JIM: ANOTHER TOUGH WEEK FOR GOVERNOR MCKEE AS THE PHILLY FIASCO WILL NOT GO AWAY.

TIDEWATER LANDING HIT THE SPEED BUMP.

MAYOR BRETT SMILEY FACES PUSHBACK FROM HIS OWN CITY COUNCIL.

ANOUNCER: "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- JOHN: 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 ON THE PANEL ATTORNEY AND FORMER RHODE ISLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL ARLENE VIOLET.

PROVIDENCE JOURNAL STATE HEALTH REPORTER PATRICK ANDERSON, AND BOSTON GLOBE REPORTER STEPH MACHADO.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'’S "LILY."

IT'’S A WEEK GOVERNOR MCKEE BUT RATHER FORGET.

THE CONTINUED FULL FROM THE TRIP BY TWO STATE EMPLOYEES TO PHILADELPHIA HAS BECOME LIKE A BAD RECURRING DREAM FOR THE GOVERNOR.

ALL WORK HAS GROUND TO A VIRTUAL HALT AT THE SITE OF THE PAWTUCKET SOCCER STADIUM PROJECT HE LOBBIED FOR AND HELP TO PROVE.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT PAWTUCKET IN A MOMENT.

EVERY WEEK THIS PHILADELPHIA SITUATION GETS A LITTLE WORSE.

GIVE ME THE 30,000 FOOT VIEW FROM YOUR CHAIR.

ARLENE: MY CONCERN IS THE LEGAL ISSUE.

DID HE OR DIDN'’T HE VIOLATE ETHICAL RULES?

I HAVE TO ASK MYSELF, HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT?

THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A TIME WE WOULD HAVE BEEN OUTRAGED THAT A GOVERNOR MEETS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE A CONTRACT AND ARE LOOKING FOR A $55 MILLION CONTRACT AND PASSING CAMPAIGN CHECKS TO THE CAMPAIGN PERSON.

IT MAY BE LEGAL BUT THAT IS YOU CANNOT HAVE THOSE KINDS OF LESS THAN ARM'’S-LENGTH INTERACTIONS WITH PEOPLE.

I AM OUTRAGED, PERIOD, THAT SUCH A MEETING TOOK PLACE.

I'’M WONDERNG HOW WE GO DOWN THE SLIPPERY SLOPE THAT WE ARE NOT EVEN OUTRAGED THAT PEOPLE TAKE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AT A LUNCH WHILE DISCUSSING "SHALL I GIVE YOU $55 MILLION CONTRACT?"

JIM: WE ARE BEGINNING WITH OUTRAGES.

JUST A SET UP FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING, SCOUT, THE COMPANY THAT WAS -- IS VYING TO DO BUSINESS AT THE CRANSTON STREET ARMORY, THEIR LOBBYIST MET WITH GOVERNOR -- I WAS GOING TO SAY DUPREE.

GOVERNOR MCKEE AT THE CAPITAL GRILLE.

THERE IS SOME QUESTIONS AS TO WHAT HAPPENED.

THEY MADE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AT THE END OF THE DAY.

WHAT ARLENE IS ALLUDING TO IS WHILE DOING BUSINESS.

PATRICK: THE GOVERNOR'’S BIG POINT IS I DID NOT KNOW WHO I WAS SHOWING UP TO THIS LUNCH WITH, A LOBBYIST AND ACCEPTING CHECKS FROM.

HE DOES IT ALL THE TIME.

THIS IS STANDARD OPERATING -- JIM: THAT MAY BE WORSE.

PATRICK: I JUST HERE BEGGING FOR BUCKS.

THEY MIGHT BE CONTRACTORS.

THEY MIGHT HAVE BUSINESS WITH THE STATE.

WHO IS TO SAY.

THE FACT THAT IS WHERE -- HE IS ARGUING THAT SHOWS IT IS NOT A GOOD POSITION THAT HE'’S IN RIGHT NOW.

IT IS NOT THE BIGGEST DEAL IN THE WORLD.

NO ONE IS DYING AT THE CRANSTON STREET ARMORY.

IT'’S JUST A BUILDING.

IT IS SHINING A LIGHT ON A LITTLE BIT OF DYSFUNCTION IN STATE GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW.

JUST THE FACT THEY CAN'’T QUITE FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT TO DO.

WHAT IT IS THEY ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THERE.

AND THEN ALL THE STAFFING PROBLEMS MCKEE HAS HAD.

THEY HAVE HAD TROUBLE RECRUITING PEOPLE FROM THE MINUTE HE TOOK OFFICE.

SOME OF THE CHOICES THEY HAVE MADE, THE PEOPLE THEY BROUGHT IN HAVE BLOWN UP ON THEM AND HAD PROBLEMS.

MR. PATTON, THE GUY WHO SET ALL THIS OFF IN PHILLY WAS AT CCRI .

HE HAD SOME PROBLEM WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AT CCRI AND WAS BASICALLY KICKED OUT AND INTO A JOB WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

GIVEN THIS REALLY BIG ROLE IN THE MCKEE ADMINISTRATION.

WHAT KIND OF VETTING DID HE DO BEFORE PUTTING PATTON IN THIS ROLE THAT IN ADDITION TO THE ARMORY INVOLVES MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS?

JIM: ASSET MANAGEMENT OVERSEES ALL THE STUFF.

STEPH: MY COLLEAGUE ASKED THE GOVERNOR, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO SAY YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE PEOPLE YOU ARE EMPLOYING?

HE HAD THIS VERY LONG PAUSE.

THERE'’S A VIDEO.

WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE.

WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE.

THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'’S STAFF AND THE PEOPLE IN HIS ADMINISTRATION ARE GOING TO CONTNUE WELL BEYOND THIS SCANDAL.

THEN THERE'’S THE QUESTION OF ARE GOING TO REDEVELOP THE CRANSTON STREET ARMORY?

THIS CLOUD NOW OVER THIS PROJECT.

SOME PEOPLE ARE THINKING IT'’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

JIM: THE ETHICAL ISSUE IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A POLITICAL TINT.

THE GOVERNOR SAID I DID NOT READ THE EMAIL.

THAT IS THE FIRST THING WANT TO SAY, GIVE ME THE EMAIL.

QUIT AND HE HAVE GOTTEN OUT FRONT AND SAID IF IT WAS REALLY THIS BAD, MOVED TO SEPARATE THESE GUYS.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK.

IF THEY WANT TO SUE, THAT'’S A PROBLEM.

IT IS LIKELY WILL GIVE THE EMPLOYEES THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

ARLENE: I UNDERSTAND YOU HAD TO DO SOME INVESTIGATION TO GET TO THE FACTS.

THERE'’S A LITTLE BIT OF A HIATUS.

THAT'’S EXACTLY MY POINT.

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LONG DECIDED BEFORE BECAME A PUBLIC ISSUE.

AT LEAST I'’M GLAD HE'’S NOT A BREAD STICK AND WATER DIET SINCE HE SAYS HE TOOK OVER.

JIM: COBB SALAD.

STEPH: I WAS SURPRISED WHEN THE GOVERNOR FINALLY HAD THAT PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WAS HASTILY ANNOUNCED WHEN HE FINALLY TALKED ABOUT SCOUT.

SHE SAID I APOLOGIZED A LONG TIME AGO.

THE REPORTERS HAVE BEEN ASKING HIM IF HE OWES AN APOLOGY.

THE MINUTE THE EMAIL WAS OUT HE DID NOT COME OUT AND APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT IS EMPLOYEES HAD DONE IN PHILADELPHIA.

TO CAUSE A BIG EMBARRASSMENT.

JIM: MAYBE HE WAS WORRIED.

WHAT ARE YOU APOLOGIZING FOR?

HE DID NOT GET INTO THE DETAILS.

STEPH: HIS TAKE WAS WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION WAS OVER BEFORE HE COULD SAY ANYTHING.

PATRICK: THIS GOES TO THE POINT ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

I HAVE EMAILS FROM 2015 ABOUT THE CRANSTON STREET ARMORY AND GREAT EXCITEMENT ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND GET IDEAS OF WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

THE AMOUNT OF PARALYSIS IN THIS BUILDING IS AMAZING.

THE MCKEE ADMINISTRATION, AFTER RAMONDA DID NOT DO ANYTHING, -- RAMUNDO DID NOT DO ANYTHING, THEY HAVE HAD SCOUT THERE AND COLLECTING MONEY AND COMING UP WITH IDEAS.

THE ADMINISTRATION CANNOT DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO DO WHAT SCOUT PROPOSES OR ANYTHING ELSE.

JUST THE LACK OF DECISION-MAKING.

BEING ABLE TO SAY WE DO THIS OR THAT, WE WILL DO SOMETHING.

MAKE A DECISION AND ACTUALLY DO IT.

IS KIND OF AMAZING.

STEPH: HOW MANY EMPTY HISTORIC BUILDINGS WILL WE BE STOCKPILING?

JIM: WHEN I GOT HERE IN 1982, THE MASONIC TEMPLE, NOW THE RENAISSANCE HOTEL IS ACROSS THE STREET.

HOW LONG HAS THAT BEEN -- THEY STOPPED DURING THE RECESSION.

IN 70 YEARS THEY COULD NOT HAVE FIGURED OUT OFFICE SPACE?

IT'’S A WHOLE OTHER ISSUE.

ARLENE, FROM THE POLITICS STANDPOINT, HOW DOES THIS CRIPPLE THE GOVERNMENT?

DOES IT CRIPPLE THE GOVERNOR?

ARLENE: THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHERE HE IS LIKE A MOTH TO THE FIRE ON THE CANDLE.

HE KEEPS GOING SO CLOSE TO THAT.

HE DOES NOT COME OUT.

WHEN HE SHOULD SPEAK ABOUT THINGS.

IT IS REMINISCENT OF HOW HE HANDLED THE SOLAR MATTER -- SILVA MATTER.

HE'’S NOT FORTHCOMING WHEN HE HAS THE OBLIGATION TO BE FORTHCOMING.

IT DOES POLITICALLY HURT HIM AND IT SHOULD POLITICALLY HURT HIM UNTIL HE STOPPED FLIRTING WITH FLYING CLOSE TO THAT FIRE.

JIM: PATRICK, YOU HAVE BEEN WRITING ABOUT THE TIDEWATER LANDING ISSUE.

THIS WAS TROUBLE FROM THE START.

IT IS A SOCCER STADIUM.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A MUCH LARGER DEVELOPMENT.

THEY PUT THEIR MONEY TOWARDS THE SOCCER STADIUM.

THE GOVERNOR WAS THE DECIDING VOTE PUSHING IT OVER THE FINISH LINE.

ECONOMIC TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND IT LOOKS LIKE WORK HAS GROUND TO A HALT.

PATRICK: I ASKED MCKEE ABOUT THAT.

HE WAS ACTUALLY VERY CLEAR YESTERDAY THAT HE IS NOT GOING TO, AT LEAST AT THIS POINT, BAIL THEM OUT AT THE SOCCER STADIUM, THE DEVELOPER.

THE DEVLOPER HAS TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY.

THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS NOW.

SOMETHING'’S GOTTA GIVE.

EITHER SOME WHITE KNIGHT WILL COME IN AND FINANCES THING OR THEY WILL BE A HALF BUILT SOCCER STADIUM IN PAWTUCKET AT SOME POINT.

JIM: THE STATE MONEY IS THE LAST IN.

PATRICK: THE UNIONS WHO ARE KEY IN GETTING THIS PROJECT APPROVED AND GETTING IT MOVING, THE CONSTRUCTION UNIONS, THEY ARE CALLING ON MCKEE TO PUT THAT STATE MONEY AND NOW EVEN THOUGH THE PRIVATE MONEY IS NOT ALL LINED UP.

THERE IS ALSO THAT CONFLICT.

HE HAS SO FAR, AS OF YESTERDAY, RESISTING THAT AND KEEPING THE PUBLIC MONEY OUT UNTIL ALL THE PRIVATE MONEY IS IN AND THEY KNOW THEY CAN FINISH IT WITH THE PRIVATE MONEY.

I DON'’T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

ARLENE: HE HAS TO WITHHOLD THE PUBLIC MONEY.

THIS IS THE SAME TUNE OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

IN THIS ADMIN ATTRITION AND PAST ADMINISTRATIONS.

IF WE BUILD IT, THEY SHALL COME.

NO.

KEEP THE MECHANISM YOU HAVE AND KEEP THE STATE MONEY OUT OF IT UNTIL THEY HAVE THE $10 MILLION THEY ARE LOOKING FOR PRIVATELY.

STEPH: THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE STADIUM AND THE INSULAR DEVELOPMENT, IF THAT HAPPENED, WHEN WILL IT ACTUALLY BRING THE REVENUE TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE CONSTRUCTION.

THAT IS WHAT I'’M WATCHING FOR.

ARLENE: IF A WHITE KNIGHT DOES NOT COME IN THAT'’S A PRIVATE INVESTOR, THAT'’S AN IMPORTANT KEY OF HOW VALUABLE THE PROJECT IS TO START WITH.

THEY HAVE 10 HOME GAMES.

I FEEL BADLY FOR THE DEVELOPER.

I AM ROOTING FOR THEM NOW, ALSO I THOUGHT IT WAS AN IMPROPER DECISION TO MAKE.

I HOPE THEY GET THE MONEY.

THEY HAVE SOME $30 MILLION INTO THIS.

STEPH: IT IS BAD FOR PAWTUCKET.

THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THIS BIG NEW SOCCER TEAM AND THINGS SEEM TO BE IN DOUBT.

IT IS ONE HIT AFTER ANOTHER.

JIM: SHOULD HAVE RUN FOR CONGRESS AFTER ALL.

GOING TO BRYANT TO PLAY.

THEY NEED TO FIND A PLACE AND I DON'’T KNOW WHAT ALL THE DISCUSSIONS WERE.

THEY MAY HAVE THE BEST FACILITY IN THE STATE.

GO APPEARS FIELD IN EAST PROVIDENCE.

WHO WILL FIND RYAN?

PATRICK: THE MARKETING YOU WILL GET FROM BEING IN AND AROUND PROVIDENCE.

PEOPLE WILL NOT SEE IT AS MUCH IN SMITHFIELD IS THE REAL ISSUE.

JIM: PATRICK, YOU WERE UP TO THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING A WEEK AGO.

I'’M GLAD YOU HAD AN ENERGY BAR AND CAME IN THIS MORNING.

TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT MADE IT AND WHAT DIDN'’T WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

ANY SURPRISES AT THE END OF THE SESSION?

PATRICK: NOT REALLY.

THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND THIS WAS DEFINITELY AN EXAMPLE OF IT, THE POWER PLAYERS, THE THREESOME ARE WORKING TOGETHER AND KIND OF A TEAM.

THERE IS NOT THE BACK-AND-FORTH PUSH AND PULL AS THERE USUALLY IS.

JIM: THE GOVERNOR, HOUSE SPEAKER, SENATE PRESIDENT.

PATRICK: THEY ARE NOT FIGHTING AS MUCH.

THERE IS A NATURAL TENSION AND THEY NEGOTIATE AND TRADE THINGS.

THERE IS NOT QUITE AS MUCH OF THAT.

THERE WAS NOT AS MUCH DRAMA AS THERE IS IN SOME YEARS.

THERE REALLY WERE NOT MANY BIG SURPRISES AND A LOT OF THE STUFF.

IT GOT DONE EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

HE CAME AT THE LAST KIND OF THINGS WERE ABOUT THE CASINO, THE ONLINE CASINO GAMING.

THE BIG HOUSING PACKAGE.

WE KNEW BOTH OF THOSE THINGS WERE GOING TO BE LEFT TO THE END IF THEY WERE GOING TO PASS.

JIM: THE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT FOR SOME OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BILL OF RIGHTS.

WHEREVER YOU STAND, THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING OF THIS FOR YEARS.

HE HITNSNTS AND THEN SAYS WE RAN OUT OF TIME.

STEPH: EVERY YEAR I'’M TOLD THIS IS THE YEAR WERE DOING IT.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY CANNOT COME TO AN AGREEMENT, EVEN THOUGH THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SAY THIS POLICE MISCONDUCT LAW NEEDS TO CHANGE.

SOME PEOPLE WANTED TO GO AWAY ALTOGETHER.

MOST THINK IT NEEDS TO CHANGE.

THEY CANNOT COME TO AN AGREEMENT ABOUT HOW EXACTLY TO DO IT.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE SENATE BILL CAME OUT AT THE LAST MINUTE.

THE SPONSOR OF IT TOOK HER NAME OFF IT.

THEN THE TWO HOUSE SPONSORS, RAHAL AND I BAUTISTA SAID I DON'’T SUPPORT EITHER.

-- RAYH HALL AND BATISTA.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO PASS THE SENATE BILL IN THE SESSION.

ARLENE: MY BIGGEST IS A FOREMAN IS THE FAILURE TO GET RID OF THE PAYDAY LOAN MATTER.

THAT LEGISLATION AND THE FACT IT EXISTS IS THE VERY ANTITHESIS OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DEMOCRAT.

NOTHING COMPOUNDS THE CYCLE OF DEBT THAN A 206% INTEREST RATE -- 260% INTEREST RATE FROM PEOPLE THAT NEED AN EMERGENCY LOAN AND THE SHORT TIME TO PAY IT BACK.

I DON'’T KNOW WHAT THE SENATE PRESIDENT IS THINKING.

I JUST THINK IT IS A DARN SHAME THE DEMOCRATS DID NOT ACT LIKE DEMOCRATS AND GET RID OF THAT.

JIM: TO FURTHER THAN IT EVER HAD.

THE FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER WAS ALWAYS THE ONE.

THIS TIME I THOUGHT IT IS GOING TO FINALLY GET OVER THE GOAL LINE AND IT DID NOT MAKE IT.

ARLENE: I THINK IT WAS THEATER.

IT WAS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.

I HOPE THEY GET A GRIP ON WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO BE A DEMOCRAT.

NO DEMOCRAT REALLY SHOULD ALLOW 260% INTEREST RATE ON SOME OF THE POOREST PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING HERE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

SHAME ON THEM.

JIM: THERE WERE SOME DRUNK DRIVING BILLS.

WHAT WAS THE UPDATE ON THAT?

PATRICK: MOST DID NOT.

A COUPLE DID.

THE BIG RALLY FROM SOME OF THE PARENTS OF DRUNK DRIVING VICTIMS .

MOSTLY THEY WERE ABOUT EXTENDING SENTENCES A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, AND THE BIG ONES ON THAT DID NOT GO ANYWHERE.

THEY WILL BE BACK AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

THERE WASN'’T ANY ONE THAT GRABBED EVERYONE'’S ATTENTION.

THEY WERE EXTENDING SENTENCES A LITTLE BIT.

THERE WASN'’T ANYTHING THAT REALLY WAS -- THAT LAWMAKERS THOUGHT WAS GOING TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THINGS ON THE ROADS SIGNIFICANTLY.

JIM: ON THIS SET THE SENATE PRESIDENT SAID HE THINKS, ON ASSAULT RIFLE BAND, THE BIG ONE THIS YEAR, IT NEEDS TO BE NATIONAL.

WOE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH RHODE ISLAND?

PATRICK: THAT IS THE LAST STAND OF THE GUN RIGHTS FOLKS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHO SUPPORT THAT.

IF THAT GOES, THAT WILL KIND OF BE FULL AND TOTAL SURRENDER ON THE ISSUE.

JIM: ANY THOUGHTS ON THE SESSION?

$14 BILLION.

ARLENE: THE BUDGET IS TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL FOR A SMALL STATE LIKE RHODE ISLAND.

BOTH STEPH AND PATRICK MENTIONED BILLS THAT SHOULD HAVE PASSED.

EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS NEXT YEAR.

MANANA SHOULD BE THE THEME SONG OF THEIR.

-- UP THERE.

JIM: THE CHIRON USUALLY SAYS WPRI.

NOW IT SAYS THE BOSTON GLOBE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU ARE ON THE GLOBE TEAM.

I ASSUME YOU DON'’T HAVE TO CHANGE HER ROLODEX.

STEPH: EXACTLY.

JIM: THE MAYOR HAS A LOT ON HIS PLATE.

MAYOR BRETT SMILEY.

HE HAS BUDGET.

HE'’S GOT PVD AND WHAT IS THE THIRD THING?

THE TEACHERS CONTRACTS.

START WITH WHATEVER YOU WANT.

STEPH: LET'’S START WITH THE BUDGET, BECAUSE THAT COULD BE SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE TIME THIS SHOW AIRS.

THE MAYOR CAME OUT WITH HIS FIRST EVER TAX AND SPENDING PLAN AND PROPOSED TO RAISE TAXES ON PROVIDENCE RESIDENTS.

THAT CAUGHT HACKLES UP.

THE CITY HAD A TAX INCREASE LAST YEAR.

NOT FOR EVERYONE BUT FOR -- BECAUSE OF REEVALUATION, ESPECIALLY IN THE POOREST NEIGHBORHOODS.

JIM: A DEFECTIVE INCREASE WILL STEPH: EVEN IF YOU DON'’T INCREASE THE RATE.

THEY HAD TO LOWER THE RATE BECAUSE OF THE VALUES GOING UP SO HIGH.

THEY RAISED TAXES ON A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

HE SAW CITY COUNCILORS AND THE ONES WHO HAD SUPPORTED SMILEY AND HIS MAYORAL RUN COMING UP AND SING I CANNOT OVER THIS.

MY CONSTITUENTS WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS.

THEY CAME UP WITH A COMPROMISE.

TAXES ARE STILL BEING RAISED.

IF YOU'’RE LIVING IN PROVIDENCE, YOUR TAX BILL WILL BE HIGHER THAN THE ONE YOU GOT LAST YEAR.

IT IS JUST LESS OF A TAX INCREASE AND WHAT SMILEY PROPOSED.

ARLENE: ON THE TEACHER CONTRACT, WITH A 44% WHO VOTED AGAINST IT, WHY?

YOU HAVE A 10% INCREASE FOR A 30-MINUTE EXTRA TIME.

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM THOSE PEOPLE THAT VOTED AGAINST IT.

STEPH: I HAVE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF THEM.

PART OF IT WAS A BEING TOLD TO WORK NEXT HALF-HOUR EVERY DAY.

PLUS EVERY OTHER WEEK THIS 90 MINUTES AFTER SCHOOL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

FOR A LOT OF THEM IT WAS PERSONAL.

IT WAS THEIR FAMILY SCHEDULE, CHILDCARE SCHEDULE.

THEY ARE GETTING A 10% PAY INCREASE BUT THEY ARE WORKING 10% MORE.

THEY ARE GETTING PAID FOR THE TIME.

ONE-TIME COVID MONEY OR WHATEVER IT IS.

WHAT HAPPENS A YEAR FROM NOW?

STEPH: A LOT OF TEACHERS ARE SKEPTICAL THAT THE SCHOOL DAY WILL GO BACK TO WHAT WAS NEXT YEAR.

I HAVE READ THE CONTRACT.

IT IS CLEAR BOTH THE EXTRA TIME IN THE EXTRA PAY SUNSETS AFTER ONE YEAR.

THEY WILL HAVE TO NEGOTIATE NEXT YEAR ON WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.

I UNDERSTAND THERE IS SKEPTICISM WHEN YOU GET USED TO HAVING MORE LEARNING TIME.

WHY WOULD YOU TAKE IT AWAY?

JIM: PATRICK IS LOBBYING FOR EXTRA TIME FOR HIS DAUGHTER.

PATRICK: ONE THING THAT'’S INTERESTING IN PROVIDENCE IS HOW THE MAYOR WHO IS SEEN AS VARIOUS KINDS OF CENTRIST, MODERATE, CORPORATE LEANING IS WORKING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL WHICH HAS MOVED LEFT OVER THE YEARS.

MORE LEFT THAN IN A WHILE.

MAYBE THAT WILL WORK.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

STEPH: THERE'’S A LOT OF DRAMA.

THE ERA OF BUDGETING WAS BORING PRESS CONFERENCES, VETO THREATS, PERSONAL ATTACKS.

THIS WAS VERY COLLEGIAL, AT LEAST FROM THE OUTSIDE.

THE COUNCIL PRESIDNT DID NOT'’NEED TO COMMENT ON THE MAYORS PROPOSAL AND SHE'’S VERY PROGRESSIVE.

UNTIL THEY HAD A COMPROMISE THAT THEY WERE READY TO ALL VOTE ON.

THE VOTE WAS NEARLY UNANIMOUS.

ONLY ONE PERSON VOTED AGAINST IT.

I HAVE COVERED BUDGET VOTES OVER 8-6, 9-5.

THEY GOT IT ALL WORKED OUT AND MORE VOTES AND THEY GOT ON THE BUDGET IN YEARS.

I WON'’T SAY I WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE I KNOW THE PERSONALITIES OF THE PEOPLE.

THEY ARE NOT COMBATED PERSONALITIES.

LIKE YOU SAID, YOU HAVE A MUCH MORE PROGRESSIVE CITY COUNCIL THAN THE MAYOR.

JIM: HE KNOWS HE HAS TO WORK WITH THEM TO GET THE VOTES.

KUDOS TO YOU ALSO.

THEY DID NOT RELEASE THE CONTRACT -- YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT?

ARLENE: THANK YOU, STEPH MACHADO .

SHE NAGGED THEM.

JIM: SHE EMBARRASSED THEM.

ARLENE: WHAT HAS HAPPENED YOU SIGN A CONTRACT AND WHAT HE KNOWS WHAT THE TERMS ARE UNTIL AFTER THE FACT?

JIM: I UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY SAY WE NEED THE MEMBERSHIP TO VOTE.

IT IS PASTSED, PUBLIC MONEY, EVERYTHING.

STEPH: THIS IS AFTER THE TEACHERS RATIFIED IT.

TWO YEARS AGO, THE BIG DRAMA WAS THEY DID NOT RELEASE IT BEFORE THE TEACHERS RATIFIED IT BECAUSE THE MAYOR FELT LIKE THE PUBLIC SHOULD GET TO SEE THIS.

BEFORE ITS FINAL -- THEY DID PASS A BILL TO REQUIRE THE CONTRACT TO GO TO THE K-12 COUNCIL, LIKE THE STATE GOVERNING BODY FOR EDUCATION AS LONG AS THE STATE TAKEOVER FOR PROVIDENCE SCHOOLS IS ONGOING.

THAT LAW WENT INTO EFFECT A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER THE TEACHERS RATIFY THE CONTRACT.

I'’M NOT ENTIRELY SURE AND NOBODY WILL ANSWER ME AT THIS HOUR ABOUT WHETHER THEY ARE DEFTLY GOING TO BRING THE CONTRACT TO THE K-12 COUNCIL.

THE PURPOSE WAS TO TRY TO ENSURE THERE WAS SOME KIND OF PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO SPEND TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

I COULD NOT GET ANY X ONE NATION FROM ANYONE ABOUT WHY THEY WOULD NOT -- EXPLANATION FROM ANYONE ABOUT WHY THEY WOULD NOT RELEASE THE CONTRACT.

THERE IS NOTHING TO REDACT.

JIM: LEGAL REFERRED YOU.

STEPH: I WENT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND ASKED EVERY SINGLE OFFICIAL I COULD FIND.

WHY WANT YOU GIVE IS THE CONTRACT?

THEY DISCUSSED IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THAT IS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

NO ANSWERS.

JIM: I KNOW IT IS OVER AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE NEXT SESSION.

ALL THE CHANGES FOR THE ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS WENT DOWN.

ANY LEGISLATURE WATCHING THIS, SUNSHINE IS ALWAYS THE BEST DISINFECTANT.

A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE EMAIL THAT PETER NO RONA -- NORONA PUT ON THE FAST TRACK.

EXPLAIN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT.

ARLENE: AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, HE IS THE HARBINGER OF WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN WITH OPEN RECORDS, OPEN MEETINGS, ETC.

HE DID HIS JOB AND KUDOS FOR INSISTING THAT BE RELEASED.

IT WAS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD.

I'’M PRETTY HIGH ON PETER NORONA FOR LOTS OF REASONS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS HIS STANDING UP FOR US HAVING THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT'’S GOING ON IN GOVERNMENT.

JIM: PLUS TWO OUTRAGES AND/OR KUDOS AND WRAP UP SOME LOOSE ENDS.

PATRICK?

PATRICK: THE OUTRAGE IS NARRAGANSETT TOWN BEACH.

THE PARKING ALONG THE SEAWALL WILL NO LONGER BE FREE.

GIVES ONE OF THE LAST PLACES WHERE THERE WAS -- HE HAD TO PAY TO GET ON THE BEACH ITSELF.

JUST BEING ABLE TO GO AND PARK THERE WAS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES REALLY IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE THERE WAS A BIG BEACH WHERE YOU COULD GO AND YOU DID NOT HAVE TO PAY TO GET THERE.

NOW YOU PAY TO PARK AT THE METER, THEN PARK TO GET ON THE BEACH.

THAT LACK OF ACCESS TO THE BEACH.

STEPH: WHAT ABOUT SHORELINE ACCESS?

PATRICK: WHAT'’S THE EXACT TIME WHEN THEY PASSED THE BIG SHORELINE ACCESS BILL THAT SUPPOSEDLY WILL ALLOW YOU TO WALK ALONG THE SHORELINE IF YOU CAN GET THERE.

JIM: NOT TO MENTION HOW MUCH THE DELVE IS AT THE BEACH.

STEPH: I'’M GOING WITH KUDOS.

THE REASON WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE SCOUT EMAIL AND THIS ENTIRE SCANDAL IS BECAUSE OF LOCAL JOURNALISTS, MY FORMER COLLEAGUE ELI SHERMAN AND KATHY GREG FOUGHT TO GET IT RELEASED.

THEY HAD TO TAKE ON THE MCKEE ADMINISTRATION AND THEIR LAWYERS AND EVERYTHING IN THAT APPEAL.

AS ARLENE MENTIONED, THE AG'’S OFFICE RULED IN FAVOR OF THE JOURNALISTS.

THAT IS WHY THE EMAIL GOT OUT AND WHY EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT THIS STORY.

KUDOS TO LOCAL REPORTERS.

ARLENE: WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ETHICS IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY?

I'’M EXTREME THE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INFORMATION ABOUT JUDGE ALITO.

AT LEAST 10 CASES HAVE APPEARED IN FRONT OF HIM, THE OLIGARCH I CALL HIM, BUT THE BILLIONAIRE RIGHTIST GUY WHO GIVEN THE PLANE RIDES.

HE READ A SCATHING DEFENSE OF HIMSELF.

THAT C WOULD HAVE BEEN EMPTY SO THEREFORE THERE WAS NO VALUE.

SUCH SOPESTRY.

THIS FOLLOWS ON JUDGE THOMAS.

FOR ME, ALL THE BRANCHES SEEM TO BE BREAKING DOWN WHETHER IT IS CONGRESS OR THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

HIS JUDGES, AND FOR THEM NOT TO HAVE ANY LEADERSHIP ON THAT ISSUE TO ME IS DEPLORABLE.

AND THERE IS CREDIBILITY.

BIDEN INVITING PRIME MINISTER MODI.

HE COULD GET INTO THE COUNTRY IN 2002 BECAUSE OF HIS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD AND THEN THEY LAID OUT THE RED CARPET THURSDAY NIGHT.

THE SON.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THAT CASE?

I WANT TO HEAR MORE FROM THE WHISTLEBLOWERS WHETHER THE MISDEMEANORS ARE OBNOXIOUS.

THERE'’S A BREAKDOWN OF ETHICS AND PEOPLE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

JIM: THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES.

WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT CD1.

IT IS A SNOOZEFEST.

ARLENE, THE LAST TIME YOU WERE ON THE SET YOU SAID SOCIAL MEDIA FIRE BECAUSE YOU ARE CONSIDERING A RUN.

YOU DECIDED NOT TO.

DO YOU HAVE ANY MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT?

ARLENE: I'’M NOT ANNOUNCING FOR PRESIDENT.

I'’M POSITIVE I'’M NOT.

IT IS REALLY SORT OF A LACKLUSTER RACE RIGHT NOW.

I GUESS IT IS BECAUSE IT IS SUMMERTIME AND NOBODY PAYS ATTENTION ANYWAY DURING THE SUMMER.

THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ELECTION BASED ON NAME RECOGNITION.

JIM: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS RACE?

WE THREE MONTHS OUT FROM THE PRIMARY.

PATRICK: A LOT OF CANDIDATES BUT NOT A LOT OF ISSUES GENERATING HEAT.

NOT A LOT OF PERSONALITY GENERATING HEAT.

SABINA MATOS AND AARON RI GENBERG ARE IN THE FRONT OF THE MOMENT.

NO ONE HAS CONSOLIDATED ANYTHING IN THIS RACE.

IT IS LOOKING LIKE SMALL TOTALS OF VOTES COULD WIN IT.

THE ACTUAL CAMPAIGN, THE ADVERTISING, ALL THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

JIM: I WONDER HOW MUCH -- WE GET ALL THE PRESS RELEASES -- HOW MUCH ENDORSEMENTS.

DO THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT ALL?

STEPH: IT GIVES SOME OF THE TOP-TIER CANDIDATES LEGITIMACY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'’RE TRYING TO SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM 17 PEOPLE.

IF YOU HAVE A MILLION ENDORSEMENTS AND IS PEOPLE HAVE NONE, IT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE PEOPLE SUPPORT ME.

I'’M A TOP-TIER CANDIDATE.

UNLESS CANDIDATES START DROPPING OUT AND ENDORSING EACH OTHER, IT WILL BE VERY HARD FOR VOTERS TO DECIDE ON THESE PEOPLE.

YOU CANNOT HAVE A DEBATE WITH 17 PEOPLE.

IT IS SUMMER.

I'’M INTERESTED HOW MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT RANK CHOICE AND THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VOTING METHODS IF SOMEONE IS ELECTED TO CONGRESS WITH 15% OF THE VOTE.

JIM: ENDORSEMENTS?

ARLENE: ORGANIZATIONAL, IT'’S IMPORTANT IF YOU'’RE A UNION IF YOU GET MONEY AND THEY GET PEOPLE AND VOTE FOR THE ENDORSED CANDIDATE.

JIM: GREAT POINT.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

PATRICK, GET SOME SLEEP.

ARLENE AND STEPH, GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR NEW ROLE.

THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING US.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK AS "A 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] ♪ ANOUNCER: "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- JOHN: 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 SUPPORR