The Moderate Party of Rhode Island NEWS Releases

Rhode Island's jobless picture

Wed, 27 January 2010 19:00:00 GMT

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. The following graph, published by Business Week, shows how Rhode Island's jobless rate stacks up against the rest of the nation.

It is notable and sad that in all of New England, where every other state 'enjoys' a jobless rate of less than 7% to 9%, Little Rhody is listed here at 11%. Rhode Island's most recently published unemployment rate was 12.9%, but the real number of Rhode Islanders out of work is closer to 20%, which translates to almost 1 out of every 5 Rhode Islanders being out of work.

Outrageous Governance: This is no way to run a legislature

Mon, 2 November 2009 11:00:00 GMT

The Rhode Island General Assembly has just completed a 'special' two-day session during which time close to 200 separate pieces of legislation were brought to the floor for a vote.

This frenzy of 'legislating' is nothing new. Rhode Islanders have, unfortunately, become accustomed to the sight of bleary-eyed, fatigued legislators facing a mind-numbing numbers of bills on which they must vote without serious discussion or debate. It's how the Rhode Island legislature conducts the business of governance.

Why, you might ask, do virtually all of the laws passed by our legislature get passed in a two-day spasm of lawmaking?

The answer to every question posed in this commentary, and the reason that our General Assembly conducts its business in such a reckless and ill-considered manner boils down to one word:

CONTROL.

Voters affiliate with Moderate Party and form Town Committees

Wed, 21 October 2009 15:00:00 GMT

The Moderate Party of Rhode Island announces the formation of new Moderate Party Town and City Committees as grass roots activism grows.

Warwick, RI - The Moderate Party of Rhode Island (MPRI) announces their continued success in outreach to voters across the state with the formation of 17 Moderate Party Town Committees. As support for the Moderate Party's platform of focusing on the Four E's - Economy, Education, Ethics, and Environment - grows, members have formed local committees to take that message to their family, friends and neighbors.

Speaker of the House candidates - A list of questions for the job interview

Fri, 2 October 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Now hiring: Speaker of Rhode Island House of Representatives

Beginning immediately, the Rhode Island House of Representatives is accepting applicants for the job of Speaker of the House. This job is an incredibly powerful political position - often called the most powerful political position in the state.

Potential candidates must already hold elected office as a Rhode Island Representative.

The ideal candidate would work to make this office a bit less powerful - and make the RI House of Representatives operate in a more democratic manner than it does now.

During the interview process, potential candidates should be prepared to provide specifics on how they would address the following issues:

Worst in the nation for business

Fri, 25 September 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Forbes magazine just released its most recent national ranking of the Best States for Business. The rankings of all 50 states can be viewed here:

http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/23/best-states-for-business-beltway-best-states_table.html<

Unsurprisingly to many, Rhode Island came out dead last in this ranking.

While many of us are aware that Rhode Island's tax climate and posture acts against the growth of our economy, the Forbes article brings to light other areas of dysfunction that act against our economic interests.

Rhode Island ranked 35th in terms of 'Labor Rank', which is described as 'measures educational attainment, net migration and projected population growth'.

Our schools continue to underperform in terms of providing a skilled workforce for our state, and our schools attain this under-performance while costing a lot relative to the educational costs incurred by other states. An under-educated workforce acts against new employers coming to Rhode Island bringing jobs that require 21st century skills.

Rhode Island is losing population, which should be unsurprising to us all. First of all, as jobs disappear due to our uncompetitive posture, people need to move to other states where the job pool is growing. Second, as Rhode Island becomes more uncompetitive tax-wise with other states, individuals will move to where their cost of living is lower. These are natural events governed by basic laws of human nature and economics.

September 3, 2009 Update

Thu, 3 September 2009 11:45:00 GMT

A lot has been going on in the 2 weeks since we attained party status!

We have filed for and received our non-profit status, set up bank accounts, got all set up with the Board of Elections campaign finance division, set up our PayPal account and filed all of our federal paperwork.

We have looked at a lot of options for office space, scored a bunch of free office furniture (anyone want to help move a half dozen desks, chairs, conference table, etc next week?) and have been looking at phone systems.

Over 20 folks have come forward and indicated their willingness to run for the General Assembly in 2010. Yes, that number is right...over 20 already. We are only two weeks post-party status and already have candidates for over half of the seats in the RI Senate!!!!

RI Board of Elections releases new voter registration forms - RI voters can now register as Moderates

Thu, 20 August 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Rhode Island voters can now register as Moderates!!

The newly released voter registration form can be found by clicking here:

http://www.moderate-ri.org/English_VRF_Aug_2009.pdf

Yesterday morning, for the first time in my life, I affiliated with a political party.

Imagine my surprise when I found out at 10:15am that I was not the first Barrington resident to register as a Moderate!! (Thanks a lot, Steve Parola)

We're having a PARTY!!

Tue, 18 August 2009 14:30:00 GMT

This morning, the Rhode Island Board of Elections confirmed that the Moderate Party of Rhode Island (MPRI) has presented in excess of 23,589 certified signatures of registered voters in Rhode Island, qualifying the MPRI to become a recognized political party for the 2010 elections. The MPRI can now operate as a peer alongside the Democratic and Republican parties in Rhode Island.

Moderate Party readies 30,000 signatures for submission - but where are they supposed to go??

Thu, 30 July 2009 23:00:00 GMT

At our current pace of signature collections, we anticipate having a minimum of 30,000 signatures by Monday, August 3. At this number, we can be reasonably assured of having collected enough signatures to satisfy the requirement of 23,589 certified signatures to qualify as a political party in Rhode Island.

In preparation for our submittal, today we reached out to the Rhode Island Board of Elections to confirm where we are supposed to bring our signature sheets.

U.S. District Court awards attorney's fees in Moderate Party lawsuit

Thu, 23 July 2009 14:00:00 GMT

U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith just announced that attorney's fees have been awarded in the case of Block v. Mollis - a court case challenging the constitutionality of Rhode Island's ballot access laws.

In synopsis, Rhode Island General Law laid out a path to qualify a new political party for the ballot which ensured that the new political party would have a very difficult time qualifying for the ballot, as well as handicapping that new party from a fund raising and an organizational perspective.

No appeal to be filed in Moderate Party suit against state

Wed, 24 June 2009 14:00:00 GMT

RI Attorney General Patrick Lynch just issued a press release indicating that his office will not pursue an appeal of U.S. District Judge William Smith's decision in Block v Mollis.

This lawsuit asked the U.S. District Court to evaluate whether or not Rhode Island's ballot access laws were constitutional. Two aspects of Rhode Island's laws were brought into question: a 5% threshold requirement for signatures to qualify a new party for the ballot (which for 2010 comes to 23,588 signatures) and the timeframe in which those signatures were allowed to be collected (the start date prior to the lawsuit was January 1, 2010).

JUDGE STRIKES DOWN STATE BALLOT ACCESS LAW

Fri, 29 May 2009 22:45:00 GMT

Ruling in a lawsuit filed in February by the Rhode Island ACLU, U.S. District Judge William Smith has today ruled unconstitutional a state law that barred any new political party from collecting in an off-election year the signatures necessary to gain state recognition as a party. The suit had been filed on behalf of the Moderate Party of Rhode Island (MPRI). Under the law, the Party could not begin collecting signatures until January 1, 2010 in order to get on the ballot next year, even though Party members were ready and eager to begin the process of obtaining formal recognition as a political party.

Robert Flanders to speak at MPRI fund raiser Monday June 15, 2009 5:00 - 7:00pm

Thu, 29 May 2009 13:30:00 GMT

On Monday June 15th, 2009, the Moderate Party of Rhode Island welcomes Chairman of the Rhode Island Board of Regents Robert Flanders to speak at an MPRI fund raiser to be held in Warwick, RI.

Chairman Flanders will discuss education reform in Rhode Island - a topic of the utmost importance to the Moderate Party of Rhode Island.

Updates on our legal and legislative activities will be given, as well as updates on organizational activities surrounding our signature petition drive.

Appetizers and beverages will be served.

TRIAL DATE SET: Thursday April 30th, 2009 at 9:00am

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:30:00 GMT

The Moderate Party of Rhode Island lawsuit over Rhode Island's ballot access laws is heading to trial on Thursday April 30th, 2009 at 9:00am.

MPRI at CCRI Political Science Club Friday 4/17/2009 at 1:00pm in room 4080 at the main CCRI campus in Warwick. Public welcome to attend.

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:30:00 GMT

MPRI at CCRI Political Science Club Friday 4/17/2009 at 1:00pm in room 4080 at the main CCRI campus in Warwick. Public welcome to attend.

Update for April 10, 2009

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Rhode Island suffers from an extraordinarily difficult set of problems centered on our finances, schools and ethics. The root cause of most of these problems is politics. Our politicians lack the motivation and fortitude to seriously address crushing economic issues like state spending, pension reform and our tax structure.

Update for April 3, 2009

Fri, 3 Apr 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Moderate Party on TV this weekend

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.

Senate Judiciary Committee meets 3/31/09 - Will take testimony on bill to reform RI ballot access laws

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:30:00 GMT

The Senate Judiciary Committee will meet this Tuesday 3/31/09.

Among the bills being considered is Senate Bill 0203, sponsored by Senators Bates and O'Neill. Bill 0203 proposes modifying Rhode Island's ballot access laws by removing the start date when a new party can begin collecting signatures to qualify for ballot access. 0203 also proposes lowering the threshold for signature petitions to 1%, down from 5% mandated under current law.

MPRI Update for March 27, 2009

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The next 6 weeks will tell the tale for the Moderate Party of RI. In this time period, we should have a resolution to our federal lawsuit over Rhode Island's ballot access laws. In this time period, we will also learn how the General Assembly will vote on our legislation to change Rhode Island's ballot access laws.

House Judiciary Committee meets 3/25/09 - Will take testimony on bill to reform RI ballot access laws

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The House Judiciary Committee will meet this Wednesday 3/25/09.
Among the bills that the committee will take testimony on will include House Bill 5426, sponsored by Representatives Driver and Fierro.� Bill 5426 proposes modifying Rhode Island's ballot access laws by removing the start date when a new party can begin collecting signatures to qualify for ballot access.� 5426 also proposes lowering the threshold for signature petitions to 1%, down from 5% mandated under current law.

First radio spots to air over the next 2 weeks

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The Moderate Party of RI will be placing radio ads in most market segments over the next two weeks to publicize our cause.

Pension Reform

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Rhode Island's unfunded pension liability is seven billion dollars, or seven thousand dollars for every man, woman and child living in the state.� This one issue, if left unresolved, has the ability to ravage the state's finances as far into the future as one can see.

Senators Bates, O'Neill file ballot access bill

Tue, 05 Feb 2009 18:50:00 GMT

Senators David Bates and Ed O'Neill recently filed RI Senate bill 2009 S 0203 regarding ballot access reforms to RI General Law 17-1-2.

Text of the bill can be viewed here:

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us//BillText09/SenateText09/S0203.pdf

Rhode Island's current ballot access laws prohibit a new political party from collecting signatures to gain official state recognition in an off-election year, keeping that party from fund raising until the year of the election while existing parties can raise money during the off-election year.

The Rhode Island ACLU has today filed a federal lawsuit against Rhode Island elections officials on behalf of the Moderate Party of Rhode Island (MPRI)

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:00:00 GMT

The Rhode Island ACLU has today filed a federal lawsuit against Rhode Island elections officials on behalf of the Moderate Party of Rhode Island (MPRI), challenging the State's restrictive ballot access laws. The lawsuit, filed by RI ACLU volunteer attorney Mark W. Freel, argues that the laws unconstitutionally impede the ability of fledgling groups like MPRI from gaining formal recognition as a political party.