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>> A LIVELY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS GREAT PROGRAM ON RHODE ISLAND PBS.

>> JOINING US, EVA-MARIE MANCUSO, DAVE LAYMAN, AND NICK GORHAM.

WELCOME, EVERYONE.

IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS WEEK.

IT IS THE FIRST MAJOR BUMP IN THE ROAD FOR DAN MCKEE SINCE HE TOOK OVER AS GOVERNOR.

HIS LONGTIME CHIEF OF STAFF IS UNDER SIEGE, ACCUSED OF TRYING TO INFLUENCE STATE AND TOWN OFFICIALS FOR A PERMIT FOR A LAND DEAL IN CUMBERLAND WHICH IS PROMPTED A COMPLAINT AND NOW THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS TAKING A LOOK.

NICK, LET ME BEGIN WITH YOU.

THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT A DISCLOSURE ISSUE ON THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION, BUT THE LARGER ISSUE IS IT IS NOT A GOOD OPTIC, BUT THE GOVERNOR IS STANDING BEHIND MR. SILVA.

NICK: SO FAR.

HE ASKED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE, BUT YOU HAVE TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION WHEN YOU'RE IN THE PUBLIC POSITION LIKE THAT.

HE IS KIND OF TRYING TO FINESSE IT, BY SAYING IT WAS JUST A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT, NOT AN INTEREST IN PROPERTY, SO I DID NOT NEED TO DISCLOSE IT.

TO BE SAFE, HE SHOULD HAVE, AND NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AG WILL DO.

WHAT IS HE INVESTIGATING?

THERE IS NO CRIME AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.

IT IS THE FIRST REAL CRISIS, AND IT HAS POTENTIAL TO GET MESSY BECAUSE HE IS VERY CLOSELY AFFILIATED WITH CUMBERLAND, AS IS THE GOVERNOR.

JIM: RIGHT.

WHAT ABOUT THE OPTICS?

EVA-MARIE: WELCOME TO THE CAMPAIGN OF YEAR.

THIS IS ALL POLITICAL.

JIM: I GOT THESE -- PEOPLE WERE DROPPING DIMES RIGHT AND LEFT THREE OR FOUR MONTH AGO.

THIS IS NOT SURPRISING THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE ON IT.

I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE SOURCE WAS.

YOU ARE RIGHT, THERE IS A POLITICAL ANGLE.

EVA-MARIE: I TOTALLY SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR.

HE IS LASER FOCUSED ON JOBS, THE ECONOMY, ON COVID AND DOING THE RIGHT THING, SO THIS IS JUST A DISTRACTION.

I HAD TO FILL OUT THOSE FORMS AS I THINK THERE IS ALWAYS SOME WIGGLE ROOM AS TO WHAT YOU WRITE DOWN.

IF I AM IN THE PROCESS OF BUYING SOMETHING, YOU SHOULD ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION, BUT THAT IS SEPARATE.

THAT IS A CHIEF OF STAFF ISSUE.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR, AND I SUPPORT HIM SAYING THAT FOR TOTAL TRANSPARENCY, REACH OUT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THE ATTONEY GENERAL WILL LOOK TO SEE IF THERE IS A CRIME COMMITTED, IF IT WAS A VIOLATION OF THE STATUTE, PAY THE FINE AND MOVE ON.

NICK: BUT YOU ARE LOSING GROUND IF THERE IS WIGGLE ROOM.

JIM: THERE IS A CRIME, BUT THERE ARE OPTICS.

>> I LOOKED AT THE PROPERTY ONLINE AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 5600 SQUARE FEET, AND IT IS JUST A LITTLE FOREST IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND 96% OF IT IS WETLANDS.

THE NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN EXERCISED OVER THIS BECAUSE IF THEY WERE TO FILL THAT IN THAT SHE COULD ONLY PUT A SMALL HOUSE ON IT.

THEY WOULD END UP WITH A FLOOD PROBLEM MORE SERIOUS THAN THE ONE THEY HAVE.

WHEN YOU HAVE NEIGHBORS FIGHTING THIS, IN MANY WAYS IT IS MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, EXCEPT THE OPTICS LOOKED TERRIBLE BECAUSE THIS LOOKS LIKE A TYPICAL FR ITTATA.

THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD SAY ABOUT THE GOVERNOR, AND I THINK HE IS A TERRIFIC GUY.

I DON'T KNOW HIM WELL, BUT I THINK HE ALSO MADE A MISTAKE THAT OPTICALLY IS NOT PLEASANT.

HE SUPPORTS A GUY, BUT I REALLY DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THIS.

BEFORE YOU SAY YOU WILL SUPPORT THE GUY, YOU SAY THIS HAS SOME CONCERN AND I WILL LOOK INTO IT AND GET ACK WITH YOU RATHER THAN PUT THE INNOCENT ASPECT OUT THERE.

AS A POLITICIAN, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AS THOUGH YOU ARE CONCERNED , AND BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR APPROVAL ON IT, LOOK INTO IT.

EVA-MARIE: I DON'T AGREE.

I THINK THEY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP.

HE WAS POLICE CHIEF -- HE WAS CHIEF OF STAFF.

WHEN YOU HAVE A LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEBODY, YOU SAY THAT.

I HAVE KNOWN THE GUY FOREVER, SO I KNOW HIM TO BE SOMEBODY WHO IS HONORABLE.

I DO THINK THIS IS POLITICAL.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE OF HIS ROLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND I THINK IT IS JUST THE FIRST POLITICAL -- JIM: THAT IS THE WHOLE REASON HE GOT THE APPROVAL.

EVA-MARIE: THAT IS WHY THE ETERNAL -- ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS TO LOOK AT IT.

>> HAVING SEEN THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS OF THE DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED BY THE DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR , I WAS TRY TO THINK OF THE TYPE OF NEGATIVE ADD THAT THIS WOULD GIVE RISE TO BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT IS COMING.

I AGREE WITH EVA, BUT THIS COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED AND IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE CHIEF OF STAFF HAD ANOTHER JOB OUTSIDE OF BEING THE CHIEF OF STAFF, AND NOBODY KNEW ABOUT IT.

JIM: $7,500 TO BE THE ADVISOR ON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

EVA-MARIE: HE HAS GIVEN IT UP.

JIM: 200 GRAND IS THAT ENOUGH?

>> HOW MANY GOVERNMENT JOBS TO SEE HAVE?

>> I THINK GOVERNOR MCKEE WAS RIGHT ON BY ASKING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

I THINK THAT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

OTHER POLITICIANS WOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT RIGHT AWAY.

THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN FORCED INTO DO THAT DOWN THE ROAD.

I THINK WE HAVE TO GIVE HIM CREDIT THAT HE DID THAT.

JIM: RHODE ISLAND IS THE MICROCOSM OF THE DEBATE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SOME PARENTS UPSET ABOUT HAVING TO WEAR MASKS AND GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AND OTHERS SAYING THEY DO NOT WANT THE KIDS GOING WITHOUT MASKS.

THIS IS PLAYING OUT WITH THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENTS AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN UGLY.

THERE IS A COUPLE OF THINGS TO UNPACK HERE BECAUSE -- THE COUNCIL OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.

EVA-MARIE: WE SPLIT UP IN MY LAST YEAR AFTER THE LEGISLATION PASSED, SO WE SPLIT IT INTO TWO.

THEY ARE ALL UNDER THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION.

JIM: THEY MADE THE DECISION BEFORE THE GOVERNOR MADE THE MANDATE, THEY SAID EVEN THOUGH WE DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY, WE FEEL THIS IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO MANDATE AND NOW THERE IS POTENTIAL LITIGATION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS AND THE INTENT.

WHAT DID YOU THINK?

EVA-MARIE: THEY HAVE LEGAL COUNSEL, AND TO ME IF I ASK MY LEGAL COUNSEL OTHER NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO SOMETHING AND THEY SAY NO, THEN I WOULD NOT HAVE DONE IT.

THAT IS NUMBER ONE IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS.

ON THE ISSUE ITSELF, OF MASKING, PEOPLE NEED TO PUT MASKS ON.

I WILL TELL YOU A STORY THAT I HEARD THIS PAST WEEK THAT ROCKED MY SOCKS.

A FRIEND OF MINE WAS IN RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL FOR HEART PROBLEMS.

48 HOURS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM BEFORE HE COULD GET A BED BECAUSE THEY WERE WORKING ON COVID PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE KNOW THE UNDEREMPLOYED -- I MEAN THE UNDERINSURED AND THE PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR USE THE EMERGENCY ROOMS FOR THAT.

THIS ISRAEL IN TERM -- THIS IS REAL IN TERMS OF THE OVERFLOW PROBLEM.

JIM: BUT AS TO THE KIDS?

EVA-MARIE: THE KIDS ARE NOT VACCINATED, AND I JUST RAN VACATION BIBLE CAMP, AND KIDS, NO PROBLEM, THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO.

NICK: SOMEONE SAID THIS MASK QUESTION, DOES THE GOVERNOR HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO IT, AND THE GENERAL SHOWED BASE ASSEMBLY SAID YOU DO, NOTHING -- THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SAID YOU DO IN AND NOTHING SEPARATES THE GOVERNMENT BETTER THAN A HOT POTATO.

THEY ARE A HOT POTATO RIGHT NOW.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SAID TO THE GOVERNOR, YOU HAVE ALL OF THE LEADERSHIP, YOU HAVE ALL OF THE LEADERSHIP -- AUTHORITY YOU NEED.

WE HAVE EXTENDED YOUR EMERGENCY POWERS AND SO FORTH, AND THE GOVERNOR WAS SOMEWHAT RELUCTANT TO IMPOSE THE MANDATE BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES.

I THINK -- WELL, FOR ONE THING, PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO CHALLENGE WHETHER HE COULD DO IT, AND I THINK HE FELT -- ALSO, I THINK THE PROBLEM CAME WHEN THE COUNCIL ON SECONDARY EDUCATION VOTED TO IMPOSE THE MANDATE, AND I THINK THEY DID IT ILLEGALLY.

THEY DID NOT GIVE ANY NOTICE.

THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO GIVE NOTICE.

AND THEN HE COVERED FOR THEM AND SAID EVERY SCHOOL HAS TO WEAR MASKS.

DAVE: TO ME, I THINK IT IS FAIRLY SIMPLE.

THE PUBLIC IS DEMANDING MASKS IN LARGER MEMBERS, AND WITH THIS NEW STRAIN OF VIRUS, AND THIS IS A NO-BRAINER, I THINK HE FLIPPED ON THIS READY QUICKLY.

I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY THE RIGHT DECISION TO MAKE AND LET THE LAWYERS FIGURE THIS OUT LATER ABOUT WHETHER HE HAS THE POWER OR NOT.

MEANTIME, YOU ARE SAVING LIVES.

THAT IS A LITTLE MORE IMPORTANT.

>> THIS IS ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON WHETHER HE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE THE MANDATE.

JIM: THE HOUSE SPEAKER SAYS HE DOES.

EVA-MARIE: I AM A LAWYER, SO I LIKE PROCESS, BUT LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS DIRECT ASSESS -- ACCESS TO ALL OF THE INFORMATION COMING OUT BY THE MINUTE, NOT EVEN BY THE DAY THAT IS HAPPENING.

IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ACT.

JUST PUT A MASK ON.

PEOPLE ARE DYING.

THE COURTS HAVE NOW CHANGED, SAYING IF YOU GO INTO THE COURTHOUSE BECAUSE IT IS A PUBLIC PLACE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE VACCINATED, YOU NEED A MASK.

IN OUR LAW FIRM, YOU HAVE DONE THE SAME THING.

MOST RESTAURANTS AND -- NOT RESTAURANTS.

MOST OF THE BUSINESSES ARE SAYING WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU WEAR A MASK.

STRONGLY RECOMMEND.

SOME PLACES DO.

DAVE: SOME AIRLINES ARE REQUIRING THEIR EMPLOYEES -- JIM: WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT, AND I REALIZE IT TAKES A LOT OF PRESSUREOFF THE SCHOOL BOARDS, BUT BARRINGTON IS DIFFERENT THAN SOUTH KINGSTOWN, DIFFERENT THAN NORTHPORT -- NEWPORT IN TERMS OF VACCINATION RATES AND PROTOCOLS.

THE SUPERINTENDENT MAY SAY WE FEEL ARE KIDS ARE SAFE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL OR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL BECAUSE WE HAVE 90% VACCINATED.

THAT TAKES THE CHOICE AWAY.

IS THAT THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE?

>> I THINK LOCAL CHOICES ARE ALWAYS BETTER FOR EDUCATION, LOCAL CONTROL IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF GOOD EDUCATION.

THE ORDER COMPLETELY DEPRIVES SCHOOLS OF MAKING THE DECISION.

EVA-MARIE: I AGREE ON THE LOCAL, EVERYTHING BEING LOCAL, BUT THIS IS A PANDEMIC.

WE ARE NOT TALKING -- WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A POPULATED STATE OF ONE MILLION IN A SMALL AREA, SO IT IS NOT LIKE PEOPLE IN ARRINGTON DON'T DRIVE TO PROVIDENCE.

>> OR THEY DON'T GO TO A SHOPPING CENTER OR A GROCERY STORE.

WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS, I UNDERSTAND ABOUT HAVING LOCAL CONTROL OVER WHAT HAPPENS WITHIN THE SCHOOLS ON ACADEMIC ISSUES.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NOBODY HAS ANY CONTROL OVER.

IF ANYTHING THAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS TAUGHT US IS THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL.

RESPONSIBLE POLITICIANS ARE SAYING WE HAVE TO SAVE LIVES FIRST AND WE WILL WORK OUT THE DETAILS LATER, BUT IF YOU HAVE A LEGAL OPINION, YOU CAN APPEAL IT AND THEN YOU CAN APPEAL THAT.

WHEN SOMEBODY DIES, THERE IS NO APPEAL.

NICK: I DO NOT DISAGREE WITH THE NOTION THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO WEAR MASKS ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF THE GRADES OF THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE MANAGED BY LOCAL SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

I THINK YOU CAN LEAVE THAT CHOICE TO SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

THEY KNOW THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF HAVING THEM.

JIM: IT LOOKS LIKE THE MAJORITY WERE GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY.

DAVE: ONE THINK THAT I THINK REFUTES THAT IS WE LEFT THE CHOICE TO THE STATES AND THE STATES WERE THE PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING VACCINATED ARE THE ONES THAT ARE KILLING PEOPLE LEFT AND RIGHT AND CAUSING THE PROBLEMS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOMS, SO PEOPLE CANNOT ONLY GET A -- ELECTIVE SURGERY -- NICK: THAT IS NOT A CRISIS AMONG THE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOLS.

I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT THE FAILURE OF FOSTER GLOUCESTER TO IMPROVE -- UP IMPOSE A MANDATE IS KILLING KIDS IN BARRINGTON.

DAVE: THEY WOULD NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION ANYWAY.

NICK: I THINK THEY CAN GET THE DECISION THEMSELVES AND THEY CAN GET GUIDANCE ON WHETHER IT SHOULD BE DONE.

THERE IS ENOUGH GUIDANCE OUT THERE.

JIM: WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THIS PROGRAM ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WHICH HAVE BEEN GOING ON ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF AND SOME SAID IT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO GET EMPLOYEES PARTICULARLY IN THE SERVICE SECTOR.

ON SEPTEMBER 4, A LOT OF THE BENEFITS WILL RUN OUT.

I SIT DOWN WITH THE HEAD OF D.O.T.

AND HE HAD SOME INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED THREE NEW PROGRAMS TO HELP WORKING FAMILIES TO GET BY.

THESE PROGRAMS HAVE HAPPENED FOR ABOUT 17 MONTHS, AND THEY WILL BE ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 4.

I WORKED WITH THE GENERALLY -- GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CHANGE THE LAW, AND THE REASON FOR THAT WAS THAT IN THE PAST HE COULD ONLY EARN UP TO YOUR BENEFIT RATE AND THEN YOU ARE SHUT OFF.

WHAT THAT MEANT WAS IF SOMEBODY HAD A LOW AND IF IT RATE, WORKING A DAY OR TWO A WEEK MIGHT KEEP THEM FROM GETTING A PAYMENT.

THAT PROBABLY KEPT A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM ENTERING THE WORKFORCE.

THERE IS TIME.

PEOPLE COULD GET A JOB RIGHT AWAY.

I HEARD ONE ANTIDOTE ABOUT IF SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE WALKED DOWN WELLS AVENUE WITH A RESUME, THEY WOULD HAVE A JOB AT 10:00 IN THE MORNING.

I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO THINK ABOUT JOBS, BECAUSE 45,000 PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES WITHOUT BENEFITS AND A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AS MUCH AS I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, IT HAS NOT BEEN PUNITIVE.

IT IS BECAUSE THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE ANYTHING LEFT TO PAY THEM.

ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS I HAVE AND THE THING I LOSE SLEEP OVER, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN IT SERIOUSLY ENOUGH.

I THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT USED THE SYSTEM TO PUSH STIMULUS INTO THE ECONOMY.

THAT WORKED FOR A LONG TIME, BUT IT HAS BEEN EXTENDED, AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE TELLING EACH OTHER, DON'T WORRY IT IS GOING TO GET EXTENDED SO THEY ARE NOT TAKING IT SERIOUSLY.

WHEN PEOPLE WAKE UP SEPTEMBER 5 AND REALIZE THEY ARE NO LONGER COVERED, IT WILL BE UGLY.

PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT WE WANT TO HELP YOU, PLEASE GO TO THE WEBSITE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR SERVICES.

JIM: SO JUST UNDER $2 BILLION JUST FOR RHODE ISLAND IN EXTRA BENEFITS AND MAY -- I THINK THE GOVERNMENT DID USE THIS TO USE THE STIMULUS.

I CAN IMAGINE TRYING TO GO TO A RESTAURANT.

IS THIS GOING TO CHANGE QUESTION MARK --?

YOU WONDER HOW THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE THE DYNAMIC ON GETTING WORKERS.

DAVE: I CAN TELL YOU YESTERDAY I WENT INTO A COUPLE OF RESTAURANTS IN NEWPORT TO MAKE SOME RESERVATIONS, AND I FOUND OUT THAT SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR NAMES IN NEWPORT ARE NOT EVEN SERVING DINNER OR LUNCH IS THESE DAYS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TOURIST SEASON, AND I AM TALKING ABOUT NAMES THAT EVERYBODY WOULD RECOGNIZE.

THEY CANNOT GET ENOUGH PEOPLE.

I SAID IS THERE A PROBLEM GETTING FOOD?

THEY SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE STAFF.

I SAW THERE WAS A STUDY DONE THROUGH ONE UNIVERSITY THAT JUST CAME OUT THIS PAST WEEK THAT INDICATED THAT 30% OF THE ECONOMY OF NEWPORT HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF.

THE ONLY THING THAT SHOCKED ME WAS I THOUGHT THE NUMBER WOULD BE HIGHER, BUT I HAVE FRIENDS IN NEWPORT WHO COULD NOT GET A RESERVATION.

THEY WERE HERE FOR A MONTH AND THEY COULD NOT GET A RESERVATION AT RESTAURANTS WHERE YOU NORMALLY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET ONE.

YOU CANNOT - YOU HAVE TO DO IT TWO WEEKS AHEAD.

JIM: 45,000, THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE.

EVA-MARIE: I SHARE MATT'S FEELINGTHAT PEOPLE ARE NOT TAKING IT SERIOUSLY.

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN SEPTEMBER, WHEN THERE IS NO MONEY COMING INTO THESE FAMILIES, IT IS GOING TO MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT AND YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF TAXING ON THE FOOD BANKS, A LOT OF TAXING ON THE OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES BECAUSE THE PARENTS ARE GOING TO REALIZE THERE IS NO MORE BENEFITS.

DAVE: WELL PUT.

45,000 -- I WROTE DOWN 45,000, NOTHING LEFT TO PAY THEM.

THAT IS WHAT HE SAID.

THAT IS SEPTEMBER 5, JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AWAY.

IT IS GOING TO BE BLOODSHED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT PEOLE ARE GOING TO DO.

THAT WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF BARRINGTON, PROBABLY WARREN AND MAYBE EVEN BRISTOL.

JIM: MAYBE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET YOUR RESERVATION IN NEWPORT IN A MONTH IF A GUY GOES IN AT 9:00 AND HE IS HIRED BY 10:00 AND HE IS WORKING AT 4:00.

EVA-MARIE: IT IS NOT JUST THE RESTAURANTS.

EVERYWHERE, I HAD TO GO TO RESTAURANT DEPOT THE OTHER DAY JUST TO GET SOME STUFF, AND IT TOOK ME FIVE MINUTES TO SHOP AND 45 MINUTES TO CHECK OUT BECAUSE THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THERE AND IT WAS LINED UP AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF.

THERE WAS A BIG SIGN UP THAT SAID WE ARE HIRING.

A LOT OF PLACES HAVE SIGNS ON THE DOOR SAYING WE ARE HIRING.

IT IS NOT JUST THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

IT IS ALL OF THE OTHER STORES TRYING TO GET PEOPLE.

NICK: JUST A BLANKET PAYMENT TO EVERYBODY IS NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE , DOESN'T ALWAYS REACH EVERYBODY WHO NEEDS IT BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF JOBS OUT THERE AND NOBODY WANTS THEM.

JIM: THAT IS NOT WHAT WE ARE HEARING, IT IS NOT AFFECTING THE UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION.

NICK: THAT IS NOT TRUE.

EVERYWHERE YOU GO, PLACES ARE SAYING WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES.

JIM: I DO NOT WANT TO SHORT YOU GUYS, BUT THERE WAS A SPECIAL REQUEST FOR THIS SO THAT WE HAD TO CLEAR A LITTLE BIT OF TIME OUT FOR HIM.

DAVE: YOU HAVE OUTED ME.

TWO CONGRESSMAN THIS PAST WEEK, ONE OF THEM FROM MASSACHUSETTS, SETH MOULTON, HE AND ANOTHER CONGRESSMAN DROPPED IN UNEXPECTEDLY ON AN UNAUTHORIZED TRIP RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THE CHAOS IN AFGHANISTAN BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT PLAN.

HOW STUPID WAS THIS?

THEY GOT THERE AND NOBODY WAS EXPECTING THM AND BOTH OF THESE GUYS ARE DECORATED VETERANS FROM IRAQ.

JIM: DID THEY FLY COMMERCIAL?

DAVE: THEY FLEW COMMERCIAL AND THEN I GOT A MILITARY HOP.

THEY SHOULD'VE KNOWN BETTER.

THIS WAS GRANDSTANDING OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.

IF YOU WANT TO GO IN AND FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON, YOU CAN STAY AT HOME AND WATCH CABLE TV BECAUSE YOU CAN GET MOST OF ALL OF THE INFORMATION.

I THINK THIS WAS AN EMBARRASSMENT THAT THESE GUYS PULL THIS OFF.

THESE TWO ARE SHOW BOATS AND THEY OUGHT TO BE SHOWN THE DOOR THE NEXT TIME PEOPLE GET A CHANCE TO VOTE FOR THEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A KUDO TO THE WAR CORRESPONDENTS THAT ARE RISKING THEIR LIVES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THESE GUYS TRAVEL WITH SECURITY, BUT MOST OF THE TIME THESE PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING AROUND BY THEMSELVES WITH A CAMERAMAN AND A TRANSLATOR.

WE NEED TO SHOW A GREAT DEAL OF APPRECIATION FOR THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES -- THEY DON'T HAVE A PLATOON OR A RIFLE.

I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO THANK THEM.

WE HAD A CLOSE CALL WITH A HURRICANE, AND IT BROUGHT HOME TO ME AS A FORMER NEWS GUY THE GREAT SERVICE THAT OUR TELEVISION STATIONS DID TO TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED.

WE OFTEN TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, AND I THINK THE TELEVISION INDUSTRY GETS A LOT OF HITS, CRITICISM, BUT THIS IS A TIME WHERE THEY REALLY PROVIDED A TREMENDOUS SERVICE.

WE ALL RELIED ON, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO, AND I THINK SOMETIMES YOU OUGHT TO THANK THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING A TOUGH JOB.

JIM: I WOULD ECHO WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

I WATCHED ONE INTERVIEW LAST NIGHT, AND IN THE BACKGROUND EVERYBODY WAS CARRYING RIFLES, AND THIS GUY WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

EVA-MARIE: I AGREE AS A MILITARY MOM AND A MILITARY WIFE.

I AGREE WITH YOU.

I THINK GETTING THE INFORMATION AS IT HAPPENS FROM PEOPLE, RISKING THEIR OWN LIVES AND NOT HAVING THE BACKGROUND, SO I WILL GO WITH AN OUTRAGE.

THE STATE IS NOT A BANK, SO THE SUPERMAN BUILDING PEOPLE WHO WANT THE STATE TO BAIL THEM OUT, I THINK THAT IS JUST WRONG.

UNLESS THE STATE IS GOING TO GET SOME OWNERSHIP INTEREST OR SOME MONEY OR ANYTHING ELSE, THERE HAS TO BE SOME ONGOING REVENUE FOR WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.

THE STATE COULD HAVE BOUGHT THIS FOR ONE DOLLAR, BUT THEY DIDN'T BECAUSE THEY KNEW WHAT IT WOULD COST.

NOW TO COME IN TO HELP A PRIVATE DEVELOPER AND NOT GET ANYTHING, WE ARE NOT A BANK.

IF THEY WANT A PARTNERSHIP, WELCOME, BUT THERE HAS TO BE ONGOING REVENUE.

NICK: OUTRAGE, YOU CANNOT IGNORE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN AFGHANISTAN.

I WISH WE COULD HEAR MORE FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, JEFF JACK REED CREDIT.

HE WENT ON WITH CHANNEL 12.

HE WAS CRITICAL.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS -- IT TOOK SOME DEBTS.

IT WOULD BE NICE TO HEAR FROM THE REST OF THEM, BUT THE RANGE -- OUTRAGE IS THE PRESIDENT AND HIS FAILURE.

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE.

I COULD SKIP THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE KUDOS --JESSICA ELECTRO, DEMANDED THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COME BACK AND CLARIFY WHAT IS THE LAW ON THIS MASK ISSUE.

IT IS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLIES JOB TO MAKE THAT LAW AND THEY HAVE PUNTED ON EVERYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH THIS.

THEY HAVE PUT IT INTO THE HANDS OF THE GOVERNOR.

A GOOD IDEA BY THE SENATOR.

THANK YOU.

JIM: THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

COME BACK HERE NEXT WEEK.

CHECK US OUT ON OUR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR LOYALTY.

WE WILL BE BACK HERE NEXT WEEK.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

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