Ken Block is the guest on the morning news show 'On the
record' on ABC 6 this Sunday morning 4/5/2009 at 7:30am. Hosts
John Deluca and Buddy Cianci jump right in to a lively half hour
discussion with me about the Rhode Island political scene and
the Moderate Party of Rhode Island. Tell me what you think
about Cianci's idea for a 'mascot' for the MPRI.
MPRI files response to AG's request to dismiss
lawsuit
Attorneys acting on behalf of the MPRI have filed a response to
the State's motion to dismiss our federal lawsuit.
To a non-attorney, these motions are somewhat dry and difficult
to read (my apologies to our attorneys if they are reading
this). Essentially, we have argued that the State has not
shown sufficient grounds for this lawsuit to be dismissed prior to
the case being heard.
An amusing footnote in the motion deserves to be called out, as
it addresses what has been for me an irritating penchant on the part
of the AG's office to use condescending and paternalistic language
in their filings. Footnote 2 in the motion says it all for
me:
"Defendants suggest that the Moderate Party 'must learn to walk
before it runs'...Though this quip confuses the relevant legal
standard, particularly for a Rule 12(c) motion, the Plaintiffs
nonetheless note that their prior political activities
amply demonstrate their ambulatory capabilities."
If change is going to occur in Rhode Island, we can't waste
time in walking. We have to run to win.
Next up
Depositions in the lawsuit will be taken on April
7th.
Look for part 2 to the 'Deconstruction of our Pension Mess'
next week. Since part 1 was published, I have learned much
more about the specifics of how our pension system is working now,
and what I have learned will be shown to have an even greater
negative impact on the ability of the pension system to sustain
itself without an enormous level of support from the tax payers of
this state.
Part one can be found here:
More to come soon.
