[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> THIS WEEK, A NEW POLL SHOWS A NEW FRONT RUNNER IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

AND A SHAKEUP AT THE RHODE ISLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY WITH SEVERAL HOLD -- SEVERAL HIGH-PROFILE LAWMAKERS CALLING IT QUITS.

>> 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 ISLANDERS.

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

>> JOINING US WITH A RECAP OF THE WEEK'S EVENTS, DAVE LAYMAN, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT AND FORMER TELEVISION NEWS ANCHOR.

JIM VINCENT, PRESIDENT OF THE PROVIDENCE BRANCH OF THE ENDS OF THE AND SUBLET -- THE NAACP.

AND FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE NICK GORHAM.

HELLO, WELCOME TO A LIVELY EXPERIMENT.

IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

IT WAS A WEEK THAT FELT MORE LIKE A MONTH WITH THE END OF A GENERAL A SIMILE SESSION, UNEXPECTED RETIREMENTS OF SEVERAL HIGH-PROFILE SENATORS, AND PROTESTS HERE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT'S ABORTION DECISION.

WE BEGIN WITH A POLL RELEASED EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE HEADLINE, NELLIE GORBEA HAS PULLED AHEAD OF DAN MCKEE AND THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

NICK, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

ONE OF THE HEADLINES THAT STRUCK ME WAS ALLAN FUNG BEATS ANY DEMOCRAT INCLUDING SETH MAGAZINER.

I KNOW THAT IS THE SNAPSHOT IN TIME BUT WHAT YOU TAKE OUT OF THAT?

>> HE HAS A LONG HISTORY IN THE DISTRICT, HE IS EXTREMELY WELL KNOWN.

LAST TIME I HEARD, I DON'T THINK MAGAZINE EVEN LIVES OF THE DISTRICT -- MAGAZINER EVEN LIVES IN THE DISTRICT.

HE HAS BEEN THE MAYOR OF CRANSTON, THERE ARE A LOT OF SUCCESSFUL POLITICIANS YOU CAME OUT OF PRINCETON.

I THINK HE IS IN GOOD SHAPE.

I AM ROOTING FOR HIM OF COURSE.

I THINK HE CAN WIN IN THE CLIMATE COULD NOT BE MUCH BETTER.

>> IT MIGHT BE A SNAPSHOT OF WHERE WE ARE NATIONALLY.

>> I THINK IT IS AND IT IS A PURPLE DISTRICT.

I LIVE IN CRANSTON.

HOWEVER, THAT POLL WAS TAKEN BEFORE THE OE V. WADE DECISION WAS MADE AND I THINK IF ALLAN FUNG IS MADE TO MAKE A DECISION IN TERMS OF WHAT HE WOULD DO IN CONGRESS, WHERE IF THEY TOOK THE MAJORITY AND NOW YOU HAVE REPUBLICAN HOUSE, THEY COULD BAN ABORTION IN THE COUNTRY, ALL OF THE STATES THAT HAVE CODIFIED ABORTION PROTECTIONS, THAT WOULD GO BY THE BOARD.

SO WE NEED TO KNOW, WOULD YOU DO THAT, WOULD YOU VOTE THAT WAY, WOULD YOU VOTE TO END ABORTION IN THE COUNTRY IF YOU ARE IN THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE?

THAT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION AT A QUESTION HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER.

>> HE HAS BEEN A LITTLE SQUISHY ON THAT.

HE HAS TRIED TO STRADDLE THE LINE ON, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW DIRECTLY BECAUSE THAT NOW IS AN ISSUE, THAT COULD BE AN ACHILLES HEEL FOR HIM.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

>> I DISAGREE.

I THINK HIS ACHILLES HEEL IS THE FACT THAT HE IS VERY CAUTIOUS AND RELUCTANT TO TACKLE SOMETHING THAT IS CONTROVERSIAL AND TO DO IT REASONABLY IN TIME.

THE MEDIA OFTEN ASKING TOUGH QUESTIONS AND HE WILL NOT HAVE A RESPONSE.

A GOOD EXAMPLE WAS THIS WEEK ABOUT WHETHER HE IS A SUPPORTER STILL OF DONALD TRUMP.

HE DID NOT RESPOND TO THAT.

I THINK THAT LOOKS TO MOST PEOPLE AS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS.

I DON'T THINK YOU WANT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

HE HAS DON THIS ON OTHER ISSUES IN THE PAST.

FRUSTRATING THE MEDIA, WHICH HE CAN DO THAT, THE MEDIA IS NO DIFFERENT FROM YOU AND ME IN A SENSE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HE SHOULD HAVE -- >> WE ARE THERE ON PEOPLE'S BEHALF ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS.

>> HE SHOULD HAVE THE TRUMP ANSWER READY TO GO.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THAT SNAPSHOT, SETH MAGAZINER IS THE LEADER.

MATT SANKEY IS GOING TO BE THE NOMINEE, BUT IF HE IS -- SHE IS A PROVEN WINNER.

HE HAS WON STATEWIDE OFFICE TWICE.

TO SLEEP ON SETH MAGAZINER WOULD BE A MISTAKE.

HE IS A FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE IF HE IS THE NOMINEE.

IT IS GOING TO BE A CLOSE RACE, BUT THAT ABORTION ISSUE IS GOING TO BE BIG.

I AGREE WITH YOU BECAUSE THE STAKES ARE HIGH.

NOW YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT NOT THE FACT THAT RHODE ISLAND IS CODIFIED, YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WASHINGTON WHERE A REPUBLICAN HOUSE THAT CAN NOW BAN ABORTION IN THE COUNTRY.

>> IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE SENATE.

>> HALFWAY THERE.

>> IF HE DOES WHEN THAT, IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1991 THAT A REPUBLICAN HAS HELD THAT.

THIS WOULD BE THE BIGGEST FLIP IN RECENT RHODE ISLAND HISTORY.

>> ARLEN HAS HAD TO TAKE MANY POSITIONS OVER THE YEAR AS MAYOR, HE HAS ONE FOR GOVERNOR TWICE.

I THINK HE WOULD HAVE WON IN 2014 BUT FOR BOB HEALY.

I THINK HE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE ISSUE.

IT WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME IF HE CAME OUT AS FAVORING A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT FOR ABORTION.

IT WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME.

THE FACT IS THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED, IT IS OUT OF THE HANDS -- IT IS INTO THE HANDS OF STATE LEGISLATORS NOW.

WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS AN OPINION OF THE SUPREME COURT.

I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.

>> CONGRESS COULD PASS SOMETHING BUT I TAKE ISSUE WITH THAT.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR CONGRESS TO HAVE A NATIONAL BAN.

>> WHAT IT IS A POSSIBILITY.

THE FACT THAT IT IS A POSSIBILITY AND THAT COULD TRUMP STATES RIGHTS, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT WOULD BE REDUNDANT.

RHODE ISLAND IS ONE OF THE MOST PROTECTIVE STATES IN THE COUNTRY FOR ABORTION.

IT IS ALMOST SUPERFLUOUS TO BE ASKING HIM ABOUT IT.

ABOUT WHETHER HE WOULD SUPPORT IT IN CONGRESS.

WE ALREADY HAVE THE LAWS IN RHODE ISLAND THAT PROTECT THE RIGHT OF ABORTION, THAT WAS THE POINT OF THE SUPREME COURT IN THEIR DECISION.

>> IF CONGRESS AND THE SENATE GET TOGETHER, IN TERMS OF HAVING CODIFIED AT WOULD NOT MATTER.

ABORTION WOULD BE OUTLAWED IN THE NATION, ALL OF THE STATES THAT HAVE ABORTION LAWS WOULD BE OVERTURNED.

>> YOUR OPINION ON ABORTION GIVES PEOPLE AN INSIGHT INTO YOUR THINKING ABOUT OTHER ISSUES.

I THINK PEOPLE DO WANT TO KNOW YOUR POSITION ON THAT.

>> I THINK THAT IS GOING TO EVOLVE.

THE OTHER THING IN THAT POLL, THERE'S A BUNCH OF STUFF ABOUT HOW JOE BIDEN'S APPROVAL RATINGS HAVE GONE DOWN.

THE OTHER THING WAS THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE POLL IT COUPLE MONTHS AGO IS NOW THE GORBEA IS NOW AHEAD.

SHE IS NOW AHEAD.

HELENA FOCUS, SHE HAS POURED IN A LOT OF MONEY.

>> I TALKED TO JOE FLEMING ABOUT IT.

>> WHO DID THE W PRI POLL.

>> I WILL MIX AND WHAT HE TOLD ME AND MY OWN POINT OF VIEW.

SHE MAY BE THE ONE TO WATCH BECAUSE SHE HAS A LOT OF MONEY, SHE JUMPED IN WHERE THE OTHER CANDIDATES HAVE NOT GOTTEN INTO THE MEDIA TO TRY TO GET THEIR MESSAGE AND THEIR MEDIA OUT THERE.

IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE, IF THEY DECIDE TO START TO GO WITH THEIR OWN MEDIA IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, THEY COULD BE IN TROUBLE BECAUSE AS WE KNOW IN RHODE ISLAND, PEOPLE ARE AT THE BEACH ON VACATION JUST AS THEY ARE AROUND THE COUNTRY, BUT AROUND HERE, PEOPLE ARE SOMEWHAT DEAF TO POLITICS AND POLICIES DURING THE SUMMER.

SO I THINK -- AND JOE SAID THE SIN THING, SO DID ONE OF THE SUPPORTERS OF DAN MCKEE, SAYING THAT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT HERE, SHE JUMPED.

THIS IS A HUGE JUMP.

THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT POLLS TAKEN A MONTH APART, THE W PRI IN THE BOSTON GLOBE POLL, BUT IT SHOWED THAT GORBEA CAME FROM TWO POINTS BEHIND TO FOUR POINTS AHEAD AND FORM A KEY, HE SHOULD NOT BE BEHIND, HE HAS BEEN THE GOVERNOR FOR THREE YEARS OR SO.

HE SHOULD NOT BE BEHIND.

HERE'S THE OTHER CAVEAT AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT.

IF THE OTHERS BECOME LATE STARTERS IN GETTING THEIR MESSAGE OUT, SHE IS AHEAD AND IF SHE HAS A SURGING, AS SHE CONTINUES TO POUR MONEY INTO IT, THEY ARE BEHIND.

WE ARE LESS THAN TWO MONTHS FROM THE START OF VOTING.

YOU CAN VOTE ON AUGUST ON BEFORE AND THOSE VOTES, IF YOU DO A LATE SURGE, YOU COULD LOSE A LOT OF VOTES.

>> HELENA FOULKES PUTTING A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE RACE AND IT IS PAYING DIVIDENDS.

HER CAMPAIGN ACTIVITY AND TV ADS HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN CLEAR MOVEMENT IF YOU BELIEVE THESE POLLS.

THEY ARE SNAPSHOTS.

THEY ARE JUST SNAPSHOTS.

BUT I BELIEVE THE RACE IS COMPETITIVE.

I THINK HELENA FOULKES' ACHILLES HEEL IS SHE IS DOING POOR WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR.

DISPROPORTIONATELY AMONG THE UNDECIDEDS.

>> 31% UNDECIDED.

>> PEOPLE OF COLOR DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED UNDECIDED AND SHE IS PULLING 2% WITH HISPANICS AND 3% WITH BLOCKS AS OPPOSED TO NELLIE GORBEA AND DAN MCKEE WHO ARE PULLING 200% TO 30% IN BOTH GROUPS.

>> IF I HAD TO PICK WHO I THINK IS GOING TO WIN THE DEMOCRAT PRIMARY, I WOULD SAY HELENA FOULKES.

I THINK SHE'S GOT THE RIGHT RESOURCES.

SHE HAS A GOOD MESSAGE, SHE MAKES A GOOD APPEARANCE.

DOWN THE STRETCH, RESOURCES COUNT.

SHE ALSO HAS SOME OF THE BEST PROS IN THE BUSINESS RUNNING HER CAMPAIGN.

SHE'S GOT A FORMIDABLE CAMPAIGN COMING AND IT IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING SUMMER.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, I THINK SHE IS DOING WELL WITH WOMEN.

HELENA FOULKES.

HOWEVER, NELLIE GORBEA IS DOING WELL WITH WOMEN TOO, AND THE ELDERLY.

THE FACT THAT MAYBE NELLIE GORBEA AND HELENA FOULKES ARE SPLITTING THE WOMEN'S VOTE DOES NOT HELP EITHER ONE OF THEM.

>> IS IT A RESOURCES ISSUE?

WHERE DO YOU SEE GORBEA?

>> RESOURCES HELP A LOT.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE UNDECIDED DOWN THE STRETCH, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF UNDECIDEDS IN THIS RACE.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE VOTING IN TWO MONTHS.

SHE IS GOING TO HAVE MORE RESOURCES JUST BECAUSE OF HER OWN PERSONAL WEALTH THAT SHE CAN POUR INTO THE CAMPAIGN.

>> DOWN THE STRETCH.

>> 1976, A GUY THAT NOBODY HEARD OF EXCEPT HIS DEALERSHIP, RICHARD LORBER, A NO-NAME, A POLITICAL UNKNOWN, NEVER RUN FOR OFFICE BEFORE, CANED OUT OF NOWHERE, SPENT $400,000 WHICH AT THAT TIME WAS THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT ON A PRIMARY, AND HE ENDED UP EATING THE POPULAR PHIL NOEL FOR THE U.S. SENATE IN 1976.

HE DID IT BY POURING LOTS OF MONEY INTO IT, HAVING A TARGETED MESSAGE, PUT NOEL ON HIS HEELS, AND AS IT TURNED OUT HE BEAT NOEL, LITTLE KNOWN FACT UNLESS YOU REMEMBER THESE KINDS OF THINGS, IN A SENATE RACE BY 100 VOTES.

THAT IS WHY I GO BACK TO THE EARLY VOTING.

THOSE VOTES ARE IMPORTANT.

>> AND THEN LOST TO JOHN CHAEE.

>> THERE'S TWO POINTS THAT SUPPORT GOVERNOR MCKEE OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT POWER OF INCUMBENCY, MAYBE NOT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE OF INFLATION.

ONE IS THE POLL WAS TAKEN BEFORE HE GOT THE DEMOCRATIC ENDORSEMENT.

THE SECOND THING IS HE IS PALLING WELL IN THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, MUCH BETTER THAN IN THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF ACTIVITY BECAUSE OF THAT RACE, THAT MADE HELP HIM.

-- MAY HELP HIM.

>> IT WAS NOT AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER, IT WAS LIKE 83 TO 160 SOMETHING.

>> THE LOCAL CITY AND TOWN COMMITTEES ENDORSED GORBEA.

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ENDORSEMENTS THESE DAYS.

THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN QUESTIONABLE.

>> WHEN I WAS WORKING AT THE JOURNAL MANY YEARS AGO, THEY WOULD SAY -- THEY WOULD GO TO THE FOURTH FLOOR AND BE LIKE, ENDORSED ANYBODY BUT ME.

BECAUSE THE JOURNAL'S ENDORSEMENT WAS THE KISS OF DEATH FOR YEARS.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY FRIENDS AT THE JOURNAL.

THE OTHER SEACHANGE THIS WEEK WAS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN.

THE TWO MOST AMAZING WERE BLAKE LAST NIGHT, THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER, AND IN THE LONGTIME MAJORITY LEADER, MIKE MCCAFFREY.

HE HAS BEEN THERE 28 YEARS, EXPECTED TO SUCCEED THE SENATE PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE THE SOME BLIND PEOPLE, DENNIS ALGIERE HAS BEEN THERE SINCE ROGER WILLIAMS.

WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT?

IS THERE A THREAT TO THIS OR DO YOU THINK IT IS ALL INDIVIDUAL CHOICES FOR DIFFERENT REASONS?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IT IS OK TO LEAVE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> IS THERE LIFE AFTER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY?

>> MANY OF THEM DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THERE WHO ARE STILL, NOTWITHSTANDING THE SMALL EXIT IS OF SOME MEMBERS -- EXODUS OF SOME MEMBERS, THERE ARE MANY MORE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 20, 30.

>> THE SENATE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN THERE SINCE 1980.

>> THERE IS LIFE AFTER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, I SWEAR, AND IT IS PRETTY NICE.

BUT THE EXODUS, I THINK MCCAFFREY DROPPED OUT BECAUSE OF THE CRUSH OF ATTENTION THAT HIS PRIMARY OPPONENT WAS GETTING AND MAYBE HE HAD JUST HAD ENOUGH.

HE HAD BEEN THERE, WHAT, 28?

28 YEARS, THAT IS A LONG TIME.

>> HE HAS FOUR KIDS.

YOU THINK OF THE GAMES MISSED BECAUSE HE IS SITTING IN A SENATE CHAMBER.

>> IF YOU PUT TERM LIMITS ON THE BALLOT IN THE SAY -- YOU KNOW HOW WE PUT SEPARATION OF POWERS -- IF YOU PUT TERM LIMITS ON THE BALLOT, IT WOULD PASS, I GUARANTEE IT.

>> THE TERM LIMIT IS EVERY TWO YEARS, THEY GET TO DECIDE.

>> EXCEPT THE GOVERNOR AND SECRETARY OF STATE.

>> YOU COULD PUT IT AT FOUR YEARS BUT THE GENERAL A SIMILE HAS TO PASS THAT.

WHO WANTS TO GIVE UP THEIR POWER?

>> I TAKE SENATOR MCCAFFERTY AT HIS WORD, HE SAYS HE HAS CONCERNS ABOUT HIS SON AND HIS FAMILY, IT PUT A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON HIS LIFE.

WHY NOT?

PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THEIR LIVES DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE HIM KUDOS.

I REMEMBER ONE DAY THERE WERE SEVEN BILLS GOVERNOR RAIMONDO SIGNED AND MONDAY AND HE HAD A LARGE PART IN THAT, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AS WELL AS OTHER GUN BILLS.

IT WAS HIM WHO IN TERMS OF PUTTING THE HOUSE BILL OF FOR THE VOTE, I GUESS TO SOME PEOPLE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COURAGEOUS.

HE HASN'T A RATING FROM THE NRA.

>> I ECHO THAT BECAUSE MIKE MCCAFFERTY ALONG WITH THE LEADERSHIP, WE DO THAT SHOW AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO PREVIEW, WHENEVER I ASK EACH OF THEM, WHAT IS YOUR INTEREST THAT MIGHT BE FLYING UNDER THE RADAR, HE TALKED ABOUT JUSTICE REFORM.

I KNOW THAT IS NOT A SEXY ISSUE BUT THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO HIM.

>> I FLESHED OUT ALL OF THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO ARE RETIRING AND I COUNTED 11.

IF YOU DO THE MATH, WHICH I DID AND I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT MATH, THAT COMES OUT TO 10% OF THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO BE TURNING OVER AS A RESULT OF THESE RETIREMENTS.

I TALKED TO THE HOUSE SPEAKER THIS WEEK ABOUT HOW HE WOULD EXPLAIN THIS AND HE SAID, IT IS JUST DIFFERENT NOW AT THE STATEHOUSE.

HE SAID, I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW DIFFERENT IT IS.

HE SAID, THERE IS SUCH A TOXIC ENVIRONMENT, NOT NECESSARILY THERE, BUT AROUND THE STATEHOUSE -- I'M TALKING ABOUT IN THE PUBLIC, NOT THE STATEHOUSE -- AND HE SAID, THIS HAS MADE IT SO DIFFICULT FOR LAWMAKERS BECAUSE PUBLIC POLICY DISAGREEMENTS BECOME PERSONAL ATTACKS AND HE BLAMES SOCIAL MEDIA, BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS IT DONE NOW.

HE SAID, SOCIAL MEDIA ACTUALLY FIGHTS AGAINST THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, WHICH IS DETERMINED TO BE A LONGER PROCESS, SO YOU DON'T MEET THE FAST CONCLUSION OR THE FAST RESOLUTION TO A BILL, BUT YOU TAKE THE RIGHT APPROACH.

IT IS NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN BUT HIS POINT WAS THAT THERE IS SO MUCH NASTINESS, THAT FAMILIES ARE NOW AFFECTED BECAUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> I HAVE HEARD THAT FROM MEMBERS, FRIENDS OF MINE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

THEY SAY, IT IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE.

IT IS NOT AS MUCH FUN.

IT IS TOXIC.

>> DO THEY FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY AT ALL?

>> I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT.

IT IS MORE ABOUT THE TOXIC ATMOSPHERE, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CHAMBERS.

IT IS A TOUGH JOB.

I HAVE NEVER HEARD IT SO NEGATIVE FROM WITHIN.

>> WHEN I SPOKE TO THE SPEAKER, I WAS NOT SURE HOW HE WAS GOING TO HANDLE MY QUESTIONS.

HE CAME THROUGH THE PHONE ONTO ME.

HE SAID, IT IS A TOXIC ENVIRONMENT OUT THERE AND OUR MEMBERS ARE STRUGGLING TO DEAL WITH THAT AND THEIR FAMILIES, HE BROUGHT UP THE FAMILY ASPECT.

IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE LAWMAKERS.

YOU GET THICK-SKINNED, BUT YOUR FAMILY IS NOW COMING UNDER ATTACK.

OR THEY ARE SEEING WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT THEIR DAD OR THEIR MOTHER WHO IS A LAWMAKER.

ULTIMATELY, WE ARE LOSING PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, WHICH YOU CANNOT REALLY REPLACE RIGHT AWAY.

THERE MIGHT BE OTHER PEOPLE WHO SAY, 10% EVERY YEAR WOULD BE A GOOD THING.

YOU WOULD HAVE A TURNOVER THAT MIGHT BE HEALTHY.

I'M NOT ARGUING EITHER WAY, I'M JUST REPORTING WHAT CHOQUE MENTIONED.

>> THAT TOXIC ATMOSPHERE, WE SEE IT IN THE FEDERAL LEVEL WITH CONGRESSPEOPLE AND SENATORS RESIGNING, RETIRING AS WELL.

I SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET NEW IDEAS, GET DIFFERENT PEOPLE INVOLVED THAT HAVE NOT BET THERE -- HAVE NOT BEEN THERE BEFORE.

I'M EXCITED TO GET NEW PEOPLE INVOLVED AND WE WILL SEE HOW THEY DO WITH THE TOXIC ENVIRONMENT.

BUT THE OPPORTUNITY IS MOST IMPORTANT.

>> I'M WITH JIM ON THAT.

IT WILL BE ALL REPUBLICANS GETTING ELECTED.

>> I DID NOT QUITE SAY THAT.

>> THE NEXT STAT, IT IS ALWAYS THE ONE EVERY YEAR, HOW MANY SEATS TO UNOPPOSED.

MAYBE IT WILL BE FEWER.

THE REPUBLICANS NEED TO STEP UP.

THEY NEED TO FORGE SOMEHOW TO GET OVER A VETO.

THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED FOR A LONG TIME.

LET'S DO A GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECAP.

I DON'T NEED TO GO BYE-BYE LINE, OR THINGS YOU LIKE TO THINGS YOU DID NOT.

THE CART PHASEOUT WAS PROBABLY GOOD.

THIS GOES BACK TO GOVERNOR MCKEE ON THE STORE THING AND ELECTRIC NOW, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE -- EILEEN TALKED ABOUT THIS -- MAYBE THE GAS TAX, A SUSPENSION FOR THREE MONTHS, YOU CAN ARGUE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

LET'S GO NOT LINE BY LINE, BUT ISSUE -- I KNOW YOU WERE DISAPPOINTED SOMETHING DID NOT MAKE IT THIS YEAR.

IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH.

THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BILL OF RIGHTS.

>> THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT REFORM TO DO.

FINE FOR FULL REPEAL.

GENDER GO -- JEN LUGO, HE IS A POSTER CHILD FOR APPEAL IN A MINUTE.

THE FACT THAT SOMETHING DID NOT HAPPEN MAYBE IS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.

MAYBE IN THE NEXT SESSION WE CAN GET FULL REPEAL.

LET'S GET RID OF IT.

HOWEVER, I THINK THAT WHAT I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN IS $250 MILLION GOING TO HOUSING.

>> YOU DON'T THINK THAT IS ENOUGH?

>> I DON'T.

RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION RECOMMENDED $500 MILLION.

WE ARE IN A HOUSING CRISIS.

>> WHAT IS THAT GOING TO BEGIN?

YOU CAN ONLY BUILD SO MUCH SO QUICKLY.

>> THINGS ARE HAPPENING ONLINE AS WE SPEAK.

IT IS NOT EXACTLY SOMETHING YOU CAN SNAP YOUR FINGERS AND HAVE HOUSING.

BUT YOU NEED THAT COMMITMENT FOR MORE FUNDS BECAUSE THE CRISIS IS BIGGER THAN I THINK WE REALIZE AND WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR HOUSING.

I'M GLAD TO SEE THERE WAS MONEY IN SNAP, THE FOODSTAMP INCENTIVE .

NOW PEOPLE CAN BUY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT 50% OFF BECAUSE FOOD INSECURITY IS BIG IN THE COMMITTEES I SERVE SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT IN THE BUDGET.

SO KUDOS TO THE PEOPLE THAT -- >> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE HOUSING AT $250 MILLION, THE LEGISLATURE REQUIRED -- I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS AGO -- THAT EACH COMMITTEE HAD TO REACH 10% AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THERE ARE ONLY -- IS A THREE NOW?

THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES YOU HAVE HIT IT.

THIS WAS ON THE BOOKS FOR YEARS AND I DID SOME WORK IN THIS AREA A NORTH KINGSTOWN.

IT IS ALMOST AS IF THERE IS NO PENALTY FOR NOT REACHING IT, SO THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE AND WHEN YOU HAVE THE HOUSING CRISIS COMBINING WITH THAT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WAREHOUSING IS DIFFICULT TO FIND EVEN -- WHERE HOUSING IS DIFFICULT TO FIND EVEN IF YOU HAVE MONEY.

THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE.

IT HAS BEEN A HUGE ISSUE HERE.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU ON THE NO PENALTY.

I HAVE TALKED TO PEOPLE ABOUT THIS.

IT WAS AN ARBITRARY NUMBER.

THEY DID NOT BASE IT ON ANY, THIS WOULD BE GREAT, IS IT ATTAINABLE?

IF THEY HAD SET 5%, MAY BE -- IT IS LIKE IF YOU HAVE TO LOSE 300 POUNDS, HOW DO YOU DO IT?

A DAY AT A TIME.

SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE, IT IS TOO MUCH AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO TRY.

I AGREE WITH YOU IN PRINCIPLE, BUT THAT 10% WAS NOT ROOTED IN ANY TYPE OF STUDY.

>> THE PHASEOUT OF THE CAR TAX IS A GOOD THING.

YOU HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE IT IS DUE.

THE DOWNSIDE IS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS SPENDING MORE MONEY ON GOVERNMENT THAT IT HAS EVER SPENT.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOOD FOR THE STATE.

I HAVE SAID IT SO MANY TIMES BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE ARE SPENDING ON GOVERNMENT.

AS FOR THE HOUSING BILL THAT THEY PASSED AND THE 10%, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS DIRECTLY.

IT IS ALL ABOUT WHAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE PART OF THE 10%.

COVENTRY, WHICH IS A TOWN I LIVE IN AND HAVE REPRESENTED IN ONE CAPACITY OR ANOTHER FOR MANY YEARS, MUCH OF THEIR HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE IS NOT CONSIERED PART OF THE 10%.

THERE ARE MANY MANUFACTURED HOME PARKS.

THEY PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR MANY PEOPLE.

THEY DON'T COUNT.

IF THEY DID, COVENTRY WOULD BE WAY OVER 10%.

THE REAL ISSUE -- >> THAT COULD BE FIXED THROUGH LEGISLATION.

>> IT COULD.

I PUT IN A BILL EVERY YEAR, IT NEVER PASSED.

WHICH SEGUES TO THE REAL UNDERPINNING OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACT FROM THE BEGINNING.

IT IS SUPPOSED TO GIVE DEVELOPERS AN ADVANTAGE AND THAT IS GOOD IF YOU WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS A LOT OF THE TIME IS THEY GET THE ADVANTAGE AND ALLOCATE ONLY A SMALL INCREMENT OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO THE LAW DOES NOT REALLY HAVE THE EFFECT THAT IT COULD IF THEY TRULY ENFORCE IT PROPERLY.

>> IT IS A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION, IT IS THE SUPERMAN BUILDING.

IT DRIVES ME CRAZY, HOW DO YOU ALLOCATE IT?

WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

LET'S START WITH YOU.

I KNOW YOU HAVE AN OUTRAGE.

>> I DO.

I WAS GOING TO DO A KUDOS.

OK, MY OUTRAGE IS WHAT HAPPENED LAST FRIDAY AT THE PEACEFUL RALLY IN TERMS OF ABORTION RIGHTS.

YOU HAVE A MAN THAT FEELS IT IS OK TO PUNCH A WOMAN TWICE IN THE FACE.

WHERE I COME FROM, THAT IS NOT OK.

IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY, THAT IS NOT OK.

KUDOS TO COMMISSIONER PERRY AND CHIEF CLEMENT, THEY WANT TO TERMINATE HIM.

BECAUSE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BILL OF RIGHTS, IT MIGHT TAKE TWO YEARS TO TERMINATE SOMEONE THAT PUNCHED A WOMAN IN THE FACE TWICE AT THE STATEHOUSE.

>> PROVIDENCE POLICE OFFICER WAS ALSO RUNNING, WE DON'T NEED TO GET INTO THE DETAILS, BUT HE IS A PROVIDENCE POLICE OFFICER.

>> HE SHOULD KNOW BETTER BECAUSE HE IS HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD.

WHAT MAN IS 20 PUNCH A WOMAN TWICE IN THE FACE?

EVERYONE SHOULD BE OUTRAGED.

HE SHOULD BE TERMINATED.

IT SHOULD NOT BE A SIMPLE ASSAULT AND THEN HE CAN APPEAL TO THE SUPERIOR COURT, THE NAVARRE ENFORCEMENT BILL OF RIGHTS STARTS AND THAT TAKES SIX MONTHS, THEN THERE IS ANOTHER YEAR FOR THE APPEAL.

JUSTICE DEFERRED IS JUSTICE DENIED, WE HAVE TO GET RID OF THIS.

>> WE HAVE TWO MINUTES LEFT.

>> AND DON'T SHORT DAVE.

>> KUDOS TO BLADE FLIPPY, HE DID A TREMENDOUS JOB AS MINORITY LEADER, HE WAS ALSO A GOOD STATE REPRESENTATIVE BEFORE THAT.

ONE OF THE REASONS HE BECAME MINORITY LEADER IS HE HAS A GREAT DEAL OF CHARISMA AND HE IS NOT AFRAID TO TAKE TOUGH POSITIONS.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE LEFT THAT ANYMORE.

I DON'T THINK HE IS DONE.

I THINK HE HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE, YOU ARE GOING TO BE HEARING HIS NAME FOR A LONG TIME.

I HOPE SO.

>> YOU GET THE LAST MINUTE.

>> OK. TWO QUICK ONES.

I WAS EMBARRASSED TO SEE THE CLIPS OF GENERAL MIKE FLYNN TAKING THE FIFTH IN THE INVESTIGATION BY THE HOUSE WHEN ASKED A SIMPLE QUESTION, DO YOU SUPPORT A PEACEFUL TRANSITION OF GOVERNMENT?

HE TOOK THE FIFTH AMENDMENT ON THAT.

WE LOVE IT WHEN WE SEE RHODE ISLANDERS DOING WELL NATIONALLY, BUT IT TEARS ME UP TO SEE HIM BEING THAT WAY.

THE SECOND ONE WAS THE SHORELINE ISSUE ABOUT LEGISLATURE, WE HAVE BEEN THE OCEAN STATE FOR ALMOST 400 YEARS, WE STILL CANNOT DECIDE WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE ON THE HIGH TIDE LINE ON ANY ONE OF OUR 410 MILES OF SHORELINE.

IT DID NOT PASS.

WE ARE THE OCEAN STATE.

WHERE ARE WE WHEN WE CANNOT PASS SOMETHING LIKE THAT SO PEOPLE