 2022.

THIS CHANGES THE DYNAMIC NOW WITH MCKEE.

HE IS REALLY HAVING TO TEST BETWEEN NOW AND A YEAR AND A HALF FROM NOW WHEN HE GETS INTO THE HEART OF THE PRIMARY SEASON.

WHAT ABOUT THE DYNAMIC ABOUT HOW HIS BEING IN THE SEAT NOW WILL AFFECT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE 1.5 YEARS FROM NOW?

DAN: IT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

HERE IS AN INTERESTING TALE.

BEFORE THE 2020 ELECTIONS, THERE WAS SOME POLLING DONE TO TEST THE WROTE ISLAND PLANTATION QUESTION.

THE PEOPLE WHO DID THE POLE WANTED TO SEE, AN EARLY LOOK AT WHO WAS GOING TO BE POPULAR IN THE 2022 GOVERNORS RACE.

THEY FORGOT ABOUT DAN MCKEE.

NOW, SUDDENLY, HE IS GOING TO BE SEEN AS THE FAVORITE JUST BECAUSE THE HE IS THE INCUMBENT SO HE HAS SO MUCH ABILITY TO BE A BIG FACTOR NOW.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET, HE GETS TO CHANCES.

HE GETS THIS WEEK WHEN HE ROLLS OUT HIS BUDGET AND HE GETS HIS NEXT ONE YEAR FROM NOW TO ROLL THAT OUT AND HAVE THE NEW PROGRAM TO USE THE FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY TO SAY LOOK WHAT I'VE DONE FOR YOU RHODE ISLANDERS.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT WITH THE OTHER CANDIDATES.

I THINK THOUGH BE ANOTHER CANDIDATE THAT WILL PULL EVERYONE TO THE LEFT LIKE TALKING ABOUT REPARATIONS AND THE GUARANTEED INCOME AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT WILL BE FASCINATING TO WATCH BECAUSE DAN MCKEE PROBABLY WANTS TO SAY I'M THE ADULT IN THE ROOM, I REOPENED THE ECONOMY AND GOT ALL THIS MONEY HERE AND GOT VACCINES DONE.

WHAT DID I DO WRONG?

JIM: STEPH, I WONDER, AND THIS IS A CRYSTAL BALL QUESTION, WITH THE ELECTORATE, PEOPLE KNOW WHEN PEOPLE ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

WHEN YOU SEE THE TALK ABOUT LARGER STATEWIDE ISSUES, DOES THAT THE ELECTORATE THE OTHER WAY OR HAVE THEY FIGURED THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES?

WE WILL SEE MANY PEOPLE NOT STAYING IN THEIR LANE THE NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT MCKEE TO GET TOO FAR OUT IN FRONT OF THEM.

STEPH: THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE PRESS RELEASES IN THEIR INBOX.

IT MIGHT NOT EVEN PERMEATE TO THEM AND THEY MIGHT WANT TO KNOW WHAT THESE PEOPLE THINK ABOUT A VARIETY OF TOPICS.

I COVER MOSTLY PROVIDENCE WAS AS A LIBERAL CITY AND I HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY I LIKE THE OTHER CANDIDATES BETTER.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE TRYING -- IT'S EARLY AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FIELD WILL BE BUT I THINK PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DISTINGUISH THESE DEMOCRATS FROM ONE ANOTHER.

IT COULD BE HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THESE VARIOUS FOLKS STAND ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES AND PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS.

WE HAVE THREE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES THAT ARE ALL TO THE LEFT OF MCKEE.

SOMEONE IS GOING TO EMERGE AS THE FRONT RUNNER AT SOME POINT ON THE MORE LIBERAL WING OF THE FIELD.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT THE RACE, PATRICK?

IT HASN'T OFFICIALLY BEGUN BUT EVERYBODY IS JOCKEYING AND THERE IS FUNDRAISING AS WELL.

PATRICK: IT'S AN INTERESTING TIME BECAUSE YOU WANT TO DEFINE YOURSELF.

IF YOU ARE ONE OF THESE CANDIDATES, NONE OF THEM HAVE HUGE NAME RECOGNITION, NONE OF THEM ARE BIG PERSONALITIES.

THEIR FIRST JOB IS TO GET THE NAME RECOGNITION UP.

IT'S A WEIRD TIME TO DO IT WITH STILL A PANDEMIC, STILL THE VACCINATION PUSH AND YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW FAR YOU WANT TO PUSH THE VOTE OUT.

IT'S WAY TOO EARLY PROBABLY TO GET NEGATIVE BECAUSE THE CAMPAIGN HASN'T ACTUALLY STARTED.

IT'S A REAL BALANCING ACT TO TRY TO GET THAT NAME RECOGNITION, DEFINE YOURSELF AND GIVE YOUR FUTURE OPPONENT LESS OF A CHANCE TO DEFINE YOU.

WHILE THERE AREN'T THE USUAL AND CONTROVERSIES POPPING UP AND EVERYTHING IS SO FOCUSED ON COVID.

JIM: STEPH, YOU MENTIONED THE VACCINATION PROGRAM.

IT SEEMS LIKE ANCIENT HISTORY.

DAN MCKEE HELD AN IMPROMPTU PRESS CONFERENCE ON HIS LAWN ON A SATURDAY.

THERE IS ONE CAMERA AND MAYBE A PRODUCER.

WHAT ABOUT THE VACCINATION ROLLOUT?

THAT'S HIS BIG FOCUS AS IT SHOULD BE.

ROLL BACK THE TEACHERS BUT NOW THE TEACHERS ARE A PRIORITY.

IT MAY BE IRONIC THAT THE UNIONS HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH HIM BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS OVER THE YEARS.

I KNOW HE'S NOT DOING THIS FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES BUT IT'S A BONUS I THINK MANY TEACHERS WILL HAVE GOOD WILL TOWARD HIM COME NEXT YEAR BECAUS THEY REMEMBER HE MADE THEM A PRIORITY.

STEPH: THAT'S RIGHT, HE ANNOUNCED TO THE TEACHER VACCINATION PROGRAM.

THE UNION LEADERS WERE SPEAKING AND I THOUGHT I WAS WATCHING AN ENDORSEMENT RALLY.

HE SAYS HE'S DOING IT BECAUSE GETTING THE TEACHERS VACCINATED MEAN SCHOOLS CAN BE FULLY OPEN AND THE ECONOMY CAN FULLY OPEN AND THOSE ARE VALID REASONS BUT THERE IS A BONUS THAT THE TEACHERS UNIONS ARE LOOKING AT HIM IN A FAVORABLE LIGHT RIGHT NOW WITH THE ELECTION COMING UP NEXT YEAR.

WE ARE LOOKING NOW AT A SUPPLY ISSUE WITH THE VACCINES AND THE NUMBER ONE THING IN MY INBOX IS PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS SAYING I'M UPSET THAT A HEALTHY, YOUNG TEACHER WHO DOESN'T HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS CAN GET A VACCINE TODAY AND I STILL HAVEN'T BEEN TOLD I CAN SIGN UP.

THE STATE ONLY GETS SO MANY DOSES.

A BIG CHUNK OF DOSES NEXT WEEK ARE SLATED TO GO TO SECOND SHOTS FOR PEOPLE THAT GOT VACCINATED IN FEBRUARY.

IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE SUPPLY I THINK YOU MAY SEE PEOPLE BEING VERY UPSET IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT EVEN AFTER THEY BECOME ELIGIBLE.

JIM: HE SEEMS PRETTY CONFIDENT BUT HE'S BANKING ON THE FEDS COMING THROUGH.

I THINK THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS TALKING A GOOD GAME BUT THEY RELY ON THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.

DAN: HE IS TAKING A CALCULATED GAMBLE.

HE'S -- IT'S THAT JOE BIDEN WILL COME THROUGH AND HE SAID BY THE END OF MADE THAT EVERYONE WHO WANTS A VACCINE HAS THE ABILITY TO GET IT.

DAN MCKEE HAS BEEN DOING THIS ALL ALONG, PART OF HIS STRATEGY HAS BEEN HIGH BELIEVE THERE IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH VACCINE AVAILABLE AND SO IF I SAY THE TEACHERS WILL GET IT AND THEN THE PEOPLE 65 AND OVER WHICH WAS IN QUESTION WILL GET IT.

THEN WE WILL KEEP GOING DOWN THIS CLIFF.

HE IS SAYING I THINK THERE WILL BE ENOUGH.

I ASSUME HE HAS MORE INFORMATION THAN JUST HIS GUT FEELING.

IT'S PROBABLY AN INTELLIGENT MOVE BECAUSE IF HE TIES EVERYTHING TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING, IF THE PRESIDENT CAN GET THIS ONE RIGHT, THEN IT WILL PAY OFFERED DAN MCKEE.

IF IT DOESN'T WORK, IF YOU START TO HAVE PEOPLE SAYING I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAVE A VACCINE BY JUNE 1 AND I DON'T HAVE ONE, YOU CAN LOOK TO THAT LAST CONVERSATION AND LOOK FOR EVERYONE TO START CRITICIZING HIM ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THIS VACCINE BUT RIGHT NOW, HE IS PLACING THAT BET AND IT'S PROBABLY THE INTELLIGENT BETS.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT THE VACCINE ROLLOUT?

PATRICK: I THINK RHODE ISLAND HAS BEEN MORE CONSERVATIVE ON WHO CAN GET THE VACCINE THAN OTHER STATES SO FAR.

I THINK HE HAS SOME DISTANCE TO PLAY WITH.

HE HAS SOME SPACE TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THINGS UP A LITTLE BIT MORE AND SO FAR, IT HAS PROVED THAT SUPPLY HAS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY BEYOND WHAT THEY KNOW AND IT'S BEEN A PRETTY GOOD THAT THAT IF YOU OPEN IT UP A LITTLE MORE, THAT SUPPLY WILL COME EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT NOW, IT WILL COME IN A WEEK OR TWO.

BY NEXT WEEK, WE WILL GET ANOTHER EXPANSION INCLUDING FOLKS PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS OR UNDERLYING CONDITIONS.

THEN HE WILL KEEP GOING FROM THERE.

HE WILL REDUCE THE AGE BUT I THINK THERE WILL BE MORE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON COMING THROUGH WHICH A SINGLE SHOT SO I THINK THERE IS MORE ROOM TO WIDEN THINGS AND INCREASE ELIGIBILITY ALTHOUGH YOU NEVER KNOW FOR CERTAIN.

THERE COULD BE A QUICK TURNAROUND IF THINGS DON'T HAPPEN.

JIM: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT LEGALIZED MARIJUANA IN A SECOND.

I STARTED TALKING ABOUT SOME SUBTLE YET SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.

THE FIRST WAS I GO TO THE BRIEFINGS EVERY WEEK AT THE VETERANS AUDITORIUM AND THOSE OF YOU WHO WATCH MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT THE FORMER GOVERNOR CAME OUT AND SHE HAD TW PEOPLE STANDING ON EITHER SIDE AND THEY HAD TO SHIFT BACK AND FORTH.

THE FIRST THING WE SAW WITH THE NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN IS THAT THE NEW GOVERNOR HAS A TABLE AND EVERYBODY SITS AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET UP AFTER THEIR INITIAL PRESENTATION.

I WANTED TO GO AROUND THE HORN AND ASK YOU GUYS WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE OPTICS?

SUBTLE, BUT IN MY MIND A LITTLE SIGNIFICANT.

WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT HIM HAVING THAT SET UP?

DAN: IT'S CERTAINLY A CHANGE FROM THIS IDEA.

THE GOVERNOR BECAME VERY COMFORTABLE TAKING THAT STAGE AND TALKING ON AND ON.

FOR MUCH OF THE PANDEMIC, IT REASSURED RHODE ISLANDERS AND IT RAISED HER POPULARITY.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

GOVERNOR MCKEE WILL PROBABLY KEEP THIS GOING FOR A WHILE.

WILL HE START TO DOMINATE THE CONVERSATION?

IT'S A NATURAL WHEN YOU ARE THE EXECUTIVE TO DO THAT.

RIGHT NOW, HE'S TRYING TO BE MORE DEFERENTIAL.

AS YOU START TO HAVE A REOPENING OF THE ECONOMY, IF I WERE HIM AND WAS USING THIS AS A FREE COMMERCIAL, I WOULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING AND TALKING UNTIL THE TV STATIONS SAY TO HIM THIS IS TOO MUCH.

IT MIGHT TURN INTO THE DAN MCKEE SHOW.

YOU LET THE COMMISSIONER COME UP AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND YOU GO ABOUT IT THAT WAY.

I AM SKEPTICAL THAT IT WILL STAY THAT WAY THE WHOLE TIME.

JIM: HE IS RUNNING A TIGHT SHIP.

IT WAS ABOUT 10 MINUTES FOR EACH ANY MADE AN INITIAL OPENING STATEMENT AND WE WERE OUT OF THERE IN ONE HOUR.

I WAS WAITING AND I ASKED HIM A QUESTION.

ALL THE OTHER QUESTIONS WENT TO EVERYBODY ELSE AND THIS WAS HIS FIRST FULL PRESS CONFERENCE.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE NEW SET UP, STAFF?

STEPH: GOVERNOR RAIMONDO WAS A PRACTICED ORATOR AND COULD SPEAK FOR HALF AN HOUR AND ARTICULATE A LIST OF ANNOUNCEMENTS.

IF YOU SUSPECTED AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT WAS COMING, THIS WAS VERY DIFFERENT.

THERE WERE ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT SOME OF THE REOPENING OF THE ECONOMY AND THE EXPANDED CAPACITY FOR BUSINESSES.

I EXPECTED THAT TO BE SOMETHING HE WOULD SAY OFF THE TOP.

HE JUST LEFT IT TO SECRETARY PRYOR IN HIS REMARKS.

IT'S A DIFFERENT METHOD WHERE HE'S LETTING EVERYONE PLAY TO THEIR STRENGTHS.

WE WILL SEE IF THAT CONTINUES TO BE THE WAY I -- AS HE GETS MORE PRACTICE OF THE PODIUM.

PATRICK: HE WILL DEFINITELY MAKE FRIENDS WITH HIS CABINET MEMBERS WHO HAVE TO BE UP THERE.

SOME OF THEM PROBABLY WERE NOT HAPPY ABOUT STANDING AND PRESS CONFERENCES AND NOT SAYING ANYTHING FOR OVER AN HOUR AND HAVING TO SIT STILL.

HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIND HIS SEE LEGS ON BEING A LITTLE MORE EXPANSIVE AND CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE.

THEN WHETHER HE MOVES -- RIGHT NOW, THEY'VE GOT THE TABLES WHERE THEY ARE SITTING BUT THEY COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND WHETHER HE SWITCHES TO A CUOMO STYLE NEWS ANCHOR, MAYBE HE WILL FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE THAT WAY.

JIM: DON'T SAY CUOMO.

PATRICK: PURELY FORMAT WISE.

JIM: NOT CONTENT WISE.

YOU WILL BE HEARING A LOT ABOUT LEGALIZED MARIJUANA.

YOU WILL HEAR A LOT FROM EACH OF THESE THREE REPORTERS WHO HAVE WRITTEN EXTENSIVELY ABOUT IT.

LET ME BEGIN WITH STEPH.

YOU HAVE AN EXPENSIVE -- AN EXTENSIVE PIECE THIS WEEK ON IT.

LAY THE TABLE OUT FOR WHAT WE CAN EXPECT.

LAST WE HEARD, THE SENATE WAS STANDING IN THE WAY AND WE WEREN'T QUITE SURE AND NOW THERE HAS BEEN A SEA CHANGE.

STEPH: THE REASON EVERYBODY PAID CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE SENATE BILL THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK IS THAT FOR THE FIRST YEAR, SENATE LEADERSHIP IS BEHIND THE EFFORT AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT HAS LONG BEEN OPPOSED TO LEGALIZING MARIJUANA.

HE HAS CHANGE HIS MIND AND IS AT LEAST OPEN TO IT AND DIRECTED MEMBERS OF HIS LEADERSHIP TO CRAFT A BILL.

IT'S A VERY SERIOUS AND LEGITIMATE EFFORT THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT PROPOSALS, THE SENATE BILL AND THEN GOVERNOR MICKEY'S PROPOSAL.

-- GOVERNOR MICKEY'S -- GOVERNOR MCKEE'S PROPOSAL.

THEY BOTH PROPOSE A PRIVATE MARKET WERE BUSINESSES CAN OPEN THEIR OWN POTSHOPS.

UNDER THE LICENSING AND REGULATION OF THE GOVERNMENT BUT IT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT GOVERNOR RAIMONDO HAD TRIED TO DO LAST YEAR WITH STATE RUN MARIJUANA STORES.

THE SENATE WANTS TO SET UP THIS FIVE-MEMBER CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION THAT WOULD REALLY SET THE RULES AND OVERSEE ALL THE LICENSES FROM PEOPLE THAT GROW THE PLANT TO THE PEOPLE THAT MANUFACTURE AND TEST AND SELL IT SO PUTTING IT IN THE HANDS OF THE SEPARATE COMMISSION WHICH IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

THEY WOULD BE A 20% TAX WITH 3% OF THAT GOING DIRECTLY TO THE CITY OR TOWN.

WHERE THE STORES LOCATED.

MCKEE'S PROPOSAL, WE HAVEN'T SEEN YET BUT IT'S EXPECTED TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, KEEPING THE PROGRAM UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION AND CAPPING THE NUMBER OF STORES AT LEAST TO START AT 25.

JIM: WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS WITH THE SHOPS IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS, IT WAS TAXED TO DEATH AND THERE WERE LONG LINES.

THEY COULD JUST GO TO THE DEALER AND GET IT QUICKER.

WHY WOULD I WANT TO PAY ALL THIS MONEY?

THERE IS ALLOWANCE IN TERMS OF TAXES FOR THE STATE BUT NOT PRICING YOURSELF OUT OF THE MARKET?

DAN: YOU DON'T WANT TO INADVERTENTLY OPEN THE BLACK MARKET TO ALL OF THIS.

WHAT YOU BET ON IS THAT THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE A DEALER WHO MIGHT GIVE THIS A CHANCE IF IT'S LEGAL AND IF THEY CAN JUST BUY IT IN A SHOP.

TO THAT POINT, YOU COULD HAVE AT LEAST THREE TAIL JUST THREE RETAIL LICENSES AND ANY COMMUNITY IN THEORY.

IT WOULD BE PRETTY EASY TO GET.

THAT MAY MAKE IT EASIER.

THE 20% TAX, EVERY STATE THAT WILL DO THIS ONCE TO BENEFI FROM THE TAX REVENUE.

THE THING THAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS, WE HAVE ALL COVERED THIS FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND WATCHING MASSACHUSETTS DO IT AND WATCHING COLORADO DO IT FIRST.

IT'S AMAZING HOW POLITICIANS HAVE CHANGED IN RHODE ISLAND.

IF YOU THINK YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE ON BOARD WITH THIS, YOU ARE PERFECTLY FINE WITH IT.

I DON'T THINK DOMINIC ROGERIO CARED ALL THIS MUCH ABOUT IT AND HE WAS SAYING THE RIGHT THING THAT MAYBE MY CONSTITUENTS DON'T LIKE THIS SO I AM AGAINST IT.

THE OPPOSITION CAME FROM THE SPEAKER AT THE TIME.

IT WAS ALL ABOUT HIS COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR BUT NOW, THESE GUYS, -- KIND OF DON'T CARE THIS MUCH BUT THEY WANT TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF IT.

PATRICK: THE FOCUS AT THE STATEHOUSE EVEN MORE NOW IS ABOUT WHO GETS TO OPEN TH SHOPS.

IT'S INCREDIBLE HOW MUCH THAT DOMINATES THE DISCUSSION OF WHO WILL OWN THE SHOP, WHO WILL WORK THERE.

WE ASSUME THEY WILL BE A HUGE MONEYMAKER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO GET THOSE LICENSES.

WHO KNOWS WHEN THE TAX RATES ARE SET AND WE SEE HOW IT ALL SHAKES OUT.

THERE WERE CERTAINLY SO MUCH POSITIONING ON WHO GETS THE LICENSES AT THE STATEHOUSE.

JIM: WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES LEFT SO LET'S KEEP THE OUTRAGES ORKUDOS TIGHT AND BRIGHT.

STEPH: AFTER WE TAPED THIS, I AM ON MY WAY TO COVER WHAT MIGHT BE THE FINAL DAY OF THE TRIAL AGAINST THE PROVIDENCE POLICE SERGEANT.

THIS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HIGH PROFILE CASE.

THE COURT IS UNFORTUNATELY NOT ALLOWING REPORTERS TO TWEET OR TAKE NOTES ON A LAPTOP OR EMAIL THEIR NEWSROOM.

MY ABILITY TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OVER THE COURSE OF THIS TRIAL WITH SEVEN HOUR DAYS HAS BEEN SEVERELY HINDERED AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE.

IT'S BEEN A PROFESSIONAL AND INTERESTING TRIAL BUT ONE THAT I THINK, WHEN THE PUBLIC IS NOT ALLOWED INTO THE COURTHOUSE TO WATCH THIS TRIAL, NOT ALLOWING JOURNALISTS TO SPREAD THE WORD AND SEND DISPATCHES OUT FROM THE COURTROOM I THINK IS AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION.

JIM: PATRICK, YOU AND DAN HAVE ABOUT 45 SECONDS EACH, OUTRAGE OR QUEUED OUT?

PATRICK: WE MENTIONED THE MCKEE PRESS CONFERENCE WITH THE TEACHER VACCINATIONS WHICH HAPPENED IN PAWTUCKET WHICH WAS THE LAST TO BRING BACK INPERSON LEARNING.

THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE TOOK A VICTORY LAP ON REOPENING SCHOOLS WHEN THE VACCINATIONS WERE LITTLE RICH WHEN THEY DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT JUST A MONTH EARLIER, THEY WANTED TO CANCEL ALL IN PERSON SCHOOL THE ENTIRE YEAR REGARDLESS OF VACCINATIONS.

I WILL LEAVE IT THERE.

JIM: DAN YOU GET THE LAST 45 SECONDS.

DAN: I WROTE ABOUT THE PROVIDENCE GIVING METER.

DONATION STATIONS THAT THE MAYOR HAS SET UP.

THEY HAVEN'T BROUGHT IN VERY MUCH MONEY, UNDER $3000 IN THE LAST 3.5 YEARS.

WHAT I FIND TO BE OUTRAGEOUS IS THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN IS SITTING IN A CITY ACCOUNT AND HASN'T BEEN DONATED.

THE PROMISE WAS THE MONEY WOULD GO TO SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.

IT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY BUT IT PROVIDES THINGS FOR PEOPLE AND THEY ARE NOT GETTING IT NOW.

JIM: THANK YOU, YOU ARE THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.

AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU ON FOR OUR EYES AND EARS.

THANK YOU FOLKS ARE JOINING US, WE HOPE YOU COME BACK HERE NEXT WEEK AS THE LIVELY EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

.

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

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] >> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY >> FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT ON ISSUES THAT FACED RHODE ISLANDERS.