THE 2014 RHODE ISLAND STATE BUDGET
It’s passed the General Assembly and awaits the approval of Governor Chaffee.
What a mess it is.
Think about this. Where else but Rhode Island would you have nearly $3 million worth of new tolling equipment (installed on a new bridge at the eleventh hour of its start date) become obsolete because the Speaker of the House needed to trade votes in order to protect a bond payment on a bad business deal – which in turn covers his exposure for possible malfeasance?
Did you get all that?
We should be happy that the economy of the East Bay and Aquidneck Island will survive – for now – with the suspension of the planned tolls. But it’s happening for the wrong reason. And that's why in the end we are going to pay even more. The solution for a maintenance plan for the bridge will include some kind of huge new bureaucracy that will toll and fee us until we choke.
We should be paying for the upkeep of that bridge with general revenue. Instead it's been thrown into the RI Turnpike and Bridge Authority with last year’s legislation.
And now it stands temporarily with no funding source for maintenance until they figure it all out.
As for the 38 Studios bond payments…the Speaker is doing all he can to make good on the debt, and for year one and two (and half million dollars) he has.
Default would have triggered litigation. Litigation would trigger too many questions about the behind-the-scenes process.
And most of our legislators would just as soon forget that they were duped into this 2010 vote rather than dig in, demand answers and get their dignity back.
AARON HERNANDEZ
The story is shocking. And there is plenty to cover without the worry about the Patriots offense. Please, give it some time. A man is dead.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It looks like Edward Snowden might have one long layover in the Moscow airport.
The Bruins loss was as heartbreaking as it gets. But when you see how hard they fought there is no place for blame.
Summer is here. Enjoy it. It goes to quick.
