>> THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT."

A PUSH TO THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE WILL TELL YOU WHAT IS IN AND WHAT IS OUT.

MOST COLLEGE STUDENTS IN RHODE ISLAND IS FACING A MANDATE TO GET VACCINATED IF THEY WANT TO RETURN TO CAMPUS.

WHY NOT THE FACULTY?

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY.

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS -- I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS GREAT PROGRAM AT RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US WITH THE ANALYSIS.

ANGEL TAVERAS, THE FORMER MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE.

ATTORNEY AND FORMER PROSECUTOR EVA-MARIE MANCUSO AND FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE NICK GORHAM.

HELLO, EVERYONE.

I AM JIM HUMMEL.

IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

THERE WERE NO SURPRISES THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE FULL HOUSE PASSED A $13 BILLION STATE BUDGET ALONG PARTY LINES.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS OFFERED UP A HOST OF AMENDMENTS TO NO AVAIL.

LET'S BEGIN WITH A GUY WHO SAT IN THE CHAMBER FOR ALL OF THESE DISCUSSIONS.

REPRESENTATIVE GORHAM.

IT IS HARD WITH THE NUMBERS, WHAT IS YOUR GENERAL TAKEAWAY?

NICK: THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND AND NOT REALLY A LOT OF SPECIFICITY ABOUT HOW THEY WILL SPEND IT.

THAT IS PROBABLY JUST WHETTING THE APPETITE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT.

IT IS A DANGEROUS BUDGET.

SO MUCH MONEY THEY WANT TO SPEND AND NO REAL SPECIFICITY ON HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE.

JIM: I REALIZE IT HAS BEEN INFLATED A LOT.

IT IS INFLATED A LOT BY FEDERAL MONEY.

WHY GO BACK NEXT YEAR AND SAY WE ARE ONLY GOING TO DO $11.5 BILLION?

NICK: I DON'T THINK THAT IS ANY CONCERN RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THAT IS THE REAL CAUTION THAT THE REPUBLICANS WERE TALKING ABOUT.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NEXT YEAR WE COME BACK AND SPEND ALL THIS MONEY?

EVERYONE WILL WANT A REPLAY.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE MONEY UNLESS WE REALLY RAISE TAXES.

IT IS A DANGEROUS BUDGET.

IT REALLY IS.

A LOT OF INCREASES.

EVA-MARIE: -- COMMITTED TO NOT RAISING TAXES.

CONTINUING THE TAX PHASEOUT AND REALLY HOLDING THE LINE ON TAXES IS A REAL TESTAMENT TO OUR GOVERNMENT.

PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO HAVE INCREASED TAXES.

I THINK IT IS DANGEROUS IF YOU START WITH NEW PROGRAMS.

THERE ARE SO MANY PROGRAMS OUT THERE.

AFTER THE PANDEMIC, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN NEED RIGHT NOW THAT I DON'T SEE THE BUDGET AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A WIN THEN PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED IT RIGHT NOW.

YOU CANNOT LEAVE FEDERAL MONEY ON THE TABLE OR PASS ON IT.

THAT WOULD BE ALMOST MALPRACTICE TO DO THAT.

AS LONG AS WE ARE USING IT IN A JUDICIOUS WAFER FOR PROGRAMS WE ALREADY HAVE TO HELP PEOPLE MOST IN NEED, I THINK IT IS A WIN.

YOU ARE RIGHT IN TERMS OF IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SPECIFICITY IN TERMS OF FUTURE PROGRAMS -- THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO SAY WE WILL HAVE 27 NEW PEOPLE COME OUT HERE WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS.

I THINK THE SPEAKER WILL BE JUDICIOUS ABOUT MAKING SURE THE MONEY GOES WORK NEEDS TO GO.

ANGEL: I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, I WAS MAYOR AT THE WRONG TIME WITH THAT BUDGET.

[LAUGHTER] EVA-MARIE: HE IS MAKING HIS ANNOUNCEMENT AS WE SPEAK.

ANGEL: THEY WERE OUT OF THE STATEHOUSE AT 8:00 LAST NIGHT AND REPRESENTATIVE GORHAM SAID THAT IS UNUSUAL.

IT IS EASIER TO PASS A BUDGET WHEN THE QUESTION IS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO SPEND IT?

YOU HAVE ALL THAT MONEY.

I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE INVESTMENT IN HOUSING.

HOUSING PRICES ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.

RENT PRICES, TO GET AN APARTMENT, IS REALLY EXPENSIVE.

I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THEY PUT MONEY ASIDE TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE LATE WITH UTILITIES.

LOWER INCOME FOLKS HAVE SUFFERED A LOT DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

TO SEE SOME OF THOSE INVESTMENTS IN -- IT IS POSITIVE.

HELPING WITH UTILITIES IS PROBABLY A ONE-TIME DEAL FOR THIS TIME PERIOD.

HE HAD GREAT OPTIONS BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY.

IF I AM CORRECT, I THINK THEY HAVE MORE MONEY COMING IN FOR NEXT YEAR, RIGHT?

THEY ARE VERY FORTUNATE IN THAT SENSE.

IT IS NOT A BAD TIME.

JIM: I DID NOT PLAN THIS, BUT WE HAVE THREE ATTORNEYS HERE.

I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT IS A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING.

EVA-MARIE: IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF A JOKE?

[LAUGHTER] JIM: THREE ATTORNEYS AND A REPORTER SAT DOWN ON A SET.

THE REPUBLICANS ON THURSDAY NIGHT SAID THIS WHOLE EMERGENCY ORDER -- THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CHAFING ABOUT BEING IN AN EMERGENCY ORDER FOR YEARS.

YOU HAD AN INTERESTING OBSERVATION.

THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS WANTED TO LOWER IT TO 90 DAYS, THEY SAID NO, LET'S KEEP IT AT 180.

ANGEL: THERE IS A STATUTE ON THE BOOKS THAT GIVES THE GOVERNOR AND ABILITY TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY AND GIVES THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE THE POWER TO DISSOLVE THAT EMERGENCY.

I THINK IT IS A RESOLUTION.

IT IS AN EXISTING STATUTE THAT THE HOUSE AND SENATE -- ANYTIME.

NICK: THAT MEANS THE HOUSE MUST ACT.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION, WHEREAS I THINK THE POINT THE REPUBLICANS WERE MAKING, A VERY GOOD POINT, LET'S SET IT AT 90.

IF IT IS REALLY A DIRE NEED, WE WILL RENEW IT.

LET'S FACE IT, DESPITE MANY MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHO THOUGHT THEY SHOULD DISCUSS WHETHER TO CONTINUE THIS MERCHANTS THE ORDER, THEY NEVER GOT TOGETHER -- THIS EMERGENCY ORDER, THEY NEVER GOT TO DO IT.

EVA-MARIE: IT IS ARBITRARY.

WHETHER IT IS 90 DAYS OR 180 DAYS, THE REASON TO HAVE THE LAW IS IF IT IS BEING USED IN A NON-JUDICIOUS WAY, THE HOUSE AND SENATE COME TOGETHER -- NOW BY ZOOM -- AND DECIDE IT IS OVER.

ANGEL: I AM MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE SHORT PORCH.

THE REASON THE GOVERNOR ARE RENEWING THE ORDER IS BECAUSE THE STATUTE PROVIDES THE EXPIRE AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME AND HAVE TO BE RENEWED.

THEY CAN DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN HAVE TO BE RENEWED BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE FACT THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE TO ACT -- GOOD.

JIM: A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CRITICAL BECAUSE THEY WERE ON THE BENCH.

I THINK PART OF THAT WAS, GOVERNOR, DO YOUR THING.

A FINAL THOUGHT?

NICK: ALL THE MORE REASON TO HAVE A SHORTER PERIOD.

IT SHOULD NOT BE BECAUSE THE SPEAKER IS IN THE FIGHT OF HIS LIFE THAT YOU CANNOT MEET.

IF IT IS MANDATED, YOU HAVE TO MEET.

JIM: LET'S STICK WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK -- DRIVERS LICENSES FOR UNDOCUMENTED -- SOME WOULD SAY ILLEGAL -- WHATEVER.

THE SPEAKER SAYS HE WILL NOT TAKE THIS UP.

ON THE CONCEPT OF THAT, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DEBATE.

EVA-MARIE: I AM IN FAVOR OF IT.

I THINK OUR UNDOCUMENTED MEMBERS ARE RHODE ISLANDERS.

THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE COMING INTO GET A LICENSE.

IT IS IMPORTANT THEY HAVE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS AS EVERYONE ELSE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

THEY NOT ONLY SHOULD HAVE A LICENSE, THE NEED TO BE INSURED, THEY NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN A WAY WE CAN TRACK PEOPLE DOWN.

I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WE HAVE THE LICENSES FOR PEOPLE IN RHODE ISLAND.

NICK: PEOPLE COME TO THIS COUNTRY AND THIS STATE BECAUSE THERE ARE GREAT INDUCEMENTS TO COME HERE.

YOU CAN NEVER BLAME THE PEOPLE WHO COME HERE FOR COMING HERE.

TYPICALLY, THEY ARE COMING FROM A MUCH HARDER LIFE, AND THEY ARE HERE FOR A REASON.

THEY WON A FUTURE FOR THEIR KIDS FOR THEMSELVES.

THERE IS A REALLY GOOD ARGUMENT FOR GIVING THEM DRIVERS LICENSES.

I THINK WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEY ARE ALREADY HERE.

THE PROBLEM IS THE PRICE TAG.

IT IS KIND OF EXPENSIVE TO DO.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF PUSHBACK IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

I DO NOT HAVE AN OBJECTION TO IT.

WE HAVE TWO START ACKNOWLEDGING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE MADE THIS A GREAT PLACE AND THEY WANT TO COME HERE.

IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT.

JIM: THE TWO QUESTIONS I HAD LEGALLY -- GETTING INSURANCE AND TAXES.

MOST PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, THERE WOULD BE A TAXPAYER NUMBER.

IS THAT AN OBSTACLE?

ANGEL: YOU HAVE TO WORK THROUGH IT BUT IT IS GREAT TO SEE WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT.

WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE LICENSED, INSURED REIBER'S ON THE ROAD, OR UNLICENSED, UNINSURED DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.

WHETHER THEY PASS THIS LAW OR NOT, PEOPLE WILL STILL BE DRIVING.

THEY WILL NOT HAVE INSURANCE, THEY WILL NOT HAVE A LICENSE IF THEY DO NOT PASS THE LAW.

THE IDEA OF HAVING LICENSED, INSURED DRIVERS IS BETTER FOR A HOST OF REASONS.

IN TERMS OF THE TAX ID NUMBER, THERE WAS A TIME COULD GET A LICENSE WITH THE TAX ID NUMBER.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THE LAW TO ADDRESS THIS.

YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE THIS TO GET ON A PLANE.

JIM: AND THE CONCERN ABOUT VOTING.

ANGEL: THE CONCERN ABOUT VOTING IS SILLY.

YOU ARE IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU DO NOT HAVE DOCUMENTS.

YOU DECIDE YOU ARE GOING TO SHOW UP AT A POLLING PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE WATCHING.

EVA-MARIE: WITH THE POLICE.

[LAUGHTER] ANGEL: THEY HAVE A LIST OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO VOTE AND HE WILL DECIDE TO VOTE.

THAT IS A BOLD, BOLD MOVE.

I THINK THAT IS SILLY.

I WANT TO SAY ONE THING -- YOU CANNOT STOP FOCUSING ON THE FEDERAL PIECE OF THIS, WE NEED IMMIGRATION REFORM.

JIM: I ALWAYS FIND IT IRONIC.

YEARS AGO, YOU DID NOT NEED INSURANCE.

I WAS IN MASSACHUSETTS WHEN I GOT MY LICENSE AND YOU NEED INSURANCE PART HERE, YOU GO TO THE REGISTER AND YEARS AGO, YOU GOT INSURANCE IF YOU WANTED TO.

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE INSURANCE BUT THEY STILL CHARGE YOU FOR UNINSURED MOTORISTS.

WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM?

10% OF PEOPLE DRIVE AROUND WITH NO INSURANCE.

I AGREE.

IF THERE IS A HIT AND RUN AND YOU ARE UNDOCUMENTED, THE CHANCES OF YOU TAKING OFF HER A LOT GREATER.

THE SPEAKER SAYS THERE ARE ISSUES TO WORK OUT ABOUT COST.

I ASSUME THIS WOULD BE NEXT YEAR.

DO YOU THINK IT WILL GO THROUGH OR WILL THERE BE SOME OPPOSITION?

NICK: I THINK IT IS HARD TO SEE ALL THE REPUBLICANS GETTING ON BOARD.

LIKE I SAID, PEOPLE ARE HERE, THEY ARE HERE FOR A PRETTY GOOD REASON MOST OF THE TIME.

YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THE INSURANCE AND EVERYTHING.

I THINK EVENTUALLY IT IS ALMOST INEVITABLE.

IT WILL HAPPEN IN RHODE ISLAND.

EVA-MARIE: IN A DIFFERENT AREA BUT THE SAME ISSUE, IN-STATE TUITION FOR UNDOCUMENTED KIDS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY AS SHOWPIECE WHEN I WAS ON THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND IT COULD NEVER PASS THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET AGREEMENT ON BOTH SIDES.

WE PASSED IT AS A POLICY AND IT IS STILL IN EFFECT TODAY.

>> THE EXTENSION, WHY NOT?

EVA-MARIE: I LOOK AT IT AND SAY, I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE IS A POLICY THAT COULD CHANGE.

I HAVE NOT RESEARCHED IT.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING IF THERE IS A NON-LEGISLATIVE WAY TO MEET THE SAME OBJECTIVE.

WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE DO THROUGH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

JIM: DAN MCKEE HAS SPOKEN TO THAT.

I THINK IT IS A SMART POLITICAL MOVE.

HE SAID I FAVOR THIS BUT I WILL NOT ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.

EVA-MARIE: I AM THINKING OUT LOUD BECAUSE WE FOUND A WAY THROUGH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PASS THE POLICY -- CONSTITUTIONALLY -- TO MEET THE SAME OBJECTIVE THAT REALLY, FOR YEARS, OUR MINORITY COMMUNITY HAD GONE THROUGH TO TRY TO GR -- TO TRY TO GET LEGISLATION PASSED.

>> I THINK THE POLITICS ARE GETTING BETTER AND BETTER FOR IT.

OUR STATE IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIVERSE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE MIGHT BE UNDOCUMENTED, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF SYMPATHY FOR THEM AMONG THE MINORITY VOTERS WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE A MINORITY THAT MUCH LONGER.

JIM: THE TIDE HAS CHANGED.

ON LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA, FOR FIVE YEARS AGO, AND THEN CASINOS.

NOW, IT IS LIKE HO HUM.

SOMETIMES, IT IS A MATTER OF TIME.

ANGEL: A COUPLE OF ISSUES THERE.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: WE WILL GET THAT NEXT TIME.

WE HAVE THREE ATTORNEYS ON THE PANEL.

I NOTED THIS WEEK THAT YOUR CCRI -- WE HAVE A FORMER BOARD OF EDUCATION CHAIRMAN -- JOINING URI AND OTHER SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF REQUIRING STUDENTS TO BE VACCINATED.

WHAT STRUCK ME AS ODD IS THEY ARE NOT REQUIRING FACULTY, STAFF OR ADMINISTRATORS.

DOUBLE STANDARD?

ANGEL: IT CERTAINLY SEEMS THAT WAY FOR ME.

FOR FOLKS OUT THERE WATCHING, PLEASE GET VACCINATED.

THE ISSUE WITH THIS, NOT GETTING VACCINATED ON THE IMPACTED YOU, THAT IS REASONABLY A PERSONAL DECISION.

THE PROBLEM IS IT IMPACTS ALL OF US.

I AM NOT A DOCTOR, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT MAKES THE POSSIBILITY OF A VARIANT THE COMING RESISTANT TO VACCINE A LOT GREATER, WHICH MEANS IT IMPACTS ALL OF US THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, EVERYONE WHO HAS NOT BEEN VACCINATED.

THE IDEA OF NOT BEING VACCINATED -- YOU ARE IMPACTING A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH WANTING THE VACCINATION.

WE REQUIRE IT FOR SO MANY OTHER THINGS.

I THINK IT IS THE TIME WE ARE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME WHERE THERE IS SO MUCH RESISTANCE TO COMMON SENSE.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT THE DOUBLE STANDARD?

EVA-MARIE: AS A TRIAL LAWYER, WHEN SOMEONE ALREADY SAID IT ALL, YOU SAY NOTHING FURTHER.

JIM: ARE YOU GOING TO FILE A FRIEND OF THE COURT BRIEF?

EVA-MARIE: THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD HAVING DONE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AT THAT LEVEL IS IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT THE LEADERSHIP HAS NOT MANDATED IT FOR OUR UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS AND STAFF.

JIM: DO YOU THINK THERE IS A LEGAL ISSUE?

EVA-MARIE: I THINK IT IS A BARGAINING ISSUE.

I THINK THERE ARE LEGAL THINGS.

IF SOMEONE REALLY DOES HAVE A MEDICAL REASON.

WHY NOT HAVE YOUR FACULTY AND STAFF GO THROUGH THE SAME THING?

JIM: STUDENTS WERE HESITANT, AND THEN THEY SAY, WHY ARE YOU GIVING THIS GUY A PASS?

EVA-MARIE: ANGEL IS CORRECT -- IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT YOU.

IT IS THE SAME REASON WE MANDATE OUR CHILDREN WHO GO TO FIRST GRADE GET THEIR POLIO VACCINE.

IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THEM.

IT IS DISAPPOINTING.

NICK: I AM A URI ALUM AND MY SON GOES THERE, SOY HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

-- SO I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

I MADE MY ANNUAL DONATION TO URI , BUT I HAVE TO SAY -- I HOPE THEY ARE WATCHING -- THE OPTICS ON THIS ARE AWFUL.

THEY REALLY NEED TO FIX IT.

IT LOOKS TERRIBLE.

JIM: I WAS DOING TALK RADIO THIS WEEK.

I THOUGHT IT WAS ODD.

I CONTACTED THE SPOKESPEOPLE FOR RICK, URI, HE SAID I AM GOING TO TALK TO MY HUMAN RESOURCES PEOPLE.

IT INDICATES IF IT WAS AN EASY ANSWER IT WOULD BE QUICK, HE NEVER GOT BACK TO ME.

NO OFFENSE TO DAVE -- I HEARD CRICKETS FROM CCRI.

JUST GIVE ME THE REASONING.

MAYBE YOU HIT ON IT WITH THE BARGAINING.

WHILE WE HAVE THE FORMER MAYOR OF PROVENANCE AND THE FORMER BOARD OF EDUCATION CHIEF, I WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DID NOT TALK ABOUT PROVIDENCE SCHOOLS.

COVID THREW EVERYTHING OFF STATEWIDE.

ANGEL, LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU.

I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU KNOW THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT.

JAVIER MONTANEZ.

I THOUGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE BOTH OF YOU ON, IT SEEMS LIKE A LOST TWO YEARS, BUT I AM HOPING IT GETS TURNED AROUND.

I KNOW YOU DO NOT LIKE TO CRITICIZE -- YOU CARE ABOUT PROVIDENCE.

ANGEL: ABSOLUTELY.

THE SUPERINTENDENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A FRESH START.

HE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB AT THE DUAL-LANGUAGE SCHOOL.

HE KNOWS RHODE ISLAND, HE KNOWS PROVIDENCE.

I THINK PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION CAN TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

IT IS A CHALLENGE.

THE PROVIDENCE TEACHERS UNION, THEY ARE VERY, VERY GOOD AT REPRESENTING TEACHERS.

BY THE WAY, THAT IS THEIR DUTY UNDER THE LAW.

I DO WANT TO ADD ONE THING THAT I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT -- THE REPRESENTATIVE SPONSORED A BILL THAT PASSED THE HOUSE THAT MADE SCHOOL LOTTERIES OPT OUT LOTTERIES, WHICH MEANS EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO BE PART OF THAT LOTTERY.

I THINK IT WILL ELIMINATE ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT A LOT OF FOLKS MAKE AGAINST CHARTER SCHOOLS -- YOU ARE TAKING THE BEST KIDS AND THAT IS WHY THEY DO SO WELL.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE CASE AT ALL.

A LONGER SCHOOL DAY, LONGER SCHOOL YEAR, STRONG CURRICULUM AND HAVING THE PRINCIPAL BE ABLE TO PICK THEIR STAFF.

THAT MEANS SENIORITY IS NOT THE DETERMINING FACTOR.

I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT REALLY WILL HELP TO TURN OUR SCHOOLS AROUND.

WE HAVE SEEN IT WITH ACHIEVEMENT FIRST.

I APPLAUD THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR SPONSORING THE BILL IN THE HOUSE FOR PASSING IT.

I HOPE THE SENATE WILL, AS WELL.

EVA-MARIE: FIRST OF ALL, WHY DID IT TAKE US SO LONG TO FIND A HOMEGROWN SUPERINTENDENT?

THAT IS WHAT I SAY FIRST OF ALL.

KUDOS TO GOVERNOR MCKEE FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT HIS WORD COMES FROM.

I DO NOT THINK THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF MOVEMENT IN PROVIDENCE.

THERE IS AN URGENCY -- I SAID THIS EIGHT OR NINE YEARS AGO AND I WOULD SAY TO THE GOVERNOR, WE ARE LOSING A GENERATION OF KIDS.

NOBODY FEELS THE URGENCY.

HE WOULD SAY NO, WE ARE THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AND WE HAVE THE BEST SYSTEM.

WE NEED TO FEEL THAT URGENCY NOW.

DO NOT THINK WE ARE MOVING QUICK ENOUGH.

WE NEED TO REALLY STEP THAT UP IN TERMS OF THE CHANGE THAT IS HAPPENING.

GIVE THE ATON AMI TO THE PRINCIPLES NOW.

-- GIVE THE AUTONOMY TO THE PRINCIPLES RIGHT NOW.

>> I FELT THE URGENCY.

THANKS TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WE OPENED UP ON A 5-4 VOTE.

IT IS NOW ONE OF THE TOP PERFORMING SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE EXTENDED THE SCHOOL DAY 15 MINUTES.

>> THEY HAVE NEVER FORGIVEN YOU FOR THAT.

>> WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD IN TERMS OF DOING THE VERY BEST WE COULD TO BE THE BEST TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM.

EVA-MARIE: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN OUT?

THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS.

IT BECOMES INDIVIDUALLY SPECIFIC.

LOOK AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

I'M NOT SAYING I WAS THE GREATEST CHAIR EVER, WHAT I PUSHED AND PUSHED AND PUSHED.

YOU HAVE NOT SEEN A LOT OF PUSHING UNDER THIS BOARD.

IT BECOMES UNDER OUR STATE INDIVIDUALLY SPECIFIC, AND THAT HAS TO GAIN SOME MOMENTUM.

THE PROBLEM I HAVE, ACHIEVEMENT FIRST IS TERRIFIC.

CHARTER SCHOOLS, THE PROOF IS IN THE PORTING.

JIM: IT LOOKS LIKE GOVERNOR MCKEE HAS SIGNALED, EVEN IF YOU PASS THE BILL -- NICK: TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WHICH WAS THE LOCAL -- IT STARTED WITH THE LOCAL SUPERINTENDENT.

I THINK THAT WAS PROBABLY A GOOD MOVE BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT IS THE ISSUE.

I THINK PROVIDENCE IS ABSOLUTELY OVERWHELMED.

WE OFFER A LOT OF INDUCEMENTS FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO RHODE ISLAND, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE MOVING INTO THE UNITED STATES FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH, BUT THEY ARE HERE.

THEY ARE BLAMELESS.

YOU CANNOT BLAME THEM FOR MONEY TO COME HERE, BUT IT IS A MAJOR BURDEN ON THE PROVIDENCE SCHOOLS UNLESS THEY ARE BILINGUAL, AND THEY REALLY ARE NOT.

A LOT OF THESE KIDS TO NOT SPEAK ANY ENGLISH AT ALL.

IT IS A CHALLENGING SITUATION FOR PROVIDENCE.

ANGEL: I HAVE KNOWN NICK FOR A LONG TIME.

PART OF WHAT WE HAVE SEEN -- I USE ACHIEVEMENT FIRST BECAUSE I KNOW THE RESULTS WELL -- IF YOU EXTEND THE SCHOOL DAY, EXTEND THE SCHOOL YEAR, YOU CAN ADDRESS THE LANGUAGE.

PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW ENGLISH WHEN THEY START SCHOOL, THEY ARE STARTING AS ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, BY THE TIME THEY ARE IN SECOND GRADE, THEY ARE PROFICIENT OR DOING VERY WELL.

I DISAGREE THAT IT IS THE STUDENTS AND WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

WE ABSOLUTELY CAN.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THE WILL TO DO IT AND DETERMINATION.

I HAVE BOTH -- MAYBE THAT IS WHY I AM SITTING HERE TODAY -- THAT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES.

JIM: FINAL THOUGHT?

NICK: I THINK I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE.

I THINK WE ALL AGREE, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DONE.

JIM: WE MIGHT GET BACK TO IT.

ANGEL, LET ME BEGIN WITH YOU.

ANGEL: I HAVE A KUDOS TO THE NOMINATING COMMISSION.

THEY SENT FIVE NAMES FOR THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGESHIP THAT OPENED UP.

15 YEARS AGO, MY FRIENDS MIGHT REMEMBER THIS, THERE WAS AN OPENING FOR TWO TRAFFIC COURT MAGISTRATES AND THERE WAS A COMPETITIVE PROCESS THAT THE LEGENDARY CHIEF JUDGE PUT IN PLACE.

THERE WERE TWO SUGGESTED.

ONE WAS A YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN LAWYER.

WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING WAS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IT WAS NOT THEIR PREFERRED CANDIDATE IN THOSE POSITIONS WERE DEFUNDED.

THERE WERE TWO MAGISTRATES ADDED TO DIFFERENT COURTS.

THIS WEEK, ONE OF THOSE GENTLEMEN WAS SENT TO THE GOVERNOR AS A LIST OF FIVE, A GREAT LAWYER, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL, VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMITTEE, I LOVE TO SEE A GOOD GUY FINISH FIRST.

EVA-MARIE: MY KUDOS IS THE GOVERNOR DAN MCKEE FOR GETTING INVOLVED IN SCHOOL DEPARTMENT ISSUES AND TAKING OVER THAT.

PUTTING HIS OWN PEOPLE IN CHARGE AND SINK IT IS TIME, LET'S GET A CONTRACT AND MOVE FORWARD.

JIM: I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO SEE THE CONVERSATIONS BEHIND THE SCENES ON THAT.

NICK: IT IS A KUDOS THIS WEEK.

JIM: WE HAVE THREE KUDOS --COME ON!

[LAUGHTER] JIM: NEXT TIME, YOU COME IN WITH AN OUTRAGE, YOUNG MAN.

NICK: I HAVE TO GIVE KUDOS TO THE REPUBLICANS, THE MINORITY IN THE HOUSE, FOR COMING UP WITH GOOD IDEAS.

THEY ARE OUTNUMBERED 65-10, AND THEY STOOD UP AND MADE THEIR POINTS AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE APPRECIATED THAT.

IN A BROADER SENSE, OUR STATE WOULD BE SO MUCH BETTER OFF IF WE HAD MORE BALANCE BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES IN THIS STATE.

WE DESPERATELY NEED IT.

IF YOU LOOK AT OUR STATE HISTORICALLY, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BETTER PLACE WHEN THERE IS MORE BALANCE.

JIM: I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

IT IS A QUICK 30 MINUTES.

ANGEL, NICE TO SEE YOU.

AND EVA AND NICK.

IT WILL BE A BIG WEEK AS WE HEAD INTO THE HOME STRETCH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] [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 OF IMPORTANT POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLAND.