JIM: THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT," RHODE ISLAND MAKE A NEWS AND NOT BECAUSE OF OUR GREAT BEACHES.

THIS WEEK IS THE FILING DEADLINE FOR CANDIDATES IN THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACE.

WHO IS PUTTING PEN TO PAPER?

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

>> INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE 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, IAN DONNIS, REPORTER FOR THE PUBLIX RADIO, ATTORNEY AND FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE NICK GORHAM, AND PROVIDENCE JOURNAL REPORTER ANTONIA NOORI FARZAN.

WELCOME INTO LIVELY, I AM JIM HUMMEL.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU THIS WEEK.

IT IS NOT THE KIND OF PUBLICITY THAT THE CHAMBER WANTS, NATIONAL COVERAGE OF THE DISASTROUS TRIP OF TWO STATE EMPLOYEES TO PHILADELPHIA THIS YEAR AND THE CONTINUED FALLOUT.

LAST WEEK, STATE SENATOR JARED MILLER WAS CRIMINALLY CHARGED, ACCUSED OF KEYING SOMEONE'’S CAR IN GARDEN CITY, AND THEN HAVING A CHANGING STORY WHEN SPEAKING WITH POLICE OVER THE COURSE OF THAT DAY AND EVENING.

IAN, WE WILL GET TO THE CENTER IN JUST A SECOND.

PHILADELPHIA IS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.

YOU WERE AT THE ETHICS UPDATE.

GIVE US AN UPDATE.

IAN: THEY VOTED TO LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION INTO DAVID PATTEN, JAMES THORSEN, THE TWO OFFICIALS WENT TO PHILADELPHIA IN MARCH, LOOKING IF THERE WERE VIOLATIONS OF THE STATE'’S GIFT RULE WHICH LIMITS GIFTS TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES TO $25, WHETHER THEY WERE THROWING THEIR AUTHORITY AROUND AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

THERE WERE INTIMATIONS POSSIBLY THAT THEY WERE SAYING, TREAT US WELL, OTHERWISE, SCOUT, THE COMPANY BEING EYED AS THE POTENTIAL CONTRACTOR ON THE CRANSTON STREET ARMORY, MAY NOT GET WORK.

ABOUT 60 DAYS FOR THE ETHICS COMMISSION TO DO ITS INVESTIGATION.

WE WILL SEE WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE.

JIM: NICK, NOT THE KIND OF PUBLICITY WE WERE HOPING FOR IN PHILADELPHIA, WASHINGTON, AND BEYOND.

NICK: THE NATIONAL PRESS HAS ALREADY SPREAD AROUND, IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE CONSIDERING -- SPREADING AROUND CONSIDERATION ON THIS TRIP IN EXCHANGE FOR WHO KNOWS WHAT.

IT HAS ALREADY HURT US.

ETHICS COMMISSION WILL CRIMINAL PENALTY, AND REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME, THEY HAVE REALLY DESTROYED THE IMAGE OF RHODE ISLAND AS A STATE WHERE YOU CAN GO AND TRUST THAT YOU WILL BE TREATED FAIRLY IF YOU WANT TO DO BUSINESS THERE.

JIM: I DON'’T KNOW ABOUT THAT, NICK.

THE BEHAVIOR DESCRIBED IS NOT THAT GOOD BUT I DON'’T KNOW IF THAT IS SO SWEEPING AN INDICTMENT OF THE STATE TO SAY THAT PEOPLE CANNOT BE TREATED FAIRLY.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY THIS IS AN EXCEPTION RATHER THAN A RULE.

ARE YOU GOING TO SUGGEST THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR IS PERVASIVE BY STATE OFFICIALS?

NICK: NO, WHAT I'’M AM SAYING IS THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW TIMES THAT WE HAVE NATIONAL PRESS COVERAGE, AND IT IS REALLY BAD, MAKES US SUSPECT -- LOOK BAD.

I HOPE THE ETHICS COMMISSION DOES A FAIR INVESTIGATION, LOOKING AT WHAT WENT ON.

I DON'’T THINK THERE IS TOO MUCH ISSUE ABOUT IT.

IT WAS TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE.

THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE ANY OF IT.

MAYBE THE ETHICS COMMISSION WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BUT THE DAMAGE IS ALREADY DONE.

ANTONIA: IT DOESN'’T HELP.

IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A REPUTATION FOR CORRUPTION, IN A LOT OF CASES IS A LITTLE UNFAIR, THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER, BUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS DOESN'’T LOOK GOOD.

THIS IS WHAT IT MUST BE LIKE FOR PEOPLE IN FLORIDA ALL THE TIME, EMBARRASSING HEADLINES.

JIM: LET ME PUSH BACK ON YOU, NICK.

OVER THE YEARS, THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE PEOPLE KNEW THAT THEY WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT ON THE SIDE.

PEOPLE AVOIDED PROVIDENCE.

I HAD FRIENDS IN CHARLOTTE, ONCE A WEEK THERE IS ALWAYS A BIZARRE STORY FROM RHODE ISLAND.

IT IS FRIDAY, RHODE ISLAND DAY.

YOU DON'’T HAVE TO HAVE IT ALL THE TIME, BUT AS NICK SAYS, THIS REINFORCES A PERCEPTION OUT THERE AMONG SOME PEOPLE -- RHODE ISLAND, NEW JERSEY, WHO IS THE MOST CORRUPT THIS WEEK?

>> MORE THAN 100 YEARS AGO, IT WAS BEING REPORTED ABOUT THE SALE FOR SHEEP.

I TAKE YOUR POINT.

IF THERE IS A SINGLE THING THAT COULD HELP RHODE ISLAND ECONOMICALLY, IT IS PROBABLY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THAT IS SOMETHING THE STATE HAS BEEN GRAPPLING WITH FOR DECADES.

I'’M SURE WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT MORE IN TERMS OF A STORY THAT ANTONIA HAD THIS WEEK.

YOU ARE RIGHT, IT IS NOT GOOD FROM AN IMAGE PERSPECTIVE WHEN RHODE ISLAND SUFFERS FROM THESE KINDS OF CONTROVERSIES.

JIM: I WILL SAY THE ONE THING THAT LAUNCHED THIS IS YOUR COLLEAGUE, KATHY GRAY, W PRI -- AND WE REINFORCE THIS EVERY WEEK, HOW CRITICAL THE ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORD IS.

ANTONIA: ABSOLUTELY.

WE WOULDN'’T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE LAWYERS DIDN'’T FIGHT TO GET THIS EMAIL RELEASED.

JIM: THEN WE GET TO SENATOR MILLER.

YOU COULD NOT WRITE THE SCRIPT IF YOU TRIED.

THIS WAS BREAKING ACTUALLY AFTER WE TAPED LAST WEEK.

SENATOR MILLER, THERE WAS A BIDEN SUCKS STICKER ON SOMEBODY'’S CAR, AND I DON'’T KNOW IF THAT SET HIM OFF, BUT HE WAS LATER SEEN KEYING SOMEONE'’S CAR AND THEN SOME ARE THINKING OF TAKING INTO TO ANOTHER LEVEL WITH OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.

IS THAT THE UPPER OR THE LOWER CHAMBER THAT YOU WERE IN?

>> NOT REALLY SURE ANYMORE.

I WAS IN THE HOUSE.

SENATOR MILLER HAS ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A POSTER CHILD FOR LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

ACCORDING TO HIM, THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE THERE WHO HE THOUGHT WERE GOING TO HARASS HIM.

HE CALLS THEM GUN NUTS.

HIS REMEDY, THE WAY TO AVOID CONFRONTATION IS TO KEY THEIR CAR.

IT MAKES NO SENSE.

IT IS SILLY.

THE ONLY THING I LEFT OUT WAS THAT THERE WAS A BIDEN SUCKS STICKER ON THE CAR, THAT HAS BEEN IN THE PRESS.

HE IS KEYING THE CAR.

I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING, THE POLICE WERE TALKING TO HIM, HE HAD HIS HANDS FOLDED IN THAT SORT OF POSTURE OF CLOSING THE SHOP OR SOMETHING.

IT IS JUST A FIASCO, MORE BAD PUBLICITY.

IT IS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

OUR STATE LOOKS TERRIBLE.

I HOPE THE SENATE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

THEY HAVE SENT OTHER PEOPLE PACKING BEFORE.

JIM: HE IS A PART OF THE LEADERSHIP SO SHE IS NOT LIKE HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING FROM SENATE PRESIDENT ROGERIO?

>> I REACHED OUT TO THEM AFTER THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED.

JIM: IAN WHO?

IAN: WE SHOULD REMEMBER THERE IS A PRESUMPION OF INNOCENCE AND HE IS ENTITLED TO HIS DAY IN COURT, BUT THINK IS RIGHT, THIS DOESN'’T LOOK GOOD.

ACCORDING TO THE CRANSTON POLICE, IT DOESN'’T LOOK GOOD FOR SENATOR MILLER.

IT IS ANOTHER BLACKEYE FOR THE STATE.

ANTONIA: I'’M CURIOUS IF THERE WILL BE ANY CONSEQUENCES.

I LIVE IN SENATOR MILLER'’S DISTRICT, A LIBERAL DISTRICT, AND I DON'’T HEAR MANY PEOPLE CALLING FOR HIS HEAD.

THERE IS A SENSE THAT IT WAS CHILDISH, STUPID, EMBARRASSING, BUT NOT NECESSARILY A CAREER AND ARE.

JIM: HE HAS BUILT UP A REPUTATION OVER THE YEARS.

WAS IT CHILDISH?

YES.

MAYBE IT WILL COST HIM HIS LEADERSHIP, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTION TIME NEXT YEAR -- NICK: IT WILL BE A PROBLEM FOR THE LEADERSHIP WHAT TO DO.

THEY DON'’T WANT TO DO ANYTHING.

I THINK THEIR HAND MAY BE FORCED ON THIS ONE.

IT IS PRETTY SERIOUS.

WHAT IS A SENATOR DOING SAYING I WAS AFRAID OF THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE GONE NU -- GUN NUTS.

JIM: IT DIDN'’T SEEM LIKE THERE WAS A LOT OF INTERACTION.

NICK: SO HE KEYED THEIR CAR.

A BEE BECAUSE IT HAD A NEGATIVE UPPER STICKER ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN, I DON'’T KNOW.

I DON'’T SEE ANY WAY THAT THIS CAN END REALLY WELL FOR HIM OR THE SENATE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

YOU CANNOT JUST SAY IT IS OK. JIM: WHAT IF ALL THE CHARGES GET THROWN OUT?

NICK: I WILL BE AMAZED.

JIM: WE SHOULD NOTE, VANDALISM CHARGES A MISDEMEANOR CHARGE, BUT THE CONCEPT OF THE BEHAVIOR DOES NOT PLAY WELL.

IT IS NOT THE KIND OF BEHAVIOR WE EXPECT FROM OUR STATE LAWMAKERS.

THE OPTICS OF IT ARE QUITE BAD.

WE WILL SEE HOW THAT RESONATES IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION.

FINAL THOUGHT?

YOU SEEM BEFUDDLED.

NICK: I CANNOT SEE A LAWMAKER IN THAT POSITION, KEYING A CAR AND CAUGHT ON TAPE DOING IT.

JIM: YOU WOULD THINK IN 2023 THERE ARE CAMERAS EVERYWHERE.

YOU CANNOT STEP OUT OF YOUR CAR ESPECIALLY IN GARDEN CITY.

ANTONIA: IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO THAT, DO THAT AT 3:00 A.M., NOT P.M. NOT ADVICE FOR ANYONE.

NICK: HE HAS A HISTORY OF BEING REALLY HOSTILE TOWARD PEOPLE WHO DON'’T AGREE WITH HIS VIEWS.

IN 2014, WHEN THERE WAS A GUN DEBATE, IT WAS ABOUT THE SECOND AMENDMENT, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, PEOPLE WERE DEBATING.

A REPORTER ASKED A QUESTION, PART OF THE GUN NUT LOBBY, AS SENATOR MILLER WOULD CALL THEM, BUT HE ASKED A FAIR QUESTION.

SENATOR MILLER SAID AGO F YOURSELF.

IT IS ON TAPE.

IT IS OUT THERE ON THE INTERNET.

THEN HIS BODYGUARD OR WHOEVER IT WAS REINFORCED IT BY SAYING THE SAME THING.

IS THIS THE KIND OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY WE REALLY WANT TO HAVE?

PEOPLE DOING THAT?

JIM: TO BE CONTINUED.

HE WILL HAVE A COURT DATE NEXT MONTH.

THIS IS THE LONG-AWAITED DEADLINE, WE ARE TAKING ON A FRIDAY MORNING.

ALL THE CANDIDATES FOR THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT TO REPLACE DAVID CICILLINE WOULD HAVE TAKEN OUT THEIR PAPERS, SIGNATURES BACK BY MID AUGUST.

ANTONIA, BY LAST COUNT -- ANTONIA: 25.

A LOT OF NAMES THAT WE HAVE NEVER HEARD BEFORE, A LOT THAT DON'’T HAVE A PUBLIC PROFILE.

WE WILL SEE HOW MANY OF THEM ACTUALLY MAKE IT ONTO THE BALLOT.

JIM: ANYTHING SURPRISE YOU?

AS WE WERE SAYING OFF-CAMERA, SOME RANDOS COMING IN, BUT THIS IS LARGELY THE PEOPLE THAT WE EXPECTED.

IAN: THIS IS THE LARGEST FIELD THAT I HAVE EVER COVERED COVERED POLITICS.

IT WOULD SEEM THEY HAVE A BIG BENEFIT BECAUSE OF THEIR NAME RECOGNITION, BETTER ABILITY TO RAISE MONEY.

MORE CANDIDATES WILL GET PROBABLY LITTLE SLICES OF THE VOTE, WHICH MEANS SOMEBODY COULD WIN THE RACE WITH A RELATIVELY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE OVERALL VOTE.

JIM: NOBODY PULLED A JOHN HOLMES AND, FORGOT TO FILE BY 4:00.

REMEMBER THAT STORY?

JOHN HOLMES ENTRUSTED IT -- ANYHOW -- TO A PAGE.

IT SHOWS YOU THAT DETAILS COUNT.

HE GAVE IT TO SOME INTERN TO FILE THE PAPERS.

THE KID GOT LOST ON THE WAY, AND HE MISSED.

ANYHOW, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?

THERE IS A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FROM WHAT WE HEAR.

NICK: I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE AT LEAST 25 ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

JIM: SUCH AN EASY SEAT TO WIN FOR REPUBLICANS.

ANTONIA: THREE HAVE FILED.

JIM: WE NEED ANTONIA'’S COVERAGE.

ANTONIA: ONE IS A FORMER TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER, TERRY FLYNN.

ANOTHER IS A FORMER MARINE CORPS OFFICER WHO LIVES IN TOWN.

THE THIRD IS SOMEONE THAT WE DON'’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT.

JIM: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?

NICK: A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE RUNNING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY TAKE FRONT AND CENTER FIRST.

THEY WILL GET A LOT OF PUBLICITY.

I HOPE THE REPUBLICANS GET SOME PUBLICITY, TOO.

IT WOULD BE GOOD IF WE COULD HAVE A REALLY COMPETITIVE RACE FOR CONGRESS.

TWO PARTY SYSTEM IS BEST WHEN IT IS COMPETITIVE.

JIM: IT WILL BE NARROWED DOWN TO A COUPLE CANDIDATES, MAYBE THREE IF YOU HAVE AN INDEPENDENT.

WE WILL HAVE TIM WHITE AND TED NISI ON IN JULY.

HOW DO YOU AGAIN TO DO A DEBATE, WHAT IS THE CRITERIA?

I AM GLAD I'’M NOT IN THEIR POSITION.

IAN: MY RADIO STATION IS PLANNING A DEBATE WITH PROVIDENCE JOURNAL.

WE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

JIM: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

IAN: WE WANT TO SEE HOW MANY CANDIDATES RETURNED SIGNATURES.

THAT COULD POTENTIALLY NARROW THE FIELD OF IT.

IT'’S A BIG QUESTION BECAUSE IT IS UNUSUAL TO HAVE SO MANY CANDIDATES IN A SINGLE RACE.

JIM: THE ARGUMENT IS, SOMETIMES THEY USE POLLING, HOW MUCH MONEY HAS YOU RAISED.

THAT GOES TO THE CANDIDATES THAT SAY THAT YOU ARE DISENFRANCHISING ME BECAUSE I CANNOT RAISE THE MONEY BUT I NEED THE PUBLICITY IN A DEBATE.

ANTONIA: THERE IS NO METRIC, AND IT IS TOUGH.

THERE ARE CERTAIN CANDIDATES THAT HAVE A GOOD CHANCE, OTHERS DON'’T, THEY DON'’T HAVE THE NAME RECOGNITION.

YOU WANT TO BE FAIR TO EVERYONE AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO SPEAK.

HOW DO YOU PRESNT THAT TO THE VOTERS?

IT IS TOUGH.

JIM: AARON HAS A LOT OF NAME RECOGNITION, CAME WITHIN A WHISKER OF BEATING GOVERNOR KEY.

SABINA MATOS IS THE HIGH-PROFILE ONE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE LATINO VOTE, HOW MUCH CAN THE STATE SENATOR FROM PAWTUCKET, WHO SEEMS TO BE GETTING A LOT OF ENDORSEMENTS, WHETHER THAT FACTORS INTO SABINA MATOS'’ CAMPAIGN?

IAN: LATINOS ARE NOT A MONOLITH.

IN EVERY RACE SHE HAS RUN, SHE HAS BEEN A GOOD ADVOCATE FOR HERSELF.

CERTAINLY, THERE IS NO ONE BLOCK THAT GOES WITH UNIFORMITY.

JIM: NOT A MONOLITH, BUT EVERY PRESS RELEASE YOU SEE FROM SABINA MATOS, THIS IS WHY WE NEED A WOMAN OF COLOR.

IT CAME AFTER YESTERDAY'’S AFFIRMATIVE ACTION VOTE.

WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH IT OR NOT, SHE IS HAMMERING AWAY AT THAT.

IAN: IDENTITY POLITICS.

PARTICULARLY IN A RACE WHERE THE SMALL SLICE OF POPULATION WILL DETERMINE THE RACE, IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE THE CANDIDATES MAKE THEIR APPEAL ON A VARIETY OF GROUNDS.

JIM: COME BACK NEXT SHOW.

WE SHOULD KNOW A LITTLE BIT BETTER AS PEOPLE BEGIN TO FILE THEIR PAPERWORKS AND GET THEIR SIGNATURES.

ANTONIA HAD AN INTERESTING STORY THIS WEEK ON THE JOHNSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND THE MAYOR.

HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR FINANCES.

THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN TOWN AND SCHOOLS, BUT ULTIMATELY IT IS THE MAYOR THAT HAS TO PRESENT THE BALANCE THE BUDGET.

ANTONIA: THE DILEMMA THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN TOWNS A LOT THIS YEAR, THE SCHOOL, WHICH MAKES UP USUALLY THE MOST OF THE BUDGET, MAYBE MORE, AND THE TOWN DOESN'’T HAVE MUCH SAY ON HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT.

THEY DON'’T HAVE A LOT OF LEEWAY TO TELL THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT ON WHAT TO DO, HOW MUCH TO PAY THE TEACHERS.

THE MAYOR IS THE ONE THAT SIGNED THE TAX BILL.

HE IS THE ONE THAT PEOPLE WILL COMPLAIN TO IF TAXES GO UP.

NOW THE MAYOR IS LOOKING TO HAVE MORE CONTROL.

GIVE THE SCHOOLS MORE MONEY, BUT WE WANT A SAY IN HOW THEY SPEND THE MONEY, HE THINKS THEY HAVE TOO MUCH STAFF.

HE IS DOING AN AUDIT, WANTS THEM TO GET RECOMMENDATIONS, BASICALLY GET MORE EFFICIENT IN TERMS OF HOW TAX DOLLARS ARE SPENT.

JIM: HOW IS THAT GOING WITH THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE?

ANTONIA: NOT GREAT.

IT WAS DESCRIBED AS A TAKEOVER, WHICH IS NOT GOOD.

THIS IS NOT THE PROVIDENCE SCHOOL TAKEOVER.

NOBODY IS TRYING TO CHANGE THE CURRICULUM.

THEY ARE SAYING, LET THE SCHOOL OFFICERS HAVE A SAY IN THE FINANCES.

AFTER A WEEK OF SILENCE, SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAID WE ABSOLUTELY OPPOSE THIS.

NOW BOTH SIDES HAVE LAWYERED UP.

JIM: AT THE SAME TIME, THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE IS A HUGE DEFICIT.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A BIG SALE TO RAISE THE MONEY, THEY HAVE TO GET IT FROM THE MAYOR.

WE HAVE NOT HAD A -- IN A WHILE.

IF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE DOES NOT FEEL LIKE IT IS GETTING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IT SHOULD, IT CAN SOOTHE THE TOWN, WHICH MAKES NO SENSE.

WHO IS WINNING ON THAT?

THE LAWYERS.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO OUR LEGAL BROTHER HERE.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?

IAN: THE RULE, AS PASSED DOWN BY THE SUPREME COURT, THE CONSTITUTION OF RHODE ISLAND.

THESE PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IT IS A SPECIFIC PROVINCE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CARRY THAT OUT.

OUR SUPREME COURT HAS SAID SCHOOL COMMITTEES ARE AGENTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY -- THEY ARE A PART OF TOWN GOVERNMENT, BUT THEY HAVE A MUCH MORE, I WOULD SAY, PROMINENT ROLE LEGALLY.

IT IS VERY HARD FOR A TOWN WHICH IS JUST A MUNICIPALITY PROTECTED BY ARTICLE 13 OF THE CONSTITUTION, WHICH IS HOME RULE, IT IS HARD FOR A TOWN TO OVERCOME THE OVERWHELMING POWER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT IS DELEGATED TO THESE SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

I THINK IT IS GREAT POLITICS.

IT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT HE CAN MAKE HIS POINT.

ULTIMATELY, THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE HAS ALL THE ACES IN THIS DEBATE.

JIM: IF IT WERE EVER TO GO TO COURT.

AND THAT IS WHY THEY WENT A LOT IN COURT.

IAN: WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON PUBLIC EDUCATION IN RHODE ISLAND AT THE RESULTS ARE NOT ALL THAT GREAT.

IN SOME RESPECTS, IT SURPRISES ME THAT WE DON'’T SEE MORE MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS TAKE THIS KIND OF AGGRESSIVE ACTION THAT MIGHT PLAY WELL WITH CITIZENS, IF NOT LEGALLY, AS NICK LAYS OUT.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO FOLLOW WHERE THIS GOES FROM HERE.

JOHNSTON, AN INTERESTING FOOTNOTE, TWO FORMER GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE.

ALLAN FUNG AND LENA FOLKES IS A PART OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE IN JOHNSTON.

JIM: HE HAS TAKEN OVER FROM HIS FATHER WHO WAS THERE A LONG TIME, FORMER STATE SENATOR, SO IT IS A BAPTISM BY FIRE.

HAS HE TALKED ABOUT THE CHARLIE LUM BARDI MODEL?

FOR YEARS HE SAYS THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE SHOULD BE SETTING OUT TAX DOLLARS.

ANTONIA: THAT IS WHAT HE TOLD ME.

IF YOU TALK TO MAYORS, TOWN MANAGERS, A LOT OF THEM FEEL THAT WAY.

JIM: WHAT IS THE NEXT UP ON THIS, TRY TO GET EACH OTHER TO TALK?

ANTONIA: THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND WORK SOMETHING OUT, BUT THEY ARE TRYING TO AVOID GOING TO COURT, COSTING A LOT OF MONEY.

NICK: I THINK YOU WOULD NEED LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO ENABLE SCHOOL COMMITTEES TO SEND BILLS OUT.

FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH, MY FIRM HAS REPRESENTED MANY DIFFERENT DISABILITIES AROUND THE STATE.

WE TYPICALLY REPRESENT EITHER THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OR THE TOWN COUNCIL.

THIS HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME, IT COMES UP EVERY SPRING WHEN THEY ARE TRY TO PUT THEIR BUDGET TOGETHER.

JIM: BECAUSE THE TOWN OR CITY COUNCIL CAN SAY WE ARE GOING TO CUT YOU A MILLION DOLLARS BUT WE CANNOT TELL YOU WHAT THAT WILL BE.

THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE, IF THEY ARE GETTING UNDER CHUN -- UNDERFUNDED, THEN THEY GO TO COURT OR THE STATE.

I HAVE A COUPLE MORE LOCAL ISSUE THAT I WANT TO GET TO BUT I DON'’T WANT TO SHORT US ON OUTRAGES AND KUDOS.

NICK: ANTONIA'’S COLLEAGUE HAD A GOOD ARTICLE ABOUT HOW PEDESTRIAN SAFETY WAS TRYING TO GET 15 YEARS OF CRASH DATA FROM THE STATE DOT.

THE DOT IS REFUSING TO MAKE THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE.

I GUESS THIS IS A COMMONALITY WITH OTHER STATES.

THEY FEAR IT COULD BE USED IN LAWSUITS.

THERE IS A COMPELLING PUBLIC INTEREST IN THIS KIND OF DATA.

IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT IT IS NOT PUBLIC THE AVAILABLE.

JIM: IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, FIX THE INTERSECTION.

THAT WAS A GREAT STORY.

ANTONIA?

ANTONIA: LAST TIME I WAS ON HERE, I WAS TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC RECORDS.

I WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO THE CRANSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

TWO INCIDENCES WHERE POLITICIANS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, AND QUICKLY THEY HAVE PUT OUT BODYCAM VIDEO, FULL DETAILED ARREST REPORT, STATEMENT FROM THE ARREST.

ANYTIME A POLITICIAN GETS ARRESTED, PEOPLE WONDER DO THEY GET SPECIAL TREATMENT?

PUTTING THAT OUT THERE AND HAVING THAT TRANSPARENCY IS IMPORTANT.

JIM: GREAT POINT, AND IN THIS CASE, A REPUBLICAN CITY COUNCILMEMBER, AND A DEMOCRAT, SO YOU CANNOT PLAY THAT IT IS A REPUBLICAN MAYOR.

THAT SHOULD BE THE TEMPLATE FOR EVERY SINGLE POLICE FORCE IN THE STATE.

PUT IT OUT.

ANTONIA: BOTH TIMES WITHIN 20 FOUR HOURS OF THE INCIDENT.

JIM: AND REALLY TOLD THE STORY.

ANTONIA: EVERY PIECE OF IT WAS OUT THERE.

NICHOLAS?

THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

HE COMES WITH FIVE PAGES OF NOTES.

NICK: I HAVE TO PRINT THIS OUT.

THIS IS FROM A COLUMN FROM LAST WEEK.

IT WAS SARCASTIC, THIS IS SARCASM, BUT IT HAS A RING OF TRUTH TO IT IN SOME WAYS.

THIS IS HIS ARTICLE ON INFLATION.

IN AN UNSETTLING ECONOMIC INDICATOR,'’ THE STATES LABOR UNIONS HAVE ANNOUNCED PLANS TO LAY OFF WHEN TEAM MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, PROMPTING ONE TARGETED REP TO GRUMBLE "THIS IS UNFAIR.

THEY SAID IF WE PLAYED BALL, THEY WOULD GIVE US LIFETIME POSITIONS, AND KNOW THIS."

JIM: THAT IS UNFAIR TO THE GENERAL SUMMARY MEMBERS.

NICK: I DIDN'’T WRITE IT.

JIM: AS WE KNOW, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE THE MESSENGER, YOU GET SHOT.

IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES, A COUPLE OTHER GENERAL ASSEMBLY THINGS.

YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING THE SHORELINE ACCESS.

TELL ME WHERE THIS BILL HAS GONE NOW THAT IT HAS PASSED?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FROM A GENERALLY ASSEMBLY STANDPOINT, THE NEW LAW?

ANTONIA: THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WILL NOT KNOW A DIFFERENCE.

BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED, THE LINE BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE IS NOW WHERE PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS TO BEGIN WITH.

IT WAS THE MEAN HEIGHT TAGLINE, NOW THE LAST TIME PLUS A BUFFER ZONE OF 10 FEET WHERE YOU CAN WALK.

IF YOU WERE TO ASK AN AVERAGE PERSON WHO KNOWS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, THEY WOULD POINT TO WHERE THAT SEAWEED IS, WHERE THAT HIGH TIDE WATERMARK IS.

WHAT PEOPLE DIDN'’T KNOW IS THAT THE MEAN HIGH TIDE IS WAY OUT HERE.

JIM: NOBODY KNEW WHAT IT WAS.

SO THE HOMEOWNER WOULD SEND A COP OUT AND SAID THAT YOU CANNOT COME.

I READ ONE ARTICLE, 10 FEET ABOVE THE VISIBLE HIGH TIDE LINE, VISIBLE VEGETATION, SCUM, OR OTHER MARKERS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT?

NICK: FIRST OF ALL, I DIDN'’T KNOW WHAT THEY MEANT BY SCUM.

JIM: YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS.

WITH RESPECT TO SAVE THE DAY, ALL OF THAT SCUM.

IT DOESN'’T MEAN THAT MONSTERS ARE WASHING UP.

NICK: AS TO THE CORE OF THE ISSUE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS THE POWER TO DO WHAT THEY DID, TO DESIGNATE AN AREA.

CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE ONE, SECTION 17, IN MY OPINION, SAYS THIS CAN BE DONE.

IT IS SUBJECT TO OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS THAT MANY PEOPLE ALONG THE SHORE HAS, IN THAT IT MAY BE THERE PROPERTY OR NOT.

IF I WERE AN OCEANFRONT HOMEOWNER, AND I DIDN'’T LIKE THE LAW, I WOULD HOLD OFF A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE DOING ANYTHING.

IT MAY NOT BE THAT BAD.

YOU CAN ALWAYS CHALLENGE A LAW.

MAYBE NOT ALWAYS.

BUT THERE IS TIME.

I THINK THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY BAD ABOUT.

MUCH OF OUR COAST IS NOW BEING BOUGHT UP BY PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE WHO DON'’T WANT RHODE ISLANDERS WALKING ON THE BEACH IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE.

THAT IS AT THE CORE OF IT.

IAN: THIS WAS A FEEL-GOOD MOMENT WHEN THE LEGISLATURE PASSED IT, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IT.

JIM: AS NICK IS SUGGESTING, SOMETIME BEFORE THERE ARE LEGAL CHALLENGES.

IAN: YOU ASK THE RIGHT QUESTION, WHO WILL BE THE ARBITER IN SELLING THESE CASES?

IT MIGHT BE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FORMS, BUT THE LEGACY OF THIS MEASURE WILL TAKE TIME TO FIGURE OUT, WILL BE UNSURPRISING IF THERE ARE A VARIETY OF LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT ARISE IN THE YEARS TO COME.

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM FLORIDA WHO JUST LAUGH AT THIS.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE ACCESS AT FLORIDA BEACHES, YOU CAN GO WHEN YOU WANT.

YOU WERE SHOWING ME THE PICTURES FROM HAWAII.

IT IS SACROSANCT OUT THERE.

>> WE LIKE TO THINK IT IS HERE BUT THE REALITY CAN BE A LOT MORE COMPLEX DEPENDING ON THIS ISSUE OF PROPERTY RIGHTS AND HOW THAT COMES INTO PLAY.

JIM: YOU HAD A GREAT ARTICLE ON THE GUY TRY TO WALK AROUND RHODE ISLAND.

ONE MINUTE LEFT.

THE BARRIERS THAT HE FACED.

ANTONIA: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE RUNS INTO A LOT IS SEE WALLS.

WITH THIS NEW LAWYOU CANNOT GET ON SOMEONE'’S SEA WALL.

IF YOU ARE TRYING TO WALK THE COAST OF RHODE ISLAND, YOU CANNOT DO IT.

JIM: HOW MUCH WILL THIS HELP HIM IN TERMS OF BEING LEGAL?

ONE PART IN YOUR ARTICLE SAYING THAT HE DIDN'’T WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT LEGALLY BEING ON SOMEONE ELSE'’S PROPERTY.

ANTONIA: IT WILL HELP HIM WALKING ALONG THE BEACH BECAUSE IT WILL BE CLEAR WHERE HE IS ALLOWED TO BE, IF HE IS WALKING IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY'’S HOME.

THE ISSUE IS IF THERE ARE ANY MAN-MADE VEHICLES, PIERS, THAT IS WHERE YOU SET TO WALK AROUND.

JIM: THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS WEEK.

IAN, NICK, ANTONIA, HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

AS A PROGRAMMING NOTE, WE ARE OFF THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEK.

OUR CREW WILL GET A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK, SO ENJOY AN ENCORE ADDITION OF LIVELY.

IF YOU DON'’T CATCH THE SHOW ON FRIDAY OR SUNDAY AT NOON, WE ARE ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE ARCHIVE ALL OF OUR SHOWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

ENJOY YOUR WEEK NEXT WEEK WITH OUR ENCORE ADDITION.

COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE A BRAND-NEW LIVELY EXPERIMENT FOR YOU.

HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY AND EVEN BETTER WEEK.

[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 OVER 30 YEARS, "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT," HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE