>> WEEK ON A LIVELY EXPERIMENT, THE FIRST FULL OF THIS ELECTION CYCLE YIELDS INTERESTING RESULTS.

AND THE BUDGET NEWS IN RHODE ISLAND THAT'S KEEPS GETTING BETTER.

>> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY.

>> I'M JON HAYES MY JUNIOR, FIVE WEEKS PERMIT PROVIDED -- I'M A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS AMERICAN -- THIS GREAT PROGRAM RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JOINING US ON THE PANEL WAS SUSIE YANKEE, CHAIRMAN OF THE RHODE ISLAND PUBLICAN PARTY.

>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S LIVELY EXPERIMENT, I'M JIM HUMMEL.

WITH FEWER THAN FOUR MONTHS TELL PRIMARY DAY, W PRI CHANNEL 12 IN CONJUNCTION WITH ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY POLICED ITS FIRST POLE -- RELEASE ITS FIRST POLE LOOKING AT THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND CD2 DISTRICT.

THE MAIN TAKEAWAY, GOVERNOR MCKEE AN THE SECRETARY OF STATE ARE IN A DEAD HEAT BEFOREN ADVERTISING BLITZ.

SCOTTY, LET'S GO TO YOU, YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF HOLES OVER THE YEARS.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE CROSSTABS, NOT THE DEEP.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE AWAY FROM THIS?

>> OBVIOUSLY THIS IS GOOD FOR GORE BAYEUX.

SECRETARY OF STATE.

SHE IS A GOOD CAMPAIGNER, A GOOD DEBATER, AND YOU KNOW, IT IS HARD TO REALLY MESS UP AS SECRETARY OF STATE.

I THINK SHE HAD A GOOD RECORD AND SHE IS OBVIOUSLY GOTTEN OUT THERE.

SHE MOVED HER FEET A LOT BUT WHAT IT REALLY SHOWS FOR AN INCUMBENT ARE SOME OF THE WEAKNESSES MICKEY HAS AND I THINK HE WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS THEM.

SOME OF THEM ARE JUST SILLY CAMPAIGN THINGS LIKE SYING I WILL GO TO A DEBATE IN THE CANDIDATE FORM AND SAYING I WILL NOT DO IT.

THEN STUPID THINGS LIKE CUTTING OFF THE FREE RIPTA BUSES AND HAVING TO GO REVERSE IT.

THOSE ARE SMALL THINGS WHERE SOMETIMES IS WHAT HAPPENED IS IN BRUCE'S SECOND TERM, THERE COULD BE DEATH BY 1000 CUTS.

I THINK HE REALLY NEEDS STRONG CAMPAIGN MANAGER WILL GO IN THERE AND SAY NO, GOVERNOR, DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DO THIS LET'S NOT DO IT.

THINGS ARE NOT AWFUL IN RHODE ISLAND.

THERE IS A PRETTY BIG STATE SURPLUS, THE BIGGEST THING I THINK WE HAVE HAD SINCE ALMONDS GOVERNORSHIP WAY BACK WHEN, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK HE HAS DONE THE BEST HE CAN -- BEST HE COULD STUFF AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT FRANKLY HE WAS -- HE IS AN ACCIDENTAL GOVERNOR AND GINA RAIMONDO WAS REALLY BAD TO HIM.

SHE COULD HAVE PUT THEM ON A COMMISSION, THEY HAD ABSOLUTELY NO RELATIONSHIP.

WHEN HE CAME IN.

REMIND A GOT TO WASHINGTON AND LEFT HIM HOLDING IT.

>> MAYBE YOU CAN USE THE PHRASE ACCIDENTAL GOVERNOR.

>> I MAY STEAL THAT FROM YOU.

I THINK IT IS A LOT OF TROUBLE FOR HIM.

HE SHOULD BE FAR AHEAD AS TO WHAT WE CALL AN INCUMBENT GOVERNOR.

NELLIE GORBEA HAS USED HER OFFICE AS PROPELLING HER INTO A HIGHLIGHT.

MOST PEOPLE DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT THE SECOND -- WHO THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS PRIOR TO HER SO SHE HAS BEEN OUT IN FORCE USING THAT OFFICE FOR SOME GOOD THINGS, BUT SHE HAS GOTTEN HER NAME OUT THERE AND SHE IS VERY AFFABLE AND CHARMING SO HE'S GOT A WATCH.

SHE IS CLIPPING AT HIS HEELS AND I AGREE WITH SCOTT THAT HE HAS MADE SOME MINOR ERRORS BUT THEY HAVE BEEN BLOWN PROBABLY OUT OF PROPORTION.

THE BUS, YES, WE WILL ELIMINATE THE RIPTA BUS, TWO DAYS LATER WE WILL NOT ELIMINATE THE BUS.

NOT SHOWING UP FOR THE DEBATE AND THEN SHOWING UP FOR THE DEBATE.

THOSE SHOW HE IS AN EXECUTIVE ECONOMIC UP HIS MIND.

HE IS AN EXECUTIVE BY COMMITTEE.

WHAT SHOULD I DO TODAY?

MAYBE I SHOULD NOT DO THAT.

IT IS A LONG WAY OFF BEFORE NOVEMBER BUT HE HAS GOT A LOT OF THINGS HE HAS GOT TO MAKE UP FOR.

AND HE SHOULD START LISTENING.

>> YES HE SHOULD, LISTEN TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

I THINK HE LISTENS TO THE WRONG PEOPLE PROBABLY.

45% JOB APPROVAL RATING, GIVEN THE CYNICISM OF POLITICS, LOOKING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, EXECUTIVES, GOVERNORS ARE GETTING REELECTED WITH THOSE NUMBERS.

>> IN WISCONSIN, IT HELPS HIM BEAT THE INCUMBENT.

SOMETIMES MAYBE NOT BECAUSE WE ARE ALWAYS NITPICKING THESE THINGS BUT WHAT DO YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THIS?

>> I AGREE NELLIE GORBEA IS IN A GOOD POSITION, NOT JUST BECAUSE I SUPPORTER.

JIM: FULL DISCLOSURE.

>> FULL DISCLOSURE AND THAT.

I HAVE BEEN ON HER COUNSEL FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

I WOULD TELL THE GOVERNOR SOMETHING ELSE, GOVERNOR MCKEE, I CAN SAY FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, LEADING THE PRESS PAUL DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL WIN.

[LAUGHTER] SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROM PERCIVAL -- PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND SUE I THINK JUST MENTIONED SOME OF THE THINGS WITH RESPECT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE BEING THAT CLOSE WITHOUT HAVING ONE TV YET OR BEING OUT THERE ON TV AND IT IS AN OFFICE THAT IS NOT AS HIGH-PROFILE AS THE GOVERNOR SAYS A LOT ABOUT HIM AND WHEN PEOPLE GET TO KNOW HER EVEN MORE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, I THINK SHE WILL WIN THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.

I THINK THOSE NUMBERS SUGGEST IT.

>> I'M NOT THAT FAR AHEAD.

IT IS A MOST A DEAD HEAT.

JIM: 25% TO 23%.

40% UNDECIDED.

>> ABOUT THAT UNDECIDED AND I THINK SUE MENTIONED IT AND SCOTT AS WELL, THE GOVERNOR IS PROBABLY THE BEST-KNOWN STATE OFFICIAL IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

TO HAVE TAT MUCH UNDECIDED TELLS YOU THAT WHILE THEY MIGHT BE PERSUADED TO GO TO THE GOVERNOR, THEY KNOW WHO THE GOVERNOR IS, THEY HAVE SEEN ENOUGH OR OVER A YEAR ON TV, HE HAS LED OUR STATE AFTER GOVERNOR RAIMONDO BECAME SECRETARY ROMANO AND THE FACT THERE ARE MANY UNDECIDED SAYS I THINK A LOT ABOUT HIM.

JIM: SUE KNOWS WELL AND PEOPLE HAVE HELD YOUR CHAIR BEFORE, VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL IN REPUBLICANS AND AT THIS POINT, YOUR CANDIDATE CAN SIT OUT IN NOVEMBER -- UNTIL NOVEMBER.

THE LAST TIME I HAD YOU HERE, SHE WAS JUST ON THE VERGE OF ANNOUNCING.

SHE HAS BEEN ON THE AIR A LOT, I THINK SHE IS GAI NAME RECOGNITI.

SUE: SHE'S AN UNKNOWN, A BUSINESS WOMAN, LOTS OF GREAT QUALITIES, WENT TO THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, TO COLUMBIA, SO SHE A VERY SMART, AGGRESSIVE WOMAN.

GREAT CREDENTIALS BUT SHE NEEDED TO GET OUT THERE, TO GET HER NAME OUT THERE.

AND SHE DID THAT AND NOW YOU ARE SEEING HELENA FOWLKES WHO MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHO SHE IS STARTING TO CAMPAIGN.

THIS WAS THE FIRST INITIAL PULL OUT THERE AND THINGS WILL CHANGE I THINK THINGS WILL CHANGE INTO OUR FAVOR BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR A CHANGE.

JIM: BUT YOU CAN BE A RHODES SCHOLAR BUT YOU NEED TO BE A RHODE ISLAND SCHOLAR.

SCOTT: RIGHT.

JIM: I THINK THAT CAN BE AN A ACHILLES HEEL.

WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT IT?

SCOTT: WE WILL HAVE TO SEE.

SHE IS BRAND-NEW, ON THE AIR, FINALLY STARTING TO GENERATE SOME NAME RECOGNITION, WHICH SHE REALLY NEEDS.

I WILL SAY I'M NOT AS IMPRESSED WITH HER AD AS I AM WITH HELENA FOLKS'S AD.

I THINK THE AD DONE BY TED DEVINE AND HIS TEAM WAS VERY GOOD.

SHE WILL NEED HUGE FIELD TO COME INTO THIS THING.

THE ONE THING THAT MAY HELP THE REPUBLICANS THIS YEAR, WE KNOW WE GO BACK A LONG WAY, YOU KNOW WHEN THE DEMOCRATS BEAT THE STUFFING OUT OF EACH OTHER IN A PRIMARY IN THIS STATE, THAT IS WHEN REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR BEST OPENINGS, TO WIN IN NOVEMBER IN THE GENERAL.

JIM: I THOUGHT HER AD WAS INTERESTING.

THE REASON IT MAY BE IMPRESSED HE WAS IT WAS A FULL MINUTE.

ASHLEY WAS DOING THE BOOM BOOM.

SOME OF THAT IS COST BUT RIGHT BEFORE THE NBC NIGHTLY NEWS THE OTHER DAY, ALL THIS MONEY SHE IS RAISING IS FINALLY SPENDING.

MAYOR TAVERAS: I THINK THAT IS RIGHT BUT SHE REMINDS ME, AND I KNOW HER AND BILL ARE GREAT PEOPLE, BUT SHE REMIND ME A LITTLE BIT OF MICHAEL BLOOMBERG.

I MEAN BY THAT MICHAEL BLOOMBERG WAS THE SUCCESSFUL MAYOR OF NEW YORK AND IF I DON'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING, I THICK HE WAS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN.

WHEN HE RAN IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, THERE WAS NOT A SPACE FOR HIM IN MANY WAYS.

CERTAINLY THE FIRST DEBATE MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE AS WELL.

I FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE GOT AROUND AND HAS A STRONG BASE.

I THINK HE HAS A STRONG BASE AND THE QUESTION WILL BE WHERE DOES MISSES FOLKS BASE COME FROM.

AND WHERE IS SHE ABLE TO GET VOTES.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS CERTAINLY MOVED TO THE LEFT.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD DEBATE THAT.

I DON'T THINK SHE IS RUNNING NECESSARILY AS A PROGRESSIVE BUT AS AN EXECUTIVE THAT HAS DONE THIS BEFORE AND CAN DO IT FOR THE STATE.

SUE: PEOPLE WERE SUGGESTING TO ME TO GET HER TO JOINT AS AN INDEPENDENT.

I'M LIKE I'M NOT GOING TO CONVINCE HER TO RUN AS AN INDEPENDENT, SHE IS A DEMOCRAT, SHE HAS STRONG DEMOCRATIC ROOTS AND HER FAMILY IS KNOWN IN DEMOCRATIC CIRCLES.

SHE IS A DEMOCRAT AND NO ONE WILL BELIEVE SHE IS AN INDEPENDENT.

SHE HAS TO RUN AS A DEMOCRAT.

I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MOVES TO THE LEFT AND YOU HAVE MATT BROWN AND DR. MU NAZ TO OUR VERY FAR LEFT TO ARE GOING TO TAKE THAT SO DOES SHE FIT SOMEPLACE IN THE MIDDLE?

I THINK DAN MCKEE KIND OF OWNS THAT, THOUGH HE IS MOVING TO TUPELO.

JIM: SETH MAGAZINER, PROBABLY NOT A SURPRISE, 33% BUT AN AWFUL LOT OF UNDECIDED AND ALLAN FUNG, FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE.

SCOTT: HE'S A FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE BUT HIS PROBLEM WILL BE WHAT KATIE KNEE, THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR MAGAZINER AND MAGAZINER HIMSELF ARE DOING WELL.

IT GOES BACK TO WHAT SHELDON WHITEHOUSE DID AGAINST LINC CHAFEE IN 2006 WHICH IS NATIONALIZE THIS RACE.

FUNG HAS A GOOD RECORD AS MAYOR OF CRANSTON, WELL-KNOWN, PEOPLE THINK HE IS A GOOD GUY, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO REMIND PEOPLE IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT, OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THAT HIS FIRST VOTE WHEN HE GETS TO CONGRESS WILL BE FOR KEVIN MCCARTHY.

THE SPEAKER.

HE WILL BE ANOTHER REPUBLICAN IN REPUBLICAN HOUSE AND THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING FOR ANYONE.

I DO NOT THINK THAT GIVEN NEW ENGLAND AND GIVEN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW WHERE BIDEN IS HURTING , THE REPUBLICANS ARE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH IN BLUE DISTRICTS HOW THE NATIONAL RACE PLAYS OUT HERE.

SUE: I WOULD HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH THAT.

WHY?

WE KNOW THAT WE ANTICIPATE I SHOULD SAY WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING IN POLITICS, WE ANTICIPATE THIS WILL BE A RED WAVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO PUT SOMEBODY THAT IS GOING TO BE IN THE MAJORITY PARTY AS A REPUBLICAN TO REPRESENT NEW ENGLAND?

IF YOU NOMINATE AND PUT THE SETH MAGAZINER IN, HE WILL BE BACK AND BEHIND DAVID CICILLINE AND YOU WILL NOT GET ANYTHING.

YOU WANT SOMEONE THAT IS GOING TO REPRESENT RHODE ISLAND AND WHY NOT HAVE THAT BE SOMEONE IN THE MAJORITY PARTY THAT CAN BRING THINGS BACK TO RHODE ISLAND?

JIM: IT IS WHAT JOHN CHAFEE SAID FOR YEARS, IT WILL GO TO THE REPUBLICANS, TO THE DEMOCRATS, SO AT LEAST HAVE SOMEBODY AT THE SEAT.

SUE: HAVE SOME BUDDY AT THE TABLE.

YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANYBODY AT THE TABLE IF YOU NOMINATE -- SCOTT: BUT THAT'S THE THING, JOHN CHAFEE COULD NOT WIN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN THE STATE.

SUE: I DISAGREE WITH YOU.

I THINK HE COULD.

SCOTT: HERE'S A GUY WHO SAID WE SHOULD BAN THE MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL GUNS, THE TO A PEOPLE WOULD KILL HIM.

JIM: AS SOMEBODY WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL TO DISTRICT RACE, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

MAYOR TAVERAS: I THINK IT WILL BE A CLOSE RACE BECAUSE CLEARLY WHAT WE SEE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND I HAVE SEEN ARTICLES ABOUT IT THAT ANY PLACE THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN ONE BY LESS THAN SEVEN POINTS IS KIND OF IN PLAY.

I BELIEVE THAT THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT TWO IS ONE OF THEM.

ALAN WON, -- WON THAT DISTRICT.

HE COMES FROM CRANSTON AND PEOPLE KNOW HIM SO IT WILL BE VERY COMPETITIVE RACE.

IF IT IS MAGAZINER, WHOEVER THE DEMOCRAT'S, THEY WILL HAVE THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL BE COMPETITIVE AREA JIM: THE BUDGET NEWS, PINCH ME.

IT GETS BETTER AND BETTER EVERY WEEK.

JUST THE STOCK MARKET IS PLUNGING.

WE ARE AT ALMOST $1 BILLION SURPLUS IN ADDITION TO THE MONEY AND I WAS THINKING THIS WEEK, SO MANY MONEY SLOSHING AROUND YOU ULTIMATELY KNOW THERE WILL BE AN OUT HERE PROBLEM BUT RIGHT NOW, IS IT TIME TO REVISIT THINGS LIKE THE GAS TAX SUSPENSION?

SUE: ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THIS MONEY THAT HAS COME IN FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS TO THE UPPER MONEY AND TO NOW THE TAX REVENUES HIGHER THAN WE ANTICIPATED, WE HAVE TO BE VERY WE HAVE TO DO BUDGET STRESS TEST TO SEE WHAT IS OUR LONG-TERM GOAL, SHORT-TERM GOAL, AND MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT SPENDING THAT MONEY NOT WISELY, CERTAINLY WE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE FAMILIES, TALK ABOUT GAS TAX, TALK ABOUT MAYBE THE CAR TAX, ILLUMINATED.

-- TAX ILLUMINATED.

A SENATOR WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT LET'S TAKE CARE THE FAMILIES AND SEE HOW WE CAN UTILIZE THE MONEY AND SERPA -- ANSWER PLUS WE HAVE ON LONG-TERM GOALS AND DON'T SPEND IT ON SHORT-TERM FIXES.

THAT'S USUALLY WHAT WE DO IN THE STATE, WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, LET'S SPEND IT.

AND EVEN THE $1.3 BILLION THEY HAVE NOT DIVVIED OUT YET, THERE IS PROBABLY 12 MILLION, 12 BILLION ASKS FOR THAT MONEY ALREADY.

SO LET'S MAKE SURE WE USE IT AND NOT WASTE IT'S LIKE TYPICALLY WE DO, JUST SPEND IT ON THINGS THAT ARE NOT LONG-TERM BENEFITS TO THE STADIA.

SCOTT: I THINK WE CAN LOOK TO NEXT DOOR, REPUBLICAN CHARLIE BAKER, WHO SAID SOME PRETTY GOOD MIXTURES OF INVESTING IN THINGS AND THEN DOING A MIDDLE-CLASS OAK IS TAX-CUT, AND SOMETHING FOR THE RICH IN THERE, CUTTING THE STATE TAXES ALSO.

BUT THE RAINY DAY FUND COULD PROBABLY USE SOME MONEY BECAUSE, AS WE KNOW, AND JIM MENTIONED THE STOCK ARCHITECT, THIS IS NOT GOING TO LAST FOREVER.

HOPEFULLY, THE VIRUS WANES AND WE GET BACK TO A MORE NORMAL, ECONOMIC SITUATION, THEN THERE WILL BE SOME MONEY IN CASE THERE IS A DOWNTURN.

MAYOR TAVERAS: WHAT ABOUT A CUT -- JIM: WHAT ABOUT A CUT IN THE SALES TAX?

MAYOR TAVERAS: I JUST WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING CLEAR, I WAS ON THE SHOW WITH I THINK IT WAS KEN BLOCK AND LISA PELOSI AND YOU ASKED US A QUESTION AND ONE OF THE THINGS I TALK ABOUT WAS THE SALES TAX, SO I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING, I'M JUST SAYING -- JIM: YOU ARE PRESSING.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN ABOUT CUTTING?

MAYOR TAVERAS: IN THE WORDS OF FRANK COSTANZA, HE STOLE MY MOVE.

[LAUGHTER] BUT I LIKE THE SALES TAX CUT BECAUSE IT IMPACTS LOWER INCOME PEOPLE, IT'S AN AGGRESSIVE TAX, SO TO DO THAT I THINK IS A GOOD THING AND ALLOWS US TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER STATES.

JIM: DO YOU THINK THAT WILL REALLY SPUR -- LOOK, WE ALL LIVE ON THE BORDER.

I LIVE A MILE FROM MASSACHUSETTS.

DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY OK I WILL STAY IN RHODE ISLAND RATHER THAN GO TO MASSACHUSETTS?

MAYOR TAVERAS: I'M NOT SAYING WHETHER THEY WILL OR NOT BUT I KNOW THIS MUCH, IT IS GOING TO MEAN MORE MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOW INCOME.

THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS ARE WE VISITING THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAYBE SUPPORT THAT, TO HELP LOWER INCOME FAMILIES HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKET DURING THE TIME WHEN HOUSING IS SO EXPENSIVE, WITH EVERYTHING SO EXPENSIVE.

THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS I THINK YOU JUSTIN DELL'S -- ENDORSED NELLIE GORBEA'S PLAN TO SUSPEND THE GAS TAX SO I THINK YOU HAVE MADE NEWS ON THIS.

SUE: I THINK THAT WAS SENATOR JESSE DE LA CRUZ.

JIM: I THINK IT WOZNIACKI NOW.

JESSICA DID IT THERE AND NELLY WAS HERE.

MAYOR TAVERAS: WE WERE BOTH LATINA.

JIM: MAYBE THAT'S THE COMMON.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN TERMS OF BUDGET?

SCOTT TALKED ABOUT THE RAINY DAY FUND.

SUE: I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK YOU NEED TO HAVE A RAINY DAY FUND BECAUSE SCOTT HAS SAID THE A COME AND UP AND DOWN AND IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED FOR THAT, YOU ARE IN FOR A LOT OF HURT.

SO YES, SPEND IT WISELY, I'M A LONG-TERM PLANER SO I ALWAYS LIVE 10 YEARS OUT AREA DID ARE WE INVESTING THIS MONEY 10 YEARS OUT?

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ALSO ANOTHER GOOD WAY TO SPEND THAT MONEY.

JIM: YOU WOULD NEVER MAKE IT IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THEY LOOK ABOUT TWO WEEKS AHEAD.

THEY BLEW THROUGH THE TOBACCO MONEY.

A TENURE PLAN IS UNHEARD OF.

SUE: BUT THAT IS THE WAY.

SCOTT: REMEMBER, ALLMAN WANTED TO CUT THE INCOME TAX AND TONY WANTED TO CUT THE CAR TAX AND THEY COULD NOT AGREE SO THEY DECIDED TO DO BOTH AND THEY FINANCED IT TO GIVE WALL STREET THE TOBACCO MONEY.

JIM: THAT'S TRUE THERE WAS A BIG HUNK OF MONEY.

SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A LONG TIME, EVEN ONE STEP CLOSER, LET RHODE ISLAND VOTE ACT AND IT IS BASICALLY CODIFYING A LOT OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE, EARLY VOTING, SUSPENSION OF SIGNATURES ON MAIL BALLOTS, I KNOW YOU WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

LET ME START WITH YOU ABOUT THIS.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

THEY HAVE BEEN DOING MAIL BALLOT VOTING AND STATES FOR YEARS AND THAT IS ALL THEY HAVE BEEN DOING.

ANY ISSUES WITH THIS BILL OR DO THICKET IS GOOD FOR VOTERS?

MAYOR TAVERAS: BRAVO.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT, THE PERSON RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE POINTED OUT THAT MOST STATES DO NOT HAVE A SIGNATURE -- SORRY A WITNESS AND NOTARY REQUIREMENTS.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROM WHEN WE WENT TO THE SUPREME COURT AND ARGUING THIS CASE.

SO WHAT WE SAW LAST TIME IN RHODE ISLAND IS RECORD TURNOUT.

A LOT MORE PEOPLE VOTED, MORE PEOPLE USED THE MAIL BALLOTS, SO I THINK IT IS A VERY GOOD THING.

THE FOLKS WORRIED ABOUT FRAUD OR ANYTHING ELSE SHOULD LOOK TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT WAS DOING IN ORDER TO TRY TO SUBVERT THE VOTERS AFTER 60 SOME CASES IN COURT TO WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL TRYING TO HAVE FAKE COLLECTORS SELECTED, ATTORNEYS WITH PLANS TO TELL THE VICE PRESIDENT -- I GIVE THE VICE PRESIDENT A LOT OF CREDIT, VICE PRESIDENT PENS, FOR NOT SUCCUMBING TO THAT.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT PROBLEMS IN ELECTIONS, LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED NATIONALLY AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALL BE CONCERNED ABOUT, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, BECAUSE IT IS OUR COUNTRY.

JIM:JIM: ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT FRAUD WITH THIS?

SUE: I'M ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT FRAUD.

WE AS REPUBLICANS ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO VOTE AND HARDER TO CHEAT SO IT IS GOOD WE HAVE MAIL BALLOTS BECAUSE THEY ARE -- JIM: THAT IS NOT HAPPENING IN A SOME OTHER STATES AND WE WON'T GET INTO TEXAS OR GEORGIA AND ALL THAT.

SUE: LET ME TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED -- WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.

WE KNOW VOTER ROLLS ARE NOT CLEAN.

WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE SENT OUT MAIL BALLOT APPLICATIONS TO EVERYBODY OVER 143,000 CAME BACK UNDELIVERABLE SO WE'VE GOT TO CLEAN THOSE UP.

WE GOT TO CLEAN UP THE VOTER ROLLS FIRST.

NUMBER TWO I THINK WE HAVE VOTER ID HERE SO -- VOTER ID LAWS HERE SO WHEN YOU REMOVE THE ID OFF OF MAIL BALLOTS AND WE ACCEPT ACTS AS A SIGNATURE, YOU ARE NOT MATCHING THOSE SIGNATURES TO ANYTHING AND IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR POSSIBILITIES THAT NEFARIOUS THINGS CAN HAPPEN.

WE WENT THROUGH THE DATA DUMP AND IT IS NOT WIDESPREAD FRAUD HERE IN RHODE ISLAND BUT WE DID NOTICE THAT THERE WERE ABOUT SIX PEOPLE THAT WE SAW THAT DOUBLE VOTED.

WE PRESENTED THEM TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

THEY TOOK TWO OF THEM AND SAID YES, THEY DID VOTE TWICE AND IT DIED.

THERE WAS NO LOOKING TO SEE IF ANYBODY COMMITTED VOTER FRAUD.

ABSOLUTELY NONE.

WE HAD THREE CASES THAT OTHER STATES FOUND THAT THEY VOTED TWICE AND I THINK ONE VOTE THAT SOME OF THE VOTES TWICE IS ONE TOO MANY.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ELECTION INTEGRITY ACROSS THE BOARD.

I WORRY ABOUT IT, WE WILL HAVE EYES ON THE GROUND AND WE WILL DO EXEC WITH THE DEMOCRATS DID, WE WILL BALLOT CHASE, MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BALLOTS.

I WORRY ABOUT THE DROP BOXES.

MAKING SURE THEY ARE SECURE, MAKING SURE THERE ARE CAMERAS ON THEM SO NOTHING FUNNY HAPPENS BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FOR ME I THING IS THE BALLOT HARVESTING.

ALLOWING THIRD-PARTY, AND THAT IS BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES, THIRD-PARTY POLITICAL OPERATIVES GOING OUT AND SCOOPING IT.

BECAUSE YOU GET UNDUE INFLUENCE.

WE WANT YOUR VOTE TO BE YOUR VOTE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY INFLUENCES YOUR ABIITY TO CAST A BALLOT FOR WHO YOU WANT TO.

THAT THIRD-PARTY BALLOT HARVESTING, I'M SORRY -- JIM: SCOTTY IS BUSTING TO SAY SOMETHING.

SCOTT: NO, I JUST WANT TO BRING SOBRIETY TO THIS CONVERSATION.

THERE IS NOT REALLY WIDESPREAD FRAUD IN RELIED IN -- IN RHODE ISLAND.

I THICK YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.

THEY USED TO BE PROBLEMS WITH THE MAIL BALLOTS AND WE KNOW THE LLOYD GRIFFIN DAYS.

THE LAWS HAVE BEEN CHANGED SINCE THEN.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE AN IMPOSTER FOR A CANDIDATE, AND I THINK THE MAYOR KNOWS THIS, YOU BETTER LOVE THAT CANDIDATE BECAUSE IT IS NOW A FELONY.

TO DO THAT.

THE OTHER THING IS -- SUE: IT'S A FELONY BUT IF NOBODY IS ACTIVELY LOOKING -- SCOTT: WE ARE AUDITING.

SUE: AND WHAT I TELL PEOPLE IS, IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT IT, GET INVOLVED WITH THE PROCESS.

IT'S SUE: THEY DID A RISK ON IT FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE THERE, MYSELF AND JOHN MARION.

THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.

IF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OPENS THIS PROCESS -- SO I WANT TO TELL YOUR VIEWERS IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT IT, COME JOIN US.

THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OPENS UP EVERYTHING, COME WATCH THE PROCESS, AND I THINK PEOPLE WOULD FEEL MORE CONFIDENT IF THEY ARE THERE WATCHING.

SCOTT: BUT DON'T WORRY, THERE ARE OTHER STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, RED STATES LIKE UTAH, BLUE STATES LIKE OREGON, THAT DO ALL MAIL BALLOTS.

SUE: AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB BECAUSE THEY REALLY DO A GREAT JOB OF CLEANING UP THEIR BUDDY ROLLS -- THERE VOTER ROLLS.

IN FLORIDA THAT HAD PROBLEMS AFTER THE 2000 ELECTION, THEY HAVE GOTTEN GOOD AT MAIL BALLOTS.

WE NEED TO GET BETTER AT IT AND REMOVING SOME OF THOSE -- YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THE TWO WITNESSES AND NOTARIES BUT SOMETHING THAT IDENTIFIES THE VOTER.

JIM: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT EARLY VOTING?

SUE: I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE GO IN AND THEY PRESENT THEIR THING AND ALSO YOU KNOW WHAT I WORRY ABOUT HAVING WATCHED THE PROCESS, THE MAIL BALLOTS, IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH YOUR BALLOT, YOU CANNOT TRACE THAT BALLOT BACK TO SOMEBODY.

THE EASIEST WAY TO MAKE SURE YOUR BALLOT IS CAST IS TO MAKE SURE IT IS IN PERSON.

IF YOU PUT YOUR BALLOT INTO A MACHINE AND THERE'S AN ERROR MARK ON IT, YOU CAN CURE THAT BALLOT RIGHT THEN AND THERE.

ONCE THEY REMOVE YOUR BALLOT FROM A MALE BALLOT, YOU DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CURE IT AND WE SAW BALLOTS WHERE WHEN IT SAYS VOTE FOR ONE PERSON PEOPLE OVER VOTED.

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHAT THE INTENT OF THAT VOTER WAS?

SCOTT: THEY BOYS HAD THAT.

SUE: YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT.

I SAY IS THE EASIEST OR BETTER WAY TO DO IN PERSON IS IN PERSON -- TO VOTE IS IN PERSON.

MAYOR TAVERAS: THEY HAVE REGULATION ON MAIL BALLOTS, ON OVER VOTES AND MAIL BALLOTS, ON UNDER VOTES IN MAIL BALLOTS.

SOME PEOPLE WILL SUCCOR THE NAME INSTEAD OF FILLING IN THE OVAL AND THEY HAVE REGULATIONS AND THEY DO WITHOUT AND AN OPEN SESSION, THEY DEAL WITH THAT WHERE ANYONE CAN GO, ANYONE CAN SEE WHEN THEY CERTIFY MAIL BALLOTS, EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO SEE IT.

WE KNOW WHO IS VOTING BY MAIL AND ANYONE WHO SIGNS WITH AN AX, YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW UP YOU CAN FOLLOW UP.

I APPRECIATE THE FACT SUE HAS SAID THAT THERE IS NOT WIDESPREAD FRAUD AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BROUGHT TWO CASES I BELIEVE, FILED TWO CASES AGAINST PEOPLE -- THREE NOW?

THREE CASES WHICH IS GOOD.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE SHOULD DO IF ANYONE BREAKS THE LAW WE SHOULD HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

EVEN IF THEY ARE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: YOU WANTED TO GET THAT IN.

LET'S DO OUTRAGES AND KUDOS AND YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DO THIS WITH ANGEL OFF-CAMERA.

YOU HAVE ANY OUTRAGE OR KUDO?

SUE: I HAVE TWO OUTRAGES.

ONE IS HOUSE BILL 8076, JACKIE PRISON SKI, THE REPRESENTATIVE IN CRANSTON, SHE PUT A BILL IN TWO GIVE BONUSES, $3000 BONUSES, TO PRIVATE SECTOR.

ONE OF WHICH HAPPENS TO BE AN AMBULANCE COMPANY THAT HER FAMILY OWNS.

I THINK IT IS OUTRAGEOUS.

JIM: IT'S COINCIDENTAL.

SUE: QUITE COINCIDENTAL.

IT IS OUTRAGEOUS AND REPRESENTATIVE WHO PUT IN SOMETHING THAT IS CLEARLY BENEFITING A COMPANY THAT SHE OWNS AND THE OTHER THING, THE OTHER OUTRAGE I HAVE IS 55,000 OVER VOTES FOR THE CENSUS, THAT IS A PROBLEM.

JIM: A BIG PROBLEM.

?

WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

MAYOR TAVERAS: MY OUTRAGES THE FACT WE HAVE REPUBLICANS AND I THINK THERE WAS A GROUP OF 10 REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS WHO VOTED AGAINST ALLOWING PEOPLE ON WIKI, LOW INCOME PEOPLE WHO GET HELP FOR THEIR INFANTS, TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT FOR FORMULA.

AND TO ME, IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH FORMULA FOR OUR INFANTS AND YOU WOULD HAVE REPUBLICANS VOTING AGAINST ALLOWING OUR LOWEST INCOME FOLKS USING WIC TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THAT.

DID YOU SEE THE BILL?

23 MILLION OUT OF THE 28 MILLION WAS USED FOR SALARIES.

IT WAS NOT TO SELL THE INFANT FORMULA CRISIS.

I THINK THAT WAS MORE OUTRAGEOUS.

JIM: THAT WILL BE THE AFTER.

WHAT YOU HAVE?

SCOTT: I THINK WE ARE HEADED TO THE HANDMAID'S TALE WITH THE WAY THE REPUBLICANS ARE DEALING WITH ABORTION.

THERE IS SIMPLY NO WAY THAT THERE IS ANY COMPROMISE AND IT IS A RACE TO THE BOTTOM.

YESTERDAY, THURSDAY, AND OKLAHOMA THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE PASSED LEGISLATION THAT DEFINES LIFE STARTING AT FERTILIZATION.

HELLO, IF ANYBODY KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT IT, THERE IS NO MEDICAL TEST FOR THAT.

STATE AFTER STATE ARE CRIMINALIZING ABORTION, TRYING TO THROW WOMEN AND DOCTORS IN JAIL.

I DO NOT THINK EVEN PEOPLE -- JIM LANDRIEU, PEOPLE ANTIABORTION THEIR WHOLE CAREER CANNOT BELIEVE HOW FAR AN EXTREME THESE LAWS ARE.

TO WOMEN.

I THINK THIS ONE MIGHT EVEN KNOCK OUT THE OKLAHOMA ONE, KNOCKED OUT IUD'S AND IN VITRO FERTILIZATION WHERE YOU CREATE AN EMBRYO.

I THINK WE ARE GETTING A LITTLE NUTTY HERE.

ON GETTING THE GOVERNMENT REALLY INVOLVED IN PEOPLE'S PRIVATE LIVES AND PEOPLE'S BEDROOMS.

JIM: THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

MAN IT IS HARD TO FIT IT ALL IN 30 MINUTES BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING.

SCOTT AND SUE AND ANGEL, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

AFTER ALL OF THIS TIME, ANGEL HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD WATCHING THE FRYERS, GOING ON VACATION, BUT IT IS NICE TO HAVE HIM HERE AND WE WILL REWRITE THE TAPE TO SEE WHETHER YOU DID TALK ABOUT THE SALES TAX CUTS.

MAYOR TAVERAS: COUNT ON IT.

JIM: THANK YOU AND COME BACK HERE NEXT WEEK, WE WILL HAVE EVERYTHING COVERED OVER THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS AND COME BACK HERE AS A LIVELY SPARE AND CONTINUES.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

>> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> I AM JOHN HAYES MY JUNIOR.

FOR OVER 30 YEARS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.