[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> THIS WEEK THE FIELD FOR GOVERNOR HAS GOTTEN MORE CROWDED AND THE STATE IS SITTING ON MORE THAN ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH IT?

>> FOUR YEARS LIVELY -- I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS GREAT PROGRAM ON RHODE ISLAND PBS.

>> JOINING US ON THE PANEL, FORMER MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE AND REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST LISA POLICY.

WELCOME TO LIVELY.

IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

THE SCORECARD IN THE YEAR'S -- NEXT YEAR'S RACE FOR GOVERNOR IS A LITTLE CLEARER.

FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE NAT BROWN ANNOUNCED HE IS IN THE RACE, LEADING AN EXPECTED 50 PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES.

SOME WERE SURPRISED THAT NAT IS DRIP -- JUMPING AND.

-- JUMPING IN.

>> I BELIEVE POLITICS SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY FOR STARTERS.

I BELIEVE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WAS WRONG IN EXCORIATING BROWN FOR RUNNING AS A DEMOCRAT.

I THINK HE IS LEANING ON A GIMMICK CLAIMING HE HAS A RUNNING MATE WHEN OUR STATE LAW DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THAT TICKET.

HE COULD THEORETICALLY WIN THE GOVERNORSHIP WHILE HIS RUNNING MATE LOSES THE RACE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

MORE BROADLY THERE ARE SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN OUR STATE AND HE HAS NO BEEN A PLAYER IN TERMS OF INTERACTING AND ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.

I ALWAYS HAVE A BIT OF DISDAIN FOR POLITICIANS WHO DISAPPEAR BETWEEN ELECTIONS AND POP UP TO RUN.

>> YOU WONDER WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE STATE, IS THIS STATE AS A WHOLE READY TO GO THAT FAR TO THE LEFT?

>> PROGRESSIVES HAVE DEFINITELY MADE GAINS.

WE HAVE CODIFIED ROE V. WADE.

WE HAVE WORKED ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

THIS ATTEMPT TO GET INTO THE RACE -- I AGREE WITH KEN.

ANYONE HAS A RIGHT TO RUN.

THIS ATTEMPT HAPPENED -- A SIMILAR ATTEMPT HAPPENED WHEN HE CAME OUT FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THE FIRST TIME.

YOU HAD A REAL PROGRESSIVE AS WELL RUNNING.

AT THAT POINT WHAT IT DID WAS HELP MCKIE WIN THAT RACE.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT IMPACT HE WILL HAVE IN THIS RACE BUT THE MORE CANDIDATES YOU HAVE, THE BETTER FOR DAN MCKEE.

>> NOT ONLY DID HE COME FORWARD TO SAY HE IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, BUT I THOUGHT THIS IS MORE ADVANCED THAN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RIGHT NOW.

I REALLY FEEL HE IS TRYING TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO CALL TO QUESTION THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND WHAT THEY WANT TO BE.

IT WILL BE VERY DISRUPTIVE.

I DO NOT THINK THIS IS OVER YET.

I THINK WE WILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE COMING FORWARD ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

>> SO YOU WIN WITH 18%?

>> THAT IS NOT GREAT.

>> LOOK AT SOME OF WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING -- MEDICARE FOR ALL, $19 AN HOUR MINIMUM WAGE, IMPLEMENTING A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE IN PUBLIC PLACES, AND REPEALING BUTTER ID.

IT IS LEFT.

HOW WILL THAT FLY WITH PEOPLE?

>> THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS CLEARLY NOT A HOMOGENOUS THING.

YOU HAVE SOME REAL DIVISIONS WITHIN THE PARTY.

YOU HAVE CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS, FAR LEFT DEMOCRATS, A LABOR CENTRIC PART.

WE ARE ALREADY DISADVANTAGED IN OUR STATE.

IT IS AN EXPENSIVE STATE IN WHICH TO DO BUSINESS.

I COULD GO TO MASSACHUSETTS FOR TAX RELIEF AS OPPOSED TO DOING BUSINESS IN RHODE ISLAND.

TO MAKE RHODE ISLAND A LESS COMPETITIVE PLACE TO BE WE HAVE AN OUTFLOW OF PEOPLE WITH WEALTH.

THEY KNOW WHEN THE LONG RUN THEY ARE BETTER BEING SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WE CANNOT IGNORE THE FACT WE ARE NOT AN ISLAND.

WE HAVE TO COMPETE WITH 49 OTHER STATES.

IF WE DO THINGS TO MAKE RHODE ISLAND A LESS COMPETITIVE PLACE, THAT HARMS US IN THE LONG RUN.

I THINK WE PAY FOR THAT EVERY DAY NOW BECAUSE WE SUFFER FROM BEING NOT COMPETITIVE.

>> I'M HAVING FLASHBACKS TO A GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE OVER THIS.

>> WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING.

BROWN CANNOT GO FOR THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE, BECAUSE WE PASSED THAT.

HE HAS TO GO HIGHER.

HE CANNOT GO FOR CODIFYING ROE V. WADE.

WE ARE WORKING WITH THE SENATOR FROM NEWPORT WHO WAS IMPORTANT IN THAT.

HE NEEDS JUSTIFICATION FOR RUNNING.

OUR STATE IS IMPROVING, BUT WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

WE HAVE WORK TO DO LIFTING THE SELF-ESTEEM OF RHODE ISLANDERS.

I HAVE PEOPLE WHO VISIT FROM OUTSIDE OF THE STATE, THEY LOVE RHODE ISLAND!

RHODE ISLANDERS ARE SO TOUGH ON OURSELVES.

>> A LITTLE INFIGHTING TOO.

THEY TRYING TO PRIMARY.

ARE YOU EATING YOUR OWN GOING INTO WHAT SEEMS TO BE A SLASH AND BURN APPROACH?

>> THEY ARE PUTTING CANDIDATES UP AGAINST THE LEADERSHIP ON THE SENATE SIDE.

WILL THEY PUT SOMEONE UP AGAINST HOUSE SPEAKER SICK ARCHIE?

YOU HAVE THE HEAVY HAND OF THE LEADERSHIP COMING AFTER THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY.

>> THE LARGER ISSUE IS WE HAD THE GOVERNOR AND THE SPEAKER UNLESS WE -- LAST WEEK.

AS WE BROADEN OUT AND LOOK AT THE RACE SEVERAL, MAYOR ELORZA DECIDED NOT TO GET IN.

DID THAT SURPRISE YOU ARE NOT?

>> THAT DID NOT SURPRISE ME.

IT IS HARD TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND BE MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE.

THE WAY I LOOK AT IT, ESPECIALLY WITH KIDS, THEY WILL NEVER BE THAT YOUNG AGAIN.

I UNDERSTAND HIS DECISION.

I WENT THROUGH MY OWN ISSUES DOING THE VERY BEST I COULD.

THE ONE THING I SAID WHILE I WAS MAYOR, I WOULD NOT APOLOGIZE FOR ANYTHING I DID AS MAYOR WHILE I WAS RUNNING.

WE DID DO THE RIGHT THING ON MANY ISSUES THAT CAME BEFORE ME DURING THAT TIME.

>> I THINK HE WAS GOING TO HAVE A DIFFICULT CASE TO MAKE TO THE RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC THAT HE DID A GOOD JOB RUNNING THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE.

I WILL USE ONE EXAMPLE THAT HOPEFULLY HE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT STILL.

2 YEARS AGO MAYOR ELORZA TRIED TO SELL OFF THE PROVIDENCE WATERBOARD TO REDUCE THE RETIREE LIABILITIES THAT PROVIDENCE FACES.

EVERYMAN, WOMAN AND CHILD IN PROVIDENCE OWED $1200 EACH.

HE FAILED TO SELL OFF THE WATERBOARD AND SAID " I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING I CAN."

YOU HAVE TWO MORE YEARS!

NOW HE IS UNFETTERED BECAUSE HE DOES NOT HAVE FUTURE POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS NOW.

>> HE SAID THAT IS ONE THING HE WANTS TO CONCENTRATE ON.

>> ONE BRIEF EXAMPLE -- THE STATE DOES NOT ALLOW ITS RETIREES TO COLLECT DISABILITY PENSIONS IF THEY ARE WORKING.

THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE DOES NOT DO THAT.

THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE IS PAYING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DISABLED RETIREES WORKING OTHER DROPS.

THERE ARE THINGSYOU CAN DO TO BRING PROVIDENCE IN LINE WITH THE WAY THE STATE IS DOING THANKS.

THAT COULD SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR.

I UNDERSTAND IT IS DIFFICULT TO TACKLE THOSE THINGS IF YOU HAVE POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS WHILE YOU ARE SITTING MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE, BUT WE NEED SOMEBODY TO DO THE HARD THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE WITHOUT FEAR OF POLITICAL REPLICATIONS.

-- POLITICAL REPLICATIONS -- POLITICAL REPERCUSSIONS.

>> I WOULD SAY TO KEN, HAVE YOU EVER NEGOTIATED A BARGAIN?

>> NO.

>> KEN AND I ARE FRIENDLY, AS YOU KNOW.

THIS ALSO MEAN SITTING DOWN ACROSS THE TABLE, NEGOTIATING.

NEGOTIATING MEANS GIVE-AND-TAKE.

I NEVER GOT EVERYTHING I WANTED IN ANY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.

DURING THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR I GOT AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TEACHERS UNION.

THEY QUICKLY VOTED DOWN.

IT TELLS YOU DID NOT GIVE AWAY THE STORE.

IN TERMS OF THE PENSIONS, WE DO NEED A LONGER SHOW TO TALK ABOUT IT.

WE ARE GOING ON 10 YEARS OF REFORM IN THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE.

THE PERCENTAGE OF THE PENSION PAYMENT AS PART OF THE OVERALL BUDGET IS SIMILAR TO WHAT IT WAS OVER 20 YEARS AGO EVEN THOUGH THE AMOUNT IS A LOT HIGHER.

>> I APPRECIATE YOU WANTING TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

>> I THINK WE KNEW A NUMBER OF MONTHS AGO, WE HAD GENERAL OFFICERS WHO WERE TERM LIMITED.

IT WAS NOT A SURPRISE THAT THEY DECIDED TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

FOR MAYOR ELORZA I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING HE HAS DONE IN THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE.

EVEN THOUGH HE SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A PATH TO VICTORY FOR HIM I CANNOT SEE WHAT THAT IS.

THE OTHER CHANGE WE SAW HAPPENED A FEW MONTHS AGO.

DAN MCKEE HAS GOVERNOR LOOKED IN VINCIBLE.

WE KNOW IN POLITICS THAT A DAY CAN FEEL LIKE A MONTH, A MONTH CAN FEEL LIKE A YEAR.

NOW WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF THINGS HAPPEN WITH THE MICKEY ADMINISTRATION.

-- MCKEE ADMINISTRATION.

>> YOU SEE THESE PRESS RELEASES -- " WE NEED REAL LEADERSHIP AND THIS IS WHAT I WOULD DO."

WHAT DOES HE NEED TO DO TO GET SOME AIRTIME?

>> IN TERMS OF THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS THAT WAS A GREAT ISSUE FOR HIM AS GOVERNOR TO -- TREASURER TO GET STATEWIDE ATTENTION.

HE JUST HAS TO STAY STRONG AND STEADY.

WE DO NOT THINK THERE WILL BE ANY ETHICS VIOLATIONS COMING OUT OF HIS OFFICE.

>> THE GOVERNOR HAS HAD A COUPLE OF MISSTEPS OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS -- THIS ILO CONTRACT.

IS NOT GOING TO BE DUMB ON HIS SHUAI YEAR FROM NOW -- GUM ON HIS SH Y -- SHOE A YEAR FROM NOW?

>> I AM MORE SURPRISED THAT THE GOVERNOR DID NOT ACT MORE QUICKLY TO SHOW DA SILVA AT THE DOOR WHEN EVERYTHING FIRST CAME UP.

ONE OR TWO MORE SCANDALS LIKE THAT AND THAT COULD BE A DIFFICULT THING FOR GOVERNOR MICKEY TO RECOVER FROM.

-- MCKEE TO RECOVER FROM.

>> IT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN EASILY EXPLAIN IN A NEGATIVE AD.

IT IS NOT VERY CONVOLUTED.

IT IS A COMPANY THAT IS TWO DAYS OLD GETTING A $5 MILLION CONTRACT.

I HAVE TO AGREE, IT IS PROBABLY AN ISSUE HE CANNOT AFFORD.

HE WAS IN A STRONG POSITION GOING IN.

HE IS CREATING AN OPENING FOR OTHERS TO REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

ELECTIONS ARE ABOUT CHOICES.

>> KEN, TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT -- THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.

WE TALKED ABOUT WHERE ZOOM FITS IN AND THE ACCESS OF PUBLIC RECORDS IS SOMETHING WE ALL WANT TO SEE STRENGTHENED.

>> IN THE 15 YEARS I HAVE PAID ATTENTION POLITICALLY, MY PERCEPTION IS THAT OUR GOVERNMENT HAS BECOME LESS TRANSPARENT RATHER THAN MORE OVER THE YEARS.

I SAY THAT BECAUSE -- YOU ASKED FOR OPEN RECORDS, I ASKED FOR OPEN RECORDS.

MOST OF THE TIME YOU ASK FOR OPEN RECORDS, YOU DO NOT SEE THEM FOR 30 DAYS.

PROVIDENCE HAS BEEN MORE RESPONSIVE THAN THAT, I WANT TO SAY.

WE WENT VIRTUAL FOR EVERY PUBLIC MEETING THAT WAS OUT THERE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

NOW WE ARE BACK THERE MOSTLY IN PERSON WITH NO STREAMING TO ACCOMPANY THE MEETINGS.

MOST PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO TRUDGE INTO A TOWN HALL TO LISTEN TO A MEETING.

WHY NOT PUT IT ON IN THE BACKGROUND WHILE YOU ARE MAKING DINNER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE SHOULD DO TO BRING US INTO THE 22ND CENTURY.

THE WAY THAT WE FORMULATE GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS DOES NOT WORK WELL ANYMORE.

WE REALLY NEED TO GO IN, STRENGTHEN ALL OF OUR GOOD GOVERNMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS AND LAWS AND REALLY OPEN THINGS UP.

RIGHT NOW IT IS NOT PARTICULARLY OPEN AND THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ACTING IN WATCHDOG ROLES.

>> FORTUNATELY THE GOVERNOR DID NOT PASS THE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO STAY VIRTUAL.

WHAT ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY ASPECTS?

>> WHEN I READ THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE ATTENTION PAID TO GOVERNOR MICKEY -- GOVERNOR MCKEE'S -- THE MEDIA STARTED PICKING ON THE GOVERNOR SO WE MADE THE DECISION THAT WE WOULD ONLY PUT PUBLIC EVENTS ON THE PUBLIC CALENDAR FROM THAT DAY FORWARD.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE THE MEDIA WHO WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING, THEN THERE IS THE GENERAL COUNSEL WHO DOES NOT WANT TO SHARE EVERYTHING.

YOU NEED TO HAVE CRITERIA -- WHAT IS PUBLIC AND WHAT IS NOT?

WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO BRING PFIZER TO PROVIDENCE, THEY WANTED TO KEEP THAT CONFIDENTIAL.

YOUR SUCCESSOR BLUE THAT UP, SO -- BLEW THAT UP SO WE NEVER GOT PFIZER.

THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE OF THE PUBLIC RIGHT TO KNOW WITH WHAT NEEDS TO STAY PRIVATE FOR REASONS.

>> I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO PUT THEM IN A RING AND LET THEM GO AT EACH OTHER.

I CAN IMAGINE WHAT WENT ON BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE DID NOT SEE!

>> I AM GLAD I HAD A MUCH MORE BORING MAYORSHIP.

I THINK MORE SUNSHINE IS GOOD.

I THINK KEN'S IDEA OF STREAMING IS A GOOD ONE.

WHEN I BECAME A MAYOR AND I WAS NEGOTIATING WITH FIREFIGHTERS, THERE WERE SOME THINGS THEY WANTED TO SEE.

I TECHNICALLY WASN'T ALLOWED TO SHOW THEM, BUT I SAID " LET THEM SEE."

THERE ARE SOMETIMES MEETINGS THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOU NEED A LITTLE BIT OF CONFIDENTIALITY NOT TO KEEP IT FROM THE PUBLIC BUT BECAUSE IT WILL ALLOW YOU TO GET YOU TO THE POINT WHERE YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC OR TO THE COUNCIL.

>> I WILL HAVE-- -- UPGRADE YOUR KUDOS WEEK?

>> I WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR SHOW LAST WEEK.

I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT WAS EVER DONE BEFORE!

IT WAS A GREAT PUBLIC SERVICE FOR THE VIEWERS.

HERE IS MY GRUMPY SIDE -- I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE CITIES INCLUDING PROVIDENCE THAT WANT TO BECOME MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, BUT WE ARE A CITY THAT NEEDS TO HAVE COMMERCE, WE NEED PEOPLE WORKING IN THE CITY.

NOW THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK TO WORK, AND I AM ONE OF THEM TRYING TO LEAVE THE CITY AT NIGHT, I AM WAITING FOR THE LIGHTS TO TURN ALONG A BIPLANE.

THERE -- BIKE LANE.

THEY HAVE PEDESTRIAN LIGHTS THAT GO THROUGH THIS CYCLE EVEN WHEN THERE ARE NO PEDESTRIANS WAITING!

>> I AM NO LONGER MAYOR!

[LAUGHTER] >> DO YOU HAVE AN OUTRAGE OR A KUDOS?

>> KUDOS TO PHILIP GOLD.

HE IS A FORMER CAPTAIN IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HAS WORKED AS A VOLUNTEER COACH.

>> YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO GET A BREAK ON YOUR PROPERTY TAXES?

>> I'M WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.

I WISH HIM AND HIS FAMILY WELL.

MY KIDS GOT A CHANCE TO MEET THE MAYOR.

THEY WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I TOLD THEM " I WAS MAYOR TOO!"

>> WE DO NOT DO CONTRACTING WELL IN STATE GOVERNMENT AND MANY TIMES WE DO NOT DO THEM WELL IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

THE ILO SCANDAL IS ONE EXAMPLE ABOUT.

-- EXAMPLE OF THAT.

I COMPETED PERSONALLY MY COMPANY FOR A FRAUD CONTRACT RHODE ISLAND WAS DOING AND WE DETERMINED GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT THE CONTRACT WAS GEARED TO HANDED OFF TOWARDS ONE COMPANY.

THE STATE EVENTUALLY CANCELED THE PROCUREMENT.

THEY BROUGHT OUT A NEW ONE AND WE FOUND A SIMILAR PROBLEM, CONTESTED IT, AND THEY STOPPED IT.

I THINK SOME POLITICIANS USE THE CONTRACTING PROCESS AS A GOODIE BAG.

IT SHOULDN'T BE AND WE DO NOT HAVE A GOOD INDEPENDENT CHECK AND BALANCE ON THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS IS BROKEN.

>> WE HAVE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME, LITERALLY, TRAUNCH OF MONEY.

NOW EVERYBODY IS STUMBLING ALL OVER THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT SPENT A DIME WHICH I THINK IS PROBLEMATIC.

LOCAL CITIES AND TOWNS HAVE A CHANCE AND THE STATE -- WHAT WOULD BE ON YOUR WISH LIST IF YOU ARE SITTING IN THE MIRROR SEAT?

WHAT -- MAYOR'S SEAT?

>> HOUSING IS A HUGE ISSUE.

I CANNOT BELIEVE THE RENTAL PRICES THAT ARE MORE THAN WHAT MY FIRST MORTGAGE WAS RENTING A SMALL APARTMENT!

FOCUSING ON HOUSING IS MORE IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON IOUR WORKFORCE.

EDUCATION -- I AM SO GLAD WE ARE FOCUSING ON REBUILDING SCHOOLS OR BUILDING NEW ONES.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED WITH THE ROADWORKS IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL BECAUSE EVERYONE USES IT AS WELL.

I CANNOT THINK OF ANYONE WHO TRAVELS IN HELICOPTER AROUND RHODE ISLAND!

FOCUSING ON LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS THAT WILL BENEFIT US -- IF WE CAN GET PEOPLE UNDERNEATH A ROOF, INTO THE VERY BEST SCHOOLS, THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND WILL PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT WILL IMPROVE ALL OF US.

>>>> I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE GOVERNOR WANTING TO DO ABOUT 10% OF THE MONEY TO INFUSE IT.

IT IS OK IF WE ARE DOING LONG-TERM INVESTMENT.

ONCE IN A LIFETIME WE CAN GET THIS MUCH MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

HOW MANY CONVERSATIONS HALFWAY SAID IN THE STATE, -- EVERYTHING YOU SAID EXACTLY FALLS IN THIS CATEGORY'S.

THEY, LOOK AT OUR EDUCATION, OUR ROADS, OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

THIS IS THE ONE TIME TO REALLY BE THOUGHTFUL, COMPREHENSIVE, TAKE THAT MONEY AND MAKE LONG-LASTING CHANGE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

>> I AGREE AT A HIGH LEVEL ON ALL THE ISSUES WE HAVE RAISED.

>> I THOUGHT THERE WAS GOING TO BE MORE DIVERGENCE!

>> I DISAGREE AT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE MORE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS THAT INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE THE RESULTS ARE SO POOR AND NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS WILL NOT ADDRESS PERFORMANCE.

THE ONE THING I WANT TO BRING UP THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY IGNORED IS A BIG PROBLEM.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND.

A LOT OF THOSE FUNDS WERE STOLEN FROM US.

THERE WAS A HUGE FRAUD BECAUSE OUR TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WAS POOR.

WE PAY DEARLY FOR IT IN TERMS OF THEFT.

WE SHOULD NOT REQUIRE RHODE ISLAND BUSINESSES TO REPLENISH THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND.

BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, WHICH BUSINESSES HAD NO ABILITY TO CONTROL WHATSOEVER.

IF WE DO NOT TAKE WHATEVER CHUNK OF FUNDS IS NECESSARY TO MAKE OUR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SYSTEM WHOLE,, WE ARE COMMITTING A COLOSSAL DISSERVICE TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

>> I WAS A VICTIM OF FRAUD.

THAT IS A GOOD IDEA.

WE NEED TO SUPPORT ORGANIC GROWTH HERE IN OUR STATE.

WE ALWAYS FOCUS ON BRINGING IN COMPANIES.

HAVING COMPANIES THAT ARE BORN HERE, GROWN HERE, THAT EXPAND HERE -- >> HE NEEDS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR!

[LAUGHTER] >> THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON LIVELY.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS GOING TO BE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT WEEK!

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

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