[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] ♪ >> THIS WEEK, MORE MASS SHOOTINGS MEANS MORE TALK ABOUT GUN CONTROL HERE IN RHODE ISLAND.

AND THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO A POTENTIAL SOLUTION TO ITS PENSION PROBLEMS, BUT WITH THAT, A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT," GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> FOR OVER 30 YEARS, "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT INTO THE ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I'M A GREAT SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.

>> JOINING US THIS WEEK, BILL BARTHOLOMEW, FOUNDER OF THE BARTHOLOMEW TOWN PODCAST, THE CHAIRMAN OF WATCHDOG RI, AND REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST LISA PELOSI.

WELCOME INCOME EVERYBODY.

WE APPRECIATE YOU SPENDING TIME OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ANOTHER HIGH-PROFILE MASS SHOOTING OKLAHOMA THIS WEEK, FOLLOWING THE GETTING -- THE KILLING OF STUDENTS IN SCHOOL LAST WEEK HASN'T REFOCUSED ON GUN CONTROL DEBATE AT THE STATEHOUSE.

IT HAS STATE OFFICIALS TRYING TO REASSURE PARENTS HERE THAT THEY ARE TAKING PRECAUTIONS IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE RHODE ISLAND -- THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

HERE IS SOME OF WHAT OFFICIALS HAD TO SAY.

>> OUR COUNTRY CONTINUES TO HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH GUNS, WITH GUN VIOLENCE.

UP TO US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS BOTH IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND RHODE ISLAND TO DO ALL WE CAN TO END IT.

AS I SAID LAST WEEK, IT IS TIME FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PASS BILLS TO LIMIT HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES AND BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS.

I'M READY TO SIGN IT.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW NO ONE THING ALONE IS GOING TO END GUN VIOLENCE.

SO THE ARGUMENT THAT SAYS THAT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, OF COURSE IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT IT REDUCES THE RISK, IT PUTS US IN LINE WITH BOTH CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS.

>> THIS WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH THE STATE COMMISSION AND THE STATE POLICE, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE SCHOOL ASPECT AND A SECOND.

KEN, I KNOW YOUR FEELINGS ON THIS HAVE EVOLVED, LIKE A LOT OF US.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY CAN WATCH WHAT HAPPENED, WITH THE INFR INCREASING FREQUENCY OF THE MASS SHOOTINGS -- WHAT HAPPENS, WITH THE INCREASING FREQUENCY OF THE MASS SHOOTING, THE NUMBER OF DEATHS IS ESCALATING, AND THE TIMES AND SCREAM OUT NOW TO REALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND TO MAKE SOME FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES.

WHAT WE ARE DOING, IN TERMS OF THE LICENSURE AND REQUIREMENT TO GET WEAPONS, WHO CAN GET THEM, WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE TO HAVE THEM -- WE ARE NOT PREVENTING WEAPONS OF WAR FROM FALLING INTO THE WRONG HANDS.

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING AND CHANGE SOMETHING.

I THINK THE INTRANSIGENCE ON THE PART OF GUN RIGHTS FOLKS TO DO ANYTHING, WE ARE GOING TO START TO SEE THAT STRATEGY BACKFIRE A BIT.

BECAUSE THE BULK OF THE COUNTRY WATCH AS BLOODSHED THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING, FINDS IT APPALLING AND IS DEMANDING ACTION, AND WITHOUT ANY COMPROMISE ON THE PART OF THE GUN RIGHTS FOLKS, I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO UNHAPPILY REALIZE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SEE MANDATED ON THEM SOME CHANGES THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO UNDERTAKE ON THEIR OWN.

>> MY THOUGHTS HAVE EVOLVED, TOO, OVER TIME, I WAS WORKING FOR 830 YEARS AGO WHEN THEY PROPOSED A BAN OF ALL HANDGUNS -- THE SALE AND POSSESSION OF ALL HANDGUNS.

AS A REPUBLICAN HE WAS OUT THERE DOING THAT.

AS TIME HAS GONE BY, YOU GET TO THE PEOPLE WHO USE GUNS FOR SPORTING, SO YOU ACCEPT THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR GUNS BEYOND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BUT I AGREE THAT FOLKS HAVE BEEN TOO ABSOLUTE THAT WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING, THAT YOU CAN'T TAKE OUR GUNS AWAY.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE GUN RIGHTS FOLKS COME TO THE TABLE WITH SOME SOLUTIONS.

THAT HAVE TO BE -- THERE HAS TO BE SOME COMMON GROUND WE CAN REACH.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WHY IS IT RIGHT AND 18-YEAR-OLD CAN GO IN AND BY AN ASSAULT WEAPON, AS IF IT WAS A CAN OF SODA, IN TEXAS?

SAME THING IN OKLAHOMA.

THE PERSON WENT RIGHT IN, GOT THE ASSAULT WEAPON, THEN USED IT TO KILL.

WHEN CAP THERE BE A WAITING PERIOD, NOT AN ABSOLUTE BAN, BUT A LONGER WAITING PERIOD TO PURCHASE AN ASSAULT WEAPON?

>> WE ARE AT A MOMENT NOW WHERE YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE TABLE NO MATTER WHICH SIDE OF THE ISSUE YOU ARE ON.

WHICH SIDE OF THIS ISSUE YOU STAND ON.

COME TO THE TABLE AND PROPOSE SERIOUS SOLUTIONS.

YESTERDAY THERE WAS A RALLY AT THE STATEHOUSE WITH SOME OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT GROUPS.

ONE OF THE THEMES THAT RESONATED IS THEY ARE TAKING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AWAY.

I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CONSTITUTION IS A LIVING BREATHING DOCUMENT AND UNDERSTAND THE TIMES.

PEOPLE NEED TO -- THIS MOMENT IS CRAZY, WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW.

A GOOD FAITH ARGUMENT FROM SOME OF THE PRO-GUN PEOPLE, WHICH BY THE WAY INCLUDE SOME PEOPLE ON THE LEFT, THERE'S BEEN A RENEWED INTEREST AND SELF-DEFENSE FROM PEOPLE ON THE LEFT AND THE WEEK -- IN THE WAKE OF SOME OF THESE SHOOTINGS.

A GOOD FAITH ARGUMENT IS BACKGROUND CHECKS, RAISING THE AGE TO PURCHASE ANY WEAPON, ESPECIALLY ASSAULT WEAPONS.

I SAY 25.

IT'S GETTING INTO A POINT WHERE WE CAN UNDERSTAND, WEAPONS ARE A IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU SHOULD JUST STOP BY DICK'S SPORTING GOODS OR WALMART AND PICK UP ON A WHIM.

>> I FILLED IN ON WPRL ON TUESDAY, PEOPLE WERE CALLING IN, AND I UNDERSTAND THE SECOND AMENDMENT, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY GOT THE MEMO, NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

THIS IS NOT A GUN PROBLEM, THIS IS A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM.

IF THE 18-YEAR-OLD AND TEXAS AND THE GUY WHO BOUGHT IT THREE HOURS BEFORE HE KILLED THE GUY, THE DOCTOR IN OKLAHOMA, COULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THAT, OR HAD A WAITING PERIOD, THEN IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER -- SCHOOL SAFETY IS ALL GOOD.

MITCH MCCONNELL I THINK IS PROBABLY PLAYING GAMES, LET US SEE IF WE CAN HAVE A LITTLE DISCUSSION IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.

I WONDER IF YOU THINK SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE SENATE.

IS THIS THE MOMENT?

>> I THINK IT MIGHT BE.

BECAUSE THIS YEAR IS AN ELECTION YEAR.

THAT IS HEIGHTENING THE ACTION ON PEOPLE WANTING TO DO SOMETHING.

DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO USE THE SEARCHER TO GET THEIR VOTERS TO COME TO THE POLLS.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER HERE IN RHODE ISLAND, THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRAT/REPUBLICAN ISSUE, WHEN IT COMES TO GUNS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAKEUP OF THE GENERALLY ASSEMBLY -- THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN THE MAJORITY, THOSE BILLS HAVE PASSED THROUGH FLYING.

>> AND THEY DIDN'T FOR A WHILE BECAUSE OF THE SPEAKER.

KEN, I LEARNED A LOT FROM YOUR POST.

WITHOUT GETTING FAR INTO THE WEEDS, GIVE US WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF VELOCITY ON HANDGUNS VERSUS A LOT OF THE HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINE RIFLES.

>> ONE OF THE KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HANDGUN AND AN AR STYLE RIFLE, THE WEAPONS THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN SOME OF THE RECENT MASS MURDERS, A HANDGUN HAS A LIMITED VELOCITY FOR THE BULLET THAT IT FIRES.

YOUR TYPICAL HANDGUN SHOOTS A BULLET AT ABOUT 1300 FEET PER SECOND.

IT CERTAINLY DOES DAMAGE WHEN IT HITS YOU.

BUT IT DOES A LOT LESS DAMAGE WHEN IT HITS YOU THAN A ROUND FIRED FROM AN AR-STYLE RIFLE, WHICH CAN FIRE UP TO 4000 FEET PER SECOND.

WHAT ANY ER DOCTOR WILL TELL YOU IS THAT WHEN THEY ARE TREATING GUNSHOT WOUNDS, THE DAMAGE DONE BY A HANDGUN BULLET IS DRAMATICALLY LOWER THAN THE DAMAGE DONE WITH A ROUND FIRE FROM AN AR-STYLE RIFLES.

>> YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO SURVIVE.

>> YES.

>> IF IT DOESN'T HIT YOU IN A MAJOR PLACE.

>> RIGHT.

YOU CAN KILL ANYBODY WITH A .22 IF YOU HIT THEM WITH THE RIGHT SPOT -- IN THE RIGHT SPOT, BUT WITHIN A AR RIFLE, REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT HITS YOU, IT DOES TREMENDOUS DAMAGE THAT IS VERY CHALLENGING TO REPAIR.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN UP AT THE STATEHOUSE, HAVE BEEN COVERED A LOT OF THESE THINGS?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE SENATE PRESIDENT, WHO HAS AN A MINUS RATING FROM THE NRA, WE HAVE HEARD VERY LITTLE OTHER THAN VANILLA JOINT STATEMENTS FROM THE HOUSE SPEAKER AND THE PRESIDENT -- AND I THINK THE QUESTION BECOMES, AT WHAT POINT DOES IT BECOME A POSITION THAT SORTS ELECTABILITY THWARTS -- THWARTS ELECTABILITY?

IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO POLITICS.

I THINK RIGHT NOW EVERYONE IS IN FAVOR OF DOING SOMETHING, I DON'T THINK THERE AR MANY VOICES OUT OF THE 1,050,000 OF US HERE IN RHODE ISLAND THAT ACTUALLY AGREE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THE STATUS QUO -- WHETHER IT BE OPEN CARRY OF LONG GUNS, OR MAGAZINE CAPACITY, OR RAISING THE PRESENT AGE -- THE PERSONAGE AGE, -- THE PURCHASE AGE, MOST PEOPLE ARE IN FAVOR OF THESE BILLS.

>> NOBODY WAS REALLY EXPECTING THIS TO BE AN ISSUE THIS LATE IN THE SESSION.

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I'VE BEEN HEARING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS GOING TO ADJOURN BY FATHER'S DAY, NEVER MIND THE END OF JUNE.

>> LOTS OF MONEY, ELECTION YEAR.

>> RATE, SO GET THE BUDGET DONE AND GET OUT, THEN THE SHOOTING HAPPENED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE ARE HEARING, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT GUN BILLS ALL SESSION LONG -- WHICH I DON'T THINK WE HAVE BEEN HEARING AT ALL.

THERE IS THIS PRESSURE RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW IF HIS CHALLENGER IS OUT THERE ON THIS ISSUE OR NOT, I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.

>> HE IS.

I BELIEVE HIS CHALLENGER IS, THEY ARE GOING TO QUADRUPLE DOWN ON THIS, BASED ON THE OUTCOME OF THESE BILLS.

>> I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL CONSIDER THE FACT THAT IN THE U.S., WE HAVE A LEVEL OF BLOODSHED DUE TO FIREARMS LOANS THAT FAR EXCEEDS ANY -- WOUNDS THAT FAR EXCEEDS ANY OTHER DEVELOPED COUNTRY BY MILES AND MILES.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE THAT WE MADE OURSELVES, WITH THE CULTURE WE HAVE ADOPTED IN TERMS OF SECOND AMENDMENT AND ITS INTERPRETATION, THE NUMBERS OF WEAPONS THAT ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

AND THE RESULT OF ALL OF THAT IS THE CARNAGE WE ARE COLLECTIVELY EXPERIENCING.

I DON'T THINK FOR A MINUTE THAT THE FOUNDERS HAD THIS IN MIND.

WHEN THE SECOND AMENDMENT WAS PASSED.

I THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE WHO WERE SUPPORTIVE OF IT AT THE TIME, IF THEY SAW WHAT HAD LED TO NOW, THEN THEY WOULD RECONSIDER WHAT THEY HAD DONE BACK THEN, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT HOW A CIVILIZED SOCIETY SHOULD LOOK.

>> BRIEFLY BEFORE WE MOVE ONTO THE NEXT TOPIC -- YOU'VE COVERED A LOT OF THE SCHOOL STUFF , TOO, PROTESTS, KIDS WALKING OUT, I WAS MODERATING THE PANEL ABOUT GEN Z AND VOTING AND WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE, NOW THEY ARE RAISING UP.

-- RISING UP.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL TRANSLATE TO ELECTION DAY IN THE MIDTERMS.

THERE'S A REAL CONCERN THAT MY GENERATION DID IT HAVE AND MAY BE YOURS THAT YOU GO TO SCHOOL.

>> IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE, RIGHT?

I WAS IN SCHOOL SHORTLY AFTER COLUMBINE, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE A ONE OFF INCIDENT.

THESE KIDS, THE GEN Z KIDS ARE GETTING EMOTIONAL, AND THEY ARE A GENERATION THAT IS SO PLUGGED IN BECAUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, BECAUSE OF ACCESS TO THE INTERNET -- THEY CAN UNDERSTAND NUANCED THINGS LIKE SECURITY FLAWS, OR A BREAKDOWN IN A PARTICULAR LAW.

THEY CAN SPEAK OUT AND ORGANIZE AGAINST IT IN A WAY THAT QUITE FRANKLY I DON'T THINK ANY OTHER GENERATION PREVIOUSLY HAS, GOING BACK TO MAYBE ONE -- THERE WERE ONLY 50,000 HUMANS ON EARTH, BECAUSE THEY ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IN THAT PHONE BOOTH AND TAKE IT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

>> WASN'T THAT ALWAYS THE RUB?

YOUNG PEOPLE TALK A GOOD GAME BUT THEY DON'T SHOW UP ON ELECTION DAY.

YOU'VE GOT TO CONCENTRATE ON THE OLDER VOTERS.

I THINK THAT SCRIPT IS GETTING FLIPPED A LITTLE BIT.

>> YEAH.

AND IT'S A GOOD THING.

ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE NOT ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS, THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE NOT TRULY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AGGREGATE OF US.

YOUNGER PEOPLE GETTING INVOLVED, MORE PEOPLE PAYING ATTENTION, UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES PRIOR TO VOTING, ALL OF IT IS GOOD.

IN IN EVERY WAY WE WANT MORE PARTICIPATION AND NOT LESS.

>> WE HAD JOHN ZAHLAVOVA WHO HAS WRITTEN EXTENSIVELY -- I LEARNED A LOT AT THAT FORUM.

WHAT A TREMENDOUS BLOCK THE MILLENNIALS AND GEN Z ARE BECOMING.

>> THE STUDENTS NOW ARE SO MUCH MORE POLITICALLY ACTIVE, AND MORE POLITICALLY AWARE.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GROWING UP, I GREW UP WHEN WE WERE HAVING TO GO UNDERNEATH OUR DESKS AT SCHOOL BECAUSE THE RUSSIANS MIGHT BOMB US.

THESE KIDS TALKING ABOUT COLUMBINE, 1999, SO MANY YEARS AGO, THEY HAVE GROWN UP WITH THE POTENTIAL THIS COULD HAPPEN AT THEIR SCHOOL.

AND THEY WANT TO BE SAFE.

THEY ARE MORE POLITICALLY ACTIVE AND MOTIVATED AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE SEEING THEM DO THESE >> THERE IS AN ELECTION COMING UP JUNE 7, THIS HAS FLOWN LARGELY UNDER THE RADAR, IF YOU LIVE IN PROVIDENCE, MAYBE NOT, THERE IS A BATTLE ABOUT BAILING OUT THE CITY'S PENSION SYSTEM, WHICH IS WOEFULLY UNDERFUNDED, AND HOW TO GO ABOUT THAT.

KEN, I KNOW YOU'VE POSTED A LOT ABOUT THIS, THIS IS REALLY THE LAST MINUTE.

IF THEY HADN'T DONE SOMETHING THIS WEEK AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE ELECTION NEXT TUESDAY -- THEY HAD TO PRINT THE BALLOT A WILD BACK, WHAT DOES THE BALLOT SAY?

>> IT SAYS VERY LITTLE.

IT BASICALLY SAYS IN ORDER TO SAVE PROVIDENCE, WILL YOU ALLOW US TO BORROW HALF $1 BILLION?

SO BASICALLY MORTGAGE IT.

WAS GOING TO MAKE THIS MY OUTRAGE.

MAYBE I WILL CHANGE IT TO SOMETHING ELSE.

PROVIDENCE WANTS TO BORROW HALF $1 BILLION IN THE MARKETS.

THE KIND OF BOND THEY WOULD ISSUE TO DO THIS IS NOT A STANDARD TAX-FREE MUNICIPAL BOND.

IT HAS TO BE A TAXABLE MUNICIPAL BOND.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE INTEREST RATE AND THE CITY IS GOING TO PAY IS GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IT WOULD BE OTHERWISE, AND INTEREST RATES HAVE GONE WAY UP THAN WHERE THEY WERE A YEAR AND A HALF AGO OR SO.

SO PROVIDENCE IS GOING TO BORROW AT A REALLY BAD TIME.

THE MONEY IS GOING TO COST THEM A LOT MORE.

WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO WITH THE MONEY AS THEY ARE GOING TO INVEST IT.

WHAT THEY WANT US TO MAKE MORE MONEY ON THE INVESTMENT THAN THEY ARE SPENDING ON THE INTEREST THEY HAVE TO PAY ON THE BONDS.

>> WHICH IN THIS MARKET -- >> IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT COULD GO DOWN 10%.

IT IS INCREDIBLY RISKY.

IT IS INCREDIBLY STUPID.

MOST FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS WILL TELL YOU IT IS A TERRIBLE IDEA IN GOOD TIMES.

AND IT IS A WORSE IDEA AND BAD TIMES.

AND THEY ARE RAMMING IT THROUGH.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT NOT DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE.

THEY ARE NOT EXERCISING FISCAL RESTRAINT OVER THE PROCESS.

THE ELECTION IS BEING HELD OFF YEAR.

NOT IN NOVEMBER.

IN JUNE.

VERY FEW PEOPLE WILL SHOW UP TO VOTE.

SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET A REPRESENTATIVE RESPONSE FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN TERMS OF APPROVING THIS.

AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN -- AND I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE MAKING THIS PREDICTION -- AT THE BEST CASE THEY WILL BREAK EVEN.

20 YEARS FROM NOW, THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN THE SAME SPOT THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN NOW, THEY ARE JUST GOING TO GENERATIONALLY PUSH THIS PROBLEM -- AND THEY WON'T HAVE MADE ANY FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO HOW THE PENSION SYSTEM WORKS, WHICH IS HOW IT GOT SO MESSED UP IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> KEN AND I ARE GOING TO COME IN FROM THE NURSING HOME 20 YEARS FROM NOW, THEY ARE GOING TO WILLISTON AND WE WILL SEE IF THAT IS CORRECT.

HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY LITERATURE, PHONE CALLS?

>> I'VE GOTTEN LITERATURE FOR SURE.

I AGREE WITH KEN.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE SCENARIOS YOU ARE HEARING FROM PROPONENTS OF THIS, THAT, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

THE PENSION SYSTEM IS GOING TO GO BELLY UP.

IT IS GOING TO IMPACT WHERE WE ARE AND 5-10 YEARS NO MATTER WHAT, WE ARE GOING TO BE IN A DREADFUL SITUATION.

BUT I THINK AS VOTERS GO OUT, THE DOZENS OF THEM THAT GO TO THE SPECIAL ELECTION ON TUESDAY, FIT IS EXACTLY WHAT KEN SAID, MY GENERATION, I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE A HOME POTENTIALLY IN PROVIDENCE, AND HAVE TO START TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT, WHERE IS THE CITY GOING?

WHERE WILL THE CITY BE IN 5-20 YEARS?

WHAT ARE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES GOING TO LOOK LIKE IF THIS THING GOES BELLY UP?

THEY ATTEMPTED A SIMILAR EFFORT, AND I THINK PROPERTY TAXES WENT UP MORE THAN 20% AS A RESULT.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS FLOATED 20 YEARS AGO I THINK, RIGHT?

>> THE TROUBLING THING HERE IS I DON'T THINK THIS IS SUSTAINABLE, IT'S LIKE TAKING ON A CREDIT CARD TO PAY OFF ANOTHER CREDIT CARD DEBT, JUST TO GET YOU THROUGH FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

WHY SHOULD THE WHOLE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MISMANAGEMENT OF PROVIDENCE OVERTIME?

WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THE COMPOUNDED COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT, FOR THE RETIREES THAT GO BACK INTO PLACE NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN PUT ON HOLD SINCE THEY WENT TO COURT ON THAT, THEY HAVE BEEN PUT ON HOLD FOR 10 YEARS, NOW THEY START BACK UP IN JANUARY, SO THE GENTLEMAN WHO RETIRED WITH A $59,000 PENSION IS NOW GETTING $200,000 A YEAR, BECAUSE OF THAT.

>> SO, THE IS SOME VERY QUICK MATH HERE -- LET'S ASSUME THEY GET THE LOAN AT 5% INTEREST, IF THE ISSUE THEIR BOND AT 5%, AND THE COLAS ARE GOING UP 3%, THEN THAT MEANS THAT THE STOCK MARKET INVESTING HAS TO YIELD 8% TO BREAKEVEN.

AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> WE'VE GOT ABOUT 10 MINUTES LEFT.

I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

BILL, YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS, YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF THE FORMS.

SEPTEMBER IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

WE HAVEN'T HAD YOU GUYS ON SINCE THE GENERAL 12 POLL CAME OUT.

OVERALL THOUGHTS ABOUT WHERE THE DEMOCRATS ARE?

>> INTEREST INCOME OF THE GOVERNOR HAS HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM, SECRETARY GORBEYA IS DOING A GOOD JOB OF THREADING THE NEEDLE, SPEAKING TO CONCERNS UNDERSTANDING THE PLAY OF -- THE PLIGHT OF THOSE FACING THE HIGHS AND CRISIS -- THE PLIGHT OF THOSE FACING THE HOUSING CRISIS BUT ALSO THE NOTION OF WANTING TO IMPROVE RHODE ISLAND'S BUSINESS SECTOR.

SHE'S DOING A GREAT JOB OF THREADING THE NEEDLE.

BEING AN INCUMBENT WILL PLAY IN HIS FAVOR.

IT WILL BE INTEREST IN TO SEE HOW NAME RECOGNITION INCREASES NUMBERS.

THE LAST FORUM WAS VERY INTERESTING.

THE TWO PROGRESSIVES, BROWN AND DANIEL-MUNOZ, WERE SO WELL PREPARED HAD SUCH SPECIFIC ANSWERS TO SPECIFIC YES OR NO QUESTIONS, THAT THAT -- LET'S CALL THEM ONE GROUP ALTHOUGH THEY ARE OPPOSED TO EACH OTHER, THAT ONE GROUP OF IDEOLOGICAL VISION, IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW MUCH PRESSURE THEY CAN PUT ON THE FRONT RUNNERS TO GET SPECIFIC ON CERTAIN THINGS WHETHER IT BE SOMETHING LIKE ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM OR QUADRUPLING DOWN ON HOUSING CHALLENGES.

THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUES.

WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

THE PROGRESSIVE WIND RIGHT NOW SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT MORE SPECIFICS.

>> IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS RUN FOR GOVERNOR ON THIS SET, THE SUMMERS OF TOUGH TIME, THEN THE PRIMARY IS HERE.

>> I'M SURPRISED HOW SLOWLY THIS WHOLE THING HAS STARTED.

I THINK THE CANDIDATES HAVE REALLY HELD THEIR FIRE.

I'VE BEEN SURPRISED A CANDIDATE LIKE FOLKS TOOK SO LONG TO GET ON THE AIR, GIVEN THAT HER NAME RECOGNITION WAS CLEARLY GOING TO BE LOW.

>> AND THOSE COMMERCIALS WERE GOOD.

>> THEY ARE EXCELLENT COMMERCIALS.

I THINK SHE'S GOING TO BE FORMIDABLE.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

THERE'S ALWAYS THIS TENSION OF SPECIFICS VERSUS GENERALITIES.

I WAS A CANDIDATE WHO LOVED SPECIFICS.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE YOU ARE PUTTING YOURSELF OUT THERE IS A PROBLEM SOLVER -- YOU HAVE TO SHOW YOU CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEMS.

I HAVE RUN AGAINST CANDIDATES WHO DID EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO BE AS NONSPECIFIC ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HE COULD, BECAUSE THEY DEEMED THAT IT WAS SAFER TO DO THAT.

THAT'S THE TENSION THAT GOES ON IN CAMPAIGNS.

VOTERS OFTEN FALL FOR THE LESS SPECIFIC, MORE PACKAGED RESPONSES DOWN SPECIFICS.

IT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THE THING.

WHEN VOTERS DECIDE THEY ARE GOING TO DEMAND ANSWERS, THAT'S WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO START SEEING CANDIDATES RESPONDING.

>> MCKEE HAS THE POWER OF THE INCUMBENCY RIGHT NOW, HE CAN BE ON TELEVISION JUST ABOUT EVERY SINGLE DAY BECAUSE OF THE EVENTS, WHAT'S GOING ON.

HE HAS MONEY COMING OUT OF HIS POCKETS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

EVERY TIME THERE'S A TOPIC COMING UP, HE SAYS, THERE IS THIS MUCH THAT I PUT IN MY BUDGET, HE CAN BE THROWING MONEY AROUND -- BUT HE HAS TO BE VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THAT POLL SHOWED HOW CLOSE HE WAS WITH MALLORY, HE HAS TO BE HIGHER THAN HR GOING FORWARD.

I THINK WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE REPUBLICAN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR WILL BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

NO MATTER WHAT.

SHE WILL BE ON THE BALLOT.

OF ALL THOSE FIVE RUNNING FOR THE DEMOCRAT, WHO IS GOING TO BE THE LAST PERSON STANDING?

AND HOW BEAT UP IS THE MCKEE CHALLENGE HER TRY TO KNOCK HIM OFF?

HOW STRONG WILL HE BE GOING FORWARD?

>> SHE SCALED BACK A LITTLE BIT.

UNDERSTANDABLY SO.

HOW DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON?

>> VERY WELL.

PEOPLE ARE HEARING HER NAME.

PEOPLE ARE ASSOCIATING, SHE'S A FIGHTER.

SHE'S GETTING THAT OUT THERE.

THAT IS WHERE HELENA FOLKS MADE A MISTAKE.

SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT AS EARLY AS ASHLEY WAS.

WE ARE BUMPING UP AGAINST THE FOURTH OF JULY.

JULY AND AUGUST, FORGET IT, TRYING TO GET IN FRONT OF VOTERS.

>> I HAVE SPOKEN TO ASHLEY.

SHE'S BRIGHT, SHE'S MOTIVATED AND DRIVEN.

I THINK SHE'S CAPABLE OF BRINGING A REALLY GOOD CAMPAIGN TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.

I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY OF THE DEBATES AT THIS POINT OR HOW THE DIFFERENT CANDIDATES INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER.

BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING CAMPAIGN SEASON.

>> LET'S DO OUTRAGES AND OR KUDOS.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH RIGHT NOW, IN THE CONTEXT OF GUNS, GENERALLY SPEAKING, PEOPLE SAY, WE'VE GOT TO SAVE THE DISENFRANCHISED KID THAT'S BEEN BULLIED OR PICKED ON THAT'S GOING TO CREATE PROBLEMS WHEN WAY OR ANOTHER DOWN THE LINE -- I THINK WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT THAT FOR ALL OF US.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS SO DISTURBING.

I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY -- I KNOW PERSONALLY IT'S IMPACTED ME GREATLY OVER THE LAST WEEK -- WHAT HAPPENED IN UVALDE.

JUST IN GENERAL, WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW AS A SOCIETY, IT IS SO EASY TO FEEL DISMAYED.

AND TO CHECK IN ON THAT.

I'VE PERSONALLY BEEN REALLY STRUGGLING THIS WEEK, DEALING WITH WHAT HAPPENED.

I USED SOME REALLY CHARGED LANGUAGE THAT WAS OVER THE TOP, DESCRIBING A PARENTS' GROUP HERE.

IT IS A HARD MOMENT.

AND IT IS OK TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

AND TO BE ANGRY WITH THE WORLD AND REFLECT ON THAT.

AND TRY TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

WHATEVER THAT MEANS FOR YOU.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT GROUP MENTAL HEALTH INTO SOMEBODY WHO WAS THE SHOOTER -- BUT ALL OF US.

BECAUSE THIS IS NUTS.

THIS IS A CRAZY MOMENT THAT WE NEED TO GET BEYOND.

THAT INCLUDES TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES.

>> IS A GREAT POINT.

THANK YOU.

>> A COUPLE YEARS AGO, MY OUTRAGE AT THE TIME ON LIVELY WAS THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL ANNOUNCING THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO BE PUBLISHING ANY MORE OF THEIR OWN EDITORIALS, OR DOING POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS -- I THOUGHT, WHAT AN ABDICATION OF POWER TO DO THAT BY THE GENERAL.

THEN A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, TWITTER WAS ALIVE WITH THE GENERAL ANNOUNCING IT WASN'T GOING TO BE A HARDCOPY ADDITION ON MEMORIAL DAY -- BUT THEN THERE WAS A QUICK TWEET TO SAY THERE WAS ONE.

NOW, THIS WEEK, THE EDITOR HAS SAID THEY ARE DOING OPINIONS ONLY ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS IN THEIR ADDITIONS -- THEIR EDITIONS AND THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO USE LOCAL COLUMNISTS, I'VE ENJOYED THE NATIONAL COLUMNISTS, I THINK IT IS A MONETARY DECISION.

BUT I'M THINKING, THIS IS ALMOST SO SAD, TO SEE THIS NEWSPAPER THAT WAS SUCH A STRONG VOICE AND RHODE ISLAND BE SO DIMINISHED.

>> KEN, I STOLE YOUR OUTRAGE ON THE PENSION PROGRAM, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE?

ON THE PENSIONS BUT MOVE AWAY FROM THE BONDS A LITTLE BIT.

THE REASON PROVIDENCE FINDS THEMSELVES IN A POSITION THEY ARE IN RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE MAYORS HAVE GIVEN AWAY THE STORE, THEY GAVE 3% [INDISCERNIBLE] SWITCH IS IN THE SUN ASHLEY ME RICH BENEFIT TO GIVE TO ANY RETIREE.

THEN PROVIDENCE WENT SO FAR AS TO GIVE 6% TO SOME WORKERS -- THIS WAS THE WORK OF BUDDY CIANCI.

HE HAS SINCE DIED.

HE IS NOT DEALING WITH THIS MESS ANYMORE.

BUT THE MESS THAT HE HAS LEFT IS A $1.2 BILLION DEFICIT, IN TERMS OF WHAT PROVIDENCE IS SUPPSED TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR PENSIONS, AND WHAT THEY ACTUALLY DO.

THAT'S WHAT'S DRIVING ALL OF THIS MESS.

SO WHAT MATTERS, WHAT LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS DECIDE TO GIVE AWAY.

AND EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY NOT BE A TODAY PRICE FOR GIVING AWAY THE STORE, THERE'S ALWAYS A TOMORROW PRICE, AND WE ARE PAYING THE TOMORROW PRICE.

SHAME ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR NOT INSISTING THAT PROVIDENCE INSIST ON GETTING PENSION CONCESSIONS FROM ITS LABOR UNIONS, IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS HALF $1 BILLION.

THIS WAS THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO RESET HOW PROVIDENCE HANDLES SOME OF ITS RETIREE BENEFITS, AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY SQUANDERED AND ALLOWED TO HAPPEN BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> THANK YOU.

ALL THREE OF YOU.

GOOD STUFF.

APPRECIATED.

FOLKS, THANK YOU.

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

FOLKS, IT IS A BUSY TIME AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WE WILL HAVE IT ALL COVERED WITH FULL ANALYSIS.

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

COME BACK HERE NEXT WEEK, AS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

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

VISIT NCICAP.ORG]