JIM: THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT," THE FUTURE OF THE PAWTUCKET STADIUM IS IN DOUBT AFTER ONE OF ITS PUBLIC PARTNERS PUTS ITS FINANCING ON HOLD.

AND THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES HOPING TO REPLACE CONGRESSMAN CICILLINE GROWS.

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY.

>> FOR OVER 30 YEARS, "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT," HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I'’M A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PREVIOUS.

JIM: JOINING US ON THE PANEL, EMILY LYNCH, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND, BILL BARTHOLOMEW, FOUNDER OF THE BARTHOLOMEWTOWN PODCAST, AND PROVIDENCE JOURNAL STATEHOUSE REPORTER PATRICK ANDERSON.

HELLO AND WELCOME.

IT'’S GREAT TO BE BACK WITH YOU AGAIN.

THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET HIT THE PAUSE THIS WEEK ON ITS PORTION OF A PUBLIC FINANCINGFOR TIDEWATER LANDING, PUTTING THE FUTURE OF A PROJECT THAT INCLUDES A CIGNA SURE -- SIGNATURE 10,000 SEAT SOCCER STADIUM IN QUESTION.

INTEREST RATE INCREASES HAVE MADE AN ALREADY NARROW MARGIN FOR BORROWING EVEN MORE CHALLENGING.

PATRICK, YOU HAD A STORY THIS MORNING, THAT THIS MAY JUST BE THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

IT IS HAPPENING EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

PATRICK: FINANCIAL CONDITIONS WITH INTEREST RATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO FINANCE BIG PROJECTS.

IT IS HITTING ON MULTIPLE LEVELS.

INTEREST RATES ARE GOING UP.

CONSTRUTION COSTS HAVE GONE UP.

WITH SILICON VALLEY BANK'’S COLLAPSE, LENDING IS GETTING TIGHT BECAUSE BANKS ARE SKITTISH, BEING WATCHED BY DEPOSITORS.

SO THEY ARE PULLING BACK.

IF YOU ARE LIKE THE DEVELOPERS OF THE PAWTUCKET SOCCER STADIUM, YOUR NUMBERS TO MAKE YOUR PROJECT WORK ARE GETTING MORE DIFFICULT.

BASICALLY WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE, THEY NEED A LOAN TO FINANCE A PART OF THAT PROJECT.

THEY HAVE HELP FROM THE STATE.

THEY ARE PUTTING A LOT OF INVESTOR MONEY IN.

BUT PART OF THE PACKAGE TO PAY FOR 120 MILLION DOLLAR PLUS STADIUM IS GETTING A BANK LOAN.

RIGHT NOW EITHER THE BANK WILL NOT EITHER MAKE THE LOAN OR THE INTEREST RATES ARE EXORBITANT, SO THAT HAS NOT CLOSED.

SO, THE STATE AND THE CITY, WHICH ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO PUTTING FINANCING IN, DO NOT WANT TO PUT TAX DOLLARS, COMMIT TAX DOLLARS INTO SOMETHING THEY KNOW DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH FINANCING TO ACTUALLY BE COMPLETED.

JIM: THE PUBLIC MONEY COMES IN ON THE BACK END.

PATRICK: IT COMES AT THE SAME TIME.

THERE IS A PUBLIC LOAN THE CITY AND THE STATE WANT TO CLOSE ON THE SAME DAY AS THE PRIVATE BANK LOAN.

HEY ARE JUST WAITING FOR THAT PRIVATE PIECE TO COME IN, SO THAT IS THE LOGJAM THAT IS HOLDING THINGS UP.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE DEVELOPER HAS SPENT, THEY SAY, AROUND $20 MILLION.

JIM: IN THE GROUND.

PATRICK: THE QUESTION IS HOW LONG THEY CAN GO.

IF THEY DON'’T GET THE FINANCING, AT SOME POINT, THEY WILL RUN OUT OF THAT CASH, AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS?

JIM: THIS IS THE FEAR ALL ALONG, YOU GET INTO THE PROJECT AND THEN THE FINANCING IS TENUOUS WHERE IT BECOMES A PROBLEM.

EMILY: THE MAYOR MADE A GOOD DECISION TO HALT IT AT THIS POINT IN THE INTEREST OF THE TAXPAYERS.

WE SEE THIS HAPPENING NOT ONLY WITH CONSTRUCTION JOBS BUT ALSO AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, PERSONAL LEVEL, FAMILY LEVEL.

MAKING DECISIONS RIGHT NOW IS TOUGH.

THE INCREASE IN THE INTEREST RATE AFFECTING DECISIONS TO BUY A CAR, BUY A HOME.

BILL: I COMPLETELY AGREE.

IT IS THAT FISCAL CONSERVATISM WHERE SOMETIMES PEOPLE ROLL THEIR EYES, BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS WHETHER OTHER PERSONAL OR THE MACRO LEVEL.

I SPOKE TO A RENOWNED ECONOMIST FROM BROWN UNIVERSITY THIS WEEK ON THE BANKING SITUATION.

YES, SILICON VALLEY BANK IS CERTAINLY IN ITS OWN SILO, BUT THE CONTAGION THAT WOULD COME FROM THAT, AS PATRICK DESCRIBES, A TIGHTENING OF LENDING AND SCRUTINY AROUND THE BANKING SECTOR.

THAT IS JUST A PART OF THE PIE OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS THAT WILL PROBABLY PUT THIS STADIUM ON PAUSE.

THE SPEAKER YESTERDAY TOLD DAN YORK THAT THE STADIUM PROJECT IS PAUSED.

JIM: GOVERNOR MCKEE, THEY ARE READY -- THE MAYOR GAVE IT THE ENDORSEMENT, SAYING IT IS GOING FULL SPEED AHEAD.

THE SUPERMAN BUILDING, A COUPLE OF HIGH SCHOOLS AND MORE RICK, PAWTUCKET.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THOSE?

PATRICK: EVERYTHING WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT, COST-BENEFIT QUESTIONS GOING ON AT CITY COUNCILS AS WELL AS IN BOARDROOMS, THOSE KINDS OF PLACES.

IF YOU JUST PASSED A BOND, IF YOU ARE A VOTER WHO APPROVED A MULTI-SCHOOL PROJECT, YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU APPROVE TO SPEND NOT GOING QUITE AS FAR.

MAYBE IT PAYS FOR A SMALLER THEN YOU HAVE THE LARGER PROJECT, THE ONE IN EAST PROVIDENCE.

WE DON'’T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THAT.

THE ECONOMICS DON'’T WORK QUITE AS WELL FOR ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS.

DO THEY GET SCALED-BACK, ARE THEY SMALLER?

IF THEY WAIT, ARE THEY GOING TO GET BETTER OR WORSE?

RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THAT CYCLE, BECAUSE THERE IS INFLATION, IT'’S PERSISTENT, THE FED KEEPS RAISING RATES TO TRY AND SLOW THINGS DOWN.

RIGHT NOW, IT IS IN A CYCLE THAT IS HITTING REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION IN PARTICULAR.

JIM: FINALLY ON THE BILL, FORMER SOCCER REFEREE.

YOU HAVE HUNG UP YOUR CLEATS.

TOO MANY CRAZY PARENTS?

>> WAY TOO MANY.

IT IS A PROBLEM.

I DID REF IN THE LINK THAT IS COMING TO TIDEWATER.

JIM: LET'’S SAY THAT THIS PROJECT COMES ABOUT.

DO YOU THINK THERE IS ENOUGH PUBLIC SUPPORT, PEOPLE PUTTING MONEY INTO TICKETS TO MAKE IT GO?

BILL: IF WE ARE BEING HONEST ABOUT IT, IT IS AN UPHILL BATTLE.

YOU HAVE LEGACY PROGRAMS LIKE URI BASKETBALL THAT ARE NOT FULL STADIUM'’S ALL THE TIME UNLESS YOU HAVE AN EXCELLENT SEASON.

THERE IS NO TRADITION, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

BUT THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE WITH THE A AND B SIDE, WITH OTHER IDEAS AROUND THE BLACKSTONE VALLEY, IT CAN BE AN EFFECTIVE ACTIVITY.

IS IT GOING TO BE A SOLD-OUT STADIUM WITH PEOPLE WAVING THE YELLOW FLAGS, CRYING WHENEVER THAT FIRST PERSON SCORES THAT GOAL?

WILL WE SEE TATTOOS, PEOPLE UPSET WHEN THE TEAM LOSES?

I DON'’T KNOW.

MAYBE.

JIM: GET OUT YOUR SCORECARD CD1 RACE.

SINCE WE WERE LAST WITH YOU, WE HAD TWO MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS OF PEOPLE NOT RUNNING.

ELENA VAUX AND HOUSE SPEAKER JOE SHEKARCHI.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THEM AS WE GO ALONG.

AS WE LOOK AT THE RACE, TO ME, IT IS INTERESTING THAT THEY HAD THE MOST MONEY AND NAME RECOGNITION.

HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE RACE?

EMILY: IT OPENS IT UP FOR OTHER POTENTIAL CANDIDATES.

WE SEE SABINA MATOS, SANDRA KEENUM HAVE PUT IN THEIR NAMES RECENTLY.

OTHERS, AS WELL.

WE WERE WAITING TO SEE, FOLKS HAS A LOT OF MONEY TO PUT IN.

AT LEAST SHE DID IN THE GOVERNOR'’S RACE.

I THINK THAT HAS DEFINITELY CHANGED THE RACE.

JIM: THIS IS A RACE FROM A POLITICAL SCIENCE STANDPOINT, A SHORT WINDOW, YOU DON'’T NEED A TON OF MONEY.

PROBABLY NOT A LOT OF OUTSIDE OF MONEY.

AND YOU DON'’T NEED 50% TO GET BEYOND THE PRIMARY.

EMILY: EXACTLY.

THAT LEADS TO DISCUSSIONS REGARDING ELECTION REFORMS BECAUSE OF THAT.

WE MAY HAVE A PRETTY LARGE FIELD WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR THAT PRIMARY.

JIM: NAME RECOGNITION AND MONEY AT THIS POINT.

SABINA MAOTOS HAS THE NAME RECOGNITION.

HOW WOULD SHE PLAY ON THE ISLAND?

>> HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD TELL YOU WHO THE TENANT GOVERNOR WAS OUT IN -- LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS OUT IN NEWPORT?

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WILL BE A TIGHT ELECTION.

WITH THE SPEAKER STEPPING OUT, FOLKS DECIDING I DON'’T WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE OF LOSING A SECOND MAJOR ELECTION IN THE YEAR, I THINK YOU GET TO A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE MATOS VERSUS GREBE OVER THE SUMMER.

JIM: YOU THINK HE IS IN?

>> I REALLY DO, ESPECIALLY WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON.

JIM: WOULD THEY LET HIM COME BACK IN AND CUT THE RIBBON?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS ANOTHER CANDIDATE THAT IS LOOMING.

GABE AMO COMES FROM THE RAIMONDO ADMINISTRATION, NOW IN THE BIDEN WHITE HOUSE.

VERY WELL-CONNECTED AT THE STATE LEVEL, MUNICIPAL, FEDERAL LEVEL.

THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIM AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IS THAT IF YOU LOSE THE RACE AND YOU ARE MATOS OR GREBE, YOU GET TO GO BACK TO YOUR JOB THE NEXT DAY.

FOR ANYBODY ELSE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP YOUR JOB AND THEN WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'’T WIN.

JIM: HOW DOES HE PLAY IN PORTSMOUTH?

WE KNOW WHO HE IS, SOME HAVE NO IDEA.

IN A SHORT RACE WITH NAME RECOGNITION, THAT IS A HEAVY LIFT FOR GABE AMO.

>> HE HAS CONNECTIONS IN WASHINGTON AND CAN PROBABLY RAISE A PILE OF MONEY.

THAT IS SPECULATIVE BECAUSE HE HAS NEVER RUN, BUT HAVING CONNECTIONS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, IT IS SAFE TO SAY.

HIS NAME RECOGNITION WOULD COME BY ADVERTISING, KIND OF LIKE HELENA FOLKS LAST YEAR, HER NAME RECOGNITION WAS NOT HIGH GOING INTO IT.

AFTER A LOT OF ADS OVER THE SUMMER, IT WAS PRETTY DECENT, AND SHE GOT CLOSE TO TAKING DOWN THE GOVERNOR.

TO BILL'’S POINT, THE FIELD IS NOT SET YET.

PROBABLY WHILE I'’M SPEAKING SOMEBODY IS ANNOUNCING.

JIM: WHEN DO YOU THINK IT IS GOING TO SHAKE OUT?

APRIL, MAY?

PATRICK: I THINK BY THEN.

THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WE WILL SEE MORE CANDIDATES, SOME OF THOSE BIG DECISIONS LIKE GABE, IT'’S A BIG DECISION FOR HIM TO MAKE.

HE IS IN A GOOD POSITION NOW AND WOULD HAVE TO GIVE THAT UP.

YOU COULD HAVE CANDIDATES FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR MAY NOT HAVE TO GIVE UP AS MUCH TO COME IN, COULD BE PRIVATELY WEALTHY.

THERE ARE FOLKS LIKE LIZ PERRICK OUT THERE.

UNTIL WE KNOW HOW THE LANES ARE SET, IT IS HARD TO FORECAST.

EMILY: I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NAME RECOGNITION.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LIST SO FAR, IT IS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MATOS WHO HAS WON A STATEWIDE ELECTION, SO PEOPLE ARE MORE FAMILIAR WITH HER IN CERTAIN AREAS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE CAN LOOK BACK TO BOB WAKEN GOING FROM LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO BEING A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE IN THE LATE 1990'’S.

I THINK MATOS HAS THE ADVANTAGE.

JIM: SABINA MATOS, -- THREE LATINA CANDIDATES.

I WONDER IF THAT IS A STRENGTH IN NUMBERS OR SPLITS THE VOTE?

EMILY: THE RESPONSE THAT WE HAVE HEARD IN THE MEDIA IS, IS THAT BEING DISCUSSED FOR MEN?

WHY IS THERE A FOCUS -- JIM: BECAUSE IT IS APPLES AND ORANGES, IN MY MIND.

IS IT NOT?

EMILY: I THINK THAT WE COULD LOOK AT THE GROUP.

YES, YOU ARE GOING TO SPLIT THE VOTE WITH MULTIPLE CANDIDATES.

JIM: THE WAY I SEE IT IS, THERE ARE PLENTY OF WHITE GUYS IN CONGRESS.

WHAT STANDS OUT HERE IS YOU HAVE THREE, GOOD LATINA CANDIDATES, AND THAT IS A NOVELTY.

SABINA MATOS HAS SAID WE NEED MORE DIVERSITY IN CONGRESS.

I WOULD BE THE FIRST LATINA.

SO WHY ISN'’T CANO OR RIVERA EQUALLY QUALIFIED IF YOU ARE JUST LOOKING FOR DIVERSITY?

>> THERE IS VOTE SPLITTING WITH EVERYBODY ESPECIALLY WITH A FIELD THIS BIG.

WHAT EACH CANDIDATE NEEDS TO DO, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE, IS DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES.

GET THAT NAME RECOGNITION AND THEN CLAIM A SECTION OF THE ELECTORATE THAT IS YOURS, GIVE PEOPLE A REASON TO VOTE FOR YOU.

THAT IS WHAT ALL THE CANDIDATES ARE GOING TO DO, ARE GOING TO BE FACED WITH.

WE DON'’T HAVE ANYONE FROM THE LEFT ENTERING YET.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN.

SOMEONE WILL PROBABLY JUMP IN WHO IS MORE OF A TRUE PROGRESSIVE.

HOW DOES THAT CHANGE THINGS?

ALL OF THAT WILL SHAPE HOW THIS RACE PLAYS OUT.

>> TOTALLY AGREE.

THE SO-CALLED PROGRESSIVE CIVIL WAR MANIFESTING RIGHT NOW, INABILITY TO RALLY AROUND A CANDIDATE THAT HAS A PATHWAY TO VICTORY THAT CAN TAP INTO THE MAINSTREAM.

THERE WAS A PHOTO THAT I ZOOMED IN ON DURING THE PROVIDENCE ST. PATRICK'’S DAY PARADE.

GOVERNOR MCKEE IS IN THE MIDDLE, THEN SABINA MATOS.

WHERE DOES THE GOVERNOR LAND?

HIS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WHO HE HAND-PICKED, BASICALLY RAN A CAMPAIGN WITH DESPITE TENSION, OR THE NORTHERN MAYORAL.

PORTION OF THE POLITICAL SCENE WHICH WOULD FEATURED ON GRUBBY.

>> AND THE OTHER THING IS MONEY.

YOU DON'’T NEED TO SPEND A PILE OF MONEY.

THERE WERE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT CAME IN IN CD2.

YOU COULD GET OUT WITH A MILLION DOLLARS.

>> DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ARE.

IF YOU HAVE NAME RECOGNITION YOU DON'’T NEED TO SPEND AS MUCH.

IF YOU DON'’T, YOU MAY HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE NOBODY KNOWS YOU.

JIM: WILL THERE BE A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE?

>> I THINK THERE WILL BUT THEY ARE NOT LINING UP AND JUMPING IN.

IT IS KIND OF SEEN AS A CHORE.

>> IS HE FROM MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, WHO IS HE, WHY IS HE INVOLVED.

HE WILL NOT EVEN QUALIFY FOR THE DEBATES.

EMILY: BILL MADE A GOOD POINT ABOUT GOVERNOR MCKEE, WHO HE WILL SUPPORT, AND WHO ARE THESE ENDORSEMENTS?

THAT WILL BE POWERFUL FOR THIS RACE.

WHICH UNIONS ARE GOING TO SUPPORT WHICH CANDIDATES?

JIM: I ALSO WONDER, WOULD GOVERNOR MCKEE SAY -- WHAT IF HE DOES NOT ENDORSE SABINA MATOS AND THAT HAS TO BE IN THOSE MEETINGS?

A LITTLE AWKWARD.

>> YOU COULD JUST DO WHAT GINA DID WITH HIM.

LOSE HIS PHONE NUMBER.

JIM: A COALITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS IS TRYING TO GET A COALITION FOR A BOTTLE BILL, PUTTING A DEPOSIT DOWN ON EVERY CAN OR GLASS, WHATEVER YOU BUY, BEVERAGE.

THEY ARE TRYING TO CLEAN UP THE ENVIRONMENT.

I SPOKE WITH JED THORP, THE DIRECTOR FOR RHODE ISLAND CLEAN WATER MANAGEMENT THIS WEEK -- CLEAN WATER ACTION THIS WEEK.

HERE IS A PART OF OUR INTERVIEW.

BOTTLE BILLS HAVE BEEN MET WITH LITTLE SUCCESS, NOT HAVE PASSED SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE.

WHAT MAKES YOU OPTIMISTIC THIS YEAR?

JED: GOOD QUESTION.

WE ARE AT A POINT NOW WHERE LEGISLATORS RECOGNIZE THE BEVERAGE, PLASTIC CONTAINER SITUATION ONLY GETS WORSE.

WE HAVE DATA FROM THE PAST 40 YEARS FROM SHORELINE CLEANUPS THAT SHOW PRETTY CLEARLY THAT WHAT WE'’VE BEEN DOING IS NOT WORKING.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER, WE HAD TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

WHEN YOU CAPTURE CONTAINERS LIKE YOU DO A BEVERAGE CONTAINER IN A RECYCLING SYSTEM, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE TURNED INTO NEW BOTTLES.

AS OPPOSED TO NOW, THE THINGS THAT YOU PUT IN THE SINGLE STREAM SYSTEM, A LOT OF THOSE CONTAINERS ARE NOT ACTUALLY RECYCLED.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER ON RECYCLING AS WELL.

A BOTTLE BILL ADDRESSES BOTH OF THOSE PROBLEMS.

THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT ARE HAVING A $.10 DEPOSIT FEE VERSUS FIVE CENTS.

THE DATA IS PRETTY CLEAR THE STATES LIKE MICHIGAN AND OREGON THAT HAVE THE $.10 FEE HAVE HIGH RETENTION RATES -- REDEMPTION RATES.

JIM: $.10 ACROSS THE BOARD?

NIPS?

THEY HAVE BEEN A BIG DEAL.

JED: A LOT OF ATTENTION HAS BEEN PAID TO THEM.

THEY ARE PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE THEY ARE SMALL ENOUGH WHERE THEY CAN SLIP DOWN INTO THE STORM DRAINS, WHICH CREATES A MUNICIPAL PROBLEM FOR THE MANUS WORKERS.

THEY ALSO CANNOT BE EFFECTIVELY RECYCLED AT THE RESOURCE FACILITY.

JIM: AS YOU KNOW, IT IS ALWAYS WHAT JUICE YOU HAVE AT THE STATEHOUSE.

JED: SUPPORT IS BUILDING.

WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS IS THE YEAR THAT WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT, CRACK THAT NUT IN RHODE ISLAND AND GET THE BOTTLE BILL DONE.

JIM: YOU CAN WATCH THE CONVERSATION WITH JED THORP -- JIM THORPE -- JED THORP WITH CLEAN WATER ACTION.

WHILE THIS SOUNDS GOOD, WE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE BUDGET, EVERYTHING ELSE.

HE SAYS HE IS MEETING WITH STATE LEADERS BUT I WONDER IF WE HAVE THE STOMACH FOR IT.

>> WHAT DOES THAT COALITION LOOK LIKE?

MY FIRST ENGAGEMENT WITH RHODE ISLAND POLITICS WAS WHEN I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD, GETTING A CERTIFICATE FROM THEN CHARLESTOWN TOWNE PRESIDENT MIKE DOWNEY FOR PICKING UP TRASH.

MY WHOLE LIFE I HAVE SEEN THE DISGUSTING BEHAVIOR THAT PEOPLE ENGAGE IN OF THROWING LITTER INTO WATERWAYS, ON THE STREETS.

I THINK IT IS TERRIBLE, EMBARRASSING.

AT THE SAME TIME, WOULD PEOPLE GATHER THEIR BOTTLES AND BRING THEM TO WHEREVER THEY WILL DEPOSIT THEM TO GET $1.80?

I'’M NOT SURE.

I THINK IT IS MORE OF A COMMENTARY AT THIS POINT OF, TAKE A LOOK AROUND, ASK YOURSELF WHAT KIND OF WORLD YOU WANT TO LIVE IN.

JIM: DID YOU "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT TRY TO GET ONTO "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" WHEN YOU WERE SIX?

>> MAYBE ON THE OLD CARPETED SET.

JIM: THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT.

WHAT ABOUT THE BOTTLE BILL?

EMILY: I BELIEVE IN GOVERNOR MCKEE'’S INAUGURATION, HE TALKED ABOUT LITTER.

THAT WAS SOMETHING HE DISCUSSED.

WE SEE MAYOR SMILEY TALKING ABOUT THESE PRACTICAL POLITICS.

KEEPING OUR ROADWAYS CLEAN AND CLEAR.

WE CAN ALSO CONSIDER THE BLUE ECONOMY AS A BIG PUSH IN RHODE ISLAND.

THIS IS CLEANING UP OUR WATERWAYS, A BIG PART OF THAT.

I DON'’T KNOW IF IT WILL BE IN TRACTION THIS YEAR IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE IT COME UP.

MAYBE WE WILL SEE CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.

>> THE BOTTLE BILL IS A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE IT INVOLVES MONEY.

THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN MORE INTERESTED IN, THAT PLAY EASIER AT THE STATEHOUSE, ARE THINGS LIKE MANDATES THAT YOU DON'’T HAVE TO PAY FOR, ARE NOT ENFORCED.

WE HAVE A STRAW BAN.

YOU HAVE PROBABLY GOTTEN ONE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS WITHOUT EVEN ASKING.

STUFF LIKE THAT THEY MIGHT PREFER, THINGS THAT ARE LIKE TOUCH --LIGHT TOUCH.

I WILL SAY THERE IS SOME PRESSURE ON NIPS.

THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THEM.

THEY WILL FACE A CREDIBILITY GAP IF THEY DO NOTHING ABOUT NIPS THIS YEAR.

JIM: FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, THE MONEY FLOW HERE, THE REASON THE BEVERAGE INDUSTRY IS AGAINST THIS, THEY HAVE TO PUT UP 3.5 CENTS PER CAN.

THAT IS WHERE THE BEVERAGE INDUSTRY HAS HAD A HEAVY LOBBY.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS PRACTICALLY.

ONE MAN'’S TRASH IS ANOTHER MAN'’S TREASURE.

EVEN IF I DON'’T WANT TO PICK IT UP, MAYBE YOU HAVE PEOPLE TAKING THAT, COLLECTING, GOING WITH 500 BOTTLES.

IF YOU DON'’T WANT TO PUT THE DEPOSIT BACK, MAYBE SOMEBODY PICKS IT UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

EMILY: THAT IS A GREAT IDEA.

YOU MIGHT SEE GIRL SCOUTS, BOY SCOUTS MAKING THAT A PROJECT.

MAYBE THAT IS THE ROUTE.

>> YOU BRING UP A GREAT POINT WHICH I IGNORED COMPLETELY THINKING ABOUT THIS.

IT IS AN INDUSTRY IN NEW YORK CITY.% PEOPLE WORK VERY HARD GOING TO RECYCLING BINS, PICKING UP LETTER.

IT DOES INCENTIVIZE A DIY SMALL BUSINESS TO COLLECT THESE BOTTLES.

TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, THERE MAY BE MORE OF A PRACTICAL NATURE TO IT.

I STILL DON'’T THINK IT GETS THROUGH THIS YEAR.

JIM: I ALSO WONDER, I PUT OUT MY CANS.

IS SOMEBODY GOING TO BE RIFLING THROUGH MY RECYCLING?

THAT IS FINE ONCE IT GOES ON THE CURB, BUT THERE IS ALSO THE I'’M NOT THAT RESOURCE RECOVERY WILL SELL ON THE MARKET.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A DOWNSTREAM ECONOMIC IMPACT AND I'’M NOT SURE EVERYONE IS LOOKING AT.

PATRICK: IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT IT JUST FROM THE POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE, YOU MENTION PEOPLE GOING THROUGH YOUR TRASH.

DO POLITICIANS WANT FOLKS WITH SHOPPING CARTS OR LARGER THINGS FOR LOVE CANS PUSHING THEM DOWN THE STREET?

THEY MAY THINK THAT IS A BAD LOOK.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE DO IN NEW YORK.

JIM: EVEN IN NEW YORK.

PATRICK: EVEN THAT, THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO IT.

IF YOU ARE A POLITICIAN LOOKING FOR VOTES.

JIM: LET'’S GO TO OUTRAGES AND KUDOS.

PROFESSOR LYNCH, LET'’S BEGIN WITH YOU THIS WEEK.

EMILY: I WANT TO GIVE A KUDOS TO SENATOR JACK REED FOR SECURING A NEW CENTER FOR NOAA, BRING IT FROM VIRGINIA TO RHODE ISLAND, BRINGING NEW JOBS TO THE STATE.

JIM: THAT IS A BIG DEAL.

WAS THAT IN QUESTION?

THEY ARE MOVING IT AWAY FROM VIRGINIA, CREATION OF A NEW SITE?

EMILY: IT IS MOVING FROM NORFOLK, VIRGINIA TO NEWPORT.

JIM: THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT COMPETITION WITH NEWPORT NEWS.

ONE FOR RHODE ISLANDERS.

BILL: SOMETIMES YOU GET A WINDOW INTO THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE, THE WAY A CERTAIN PERSON THINKS.

WE HAD AN EXAMPLE LAST WEEK WHERE REPUBLICANS ASKED A DEMOCRAT IF SHE WAS A PEDOPHILE DURING CONVERSATION OF AN EQUITY BILL.

YOU HAVE TO WATCH THE TAPE TO GET THE FULL CONTEXT.

WHAT WAS EVEN MORE EMBARRASSING WAS THE ENSUING LACK OF AUTHENTIC APOLOGY IN THE MOMENT, SUBSEQUENTLY ACROSS THE MEDIA FROM THE REPUBLICAN.

NOT TO BE OUTDONE, THE MINORITY LEADER PRODUCED WHAT HAS TO BE TO HIS CREDIT IS SOMETHING THAT HE BELIEVES IS EQUIVALENT TO THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

YOU CAN PICTURE HIM WITH A TRI-CORNERED HAT OUT IN GLOUCESTER SCREAMING THIS TO THE WIND, CONDEMNING JOE SHEKARCHI FOR REMOVING THE REPUBLICAN FROM THE COMMITTEE, WHO SAID THAT RIDICULOUS COMMENT, THAT IT SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT.

IT SHOWS YOU THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN RHODE ISLAND IS DISORGANIZED, AND IRRELEVANT GROUP OF UNFORTUNATELY MOSTLY PEOPLE WHO APPEARED ON THE SURFACE TO JUT BE COMPLETE FOOLS AT THIS POINT.

JIM: IT IS LIKE IN THE 1980'’S, I AM DATING MYSELF.

HE RAN A COMMERCIAL IN THE CAMPAIGNS, I AM SORRY IF YOU ARE OFFENDED.

BILL: IT REALLY IS TOO BAD.

I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS EXTENSIVELY BEFORE.

THE STATE NEEDS A BIPARTISAN, TWO SYSTEMS AT PLAY.

THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE WHO ARE REPUBLICANS IN RHODE ISLAND.

THEY SHOULD BE OUT IN FRONT INSTEAD OF THE COMPLETE AND UTTER NONSENSE WE HAVE SEEN THE LAST WEEK.

PATRICK: I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH A MICRO OUTRAGE.

JIM: MICRO?

I LIKE THAT.

PATRICK: COURTESY OF MY COLLEAGUE KATHY GREG WHO REPORTS THAT THE MEDIA AT THE STATEHOUSE IS NO LONGER ALLOWED TO DIRECTLY COMMUNICATE AND GET INFORMATION FROM THE STATE LIBRARIAN.

THE STATE LIBRARIANS ARE GREAT, THEY HELP US A LOT.

NOW WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE'’S PUBLIC RELATIONS APPARATUS TO TRANSFER THE INFORMATION, THE RECORDS OF HISTORY TO THE MEDIA.

I DON'’T THINK THAT'’S A GOOD IDEA.

JIM: ANY REASON GIVEN FOR THAT?

PATRICK: I THINK THAT IS JUST THE WAY THAT MODERN COMMS SHOPS OPERATE THESE DAYS.

JIM: LIBRARIANS ARE ALWAYS SWITZERLAND, THEY DON'’T WANT TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS.

PATRICK: THEY ARE NOT DROPPING HOT TAKES, NO MATTER WHAT.

JIM: THAT IS GOOD.

IT IS A QUICK HALF-HOUR.

THINGS FOR JOINING US.

BILL, GOOD TO SEE YOU, EMILY, PATRICK.

WE ARE IN THE HEART OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHO WILL BE ANNOUNCING FOR CD1 OVER THE NEXT WEEK.

JOIN US NEXT WEEK AS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] >> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY.

>> FOR OVER 30 YEARS, "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.