MICHELLE: THIS WEEK ON A LIVELY EXPERIMENT, WE ARE HEADING INTO CRUNCH TIME OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

WE HAVE THE BIG BILLS IN THE PLAY.

AND WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR RHODE ISLAND TROUBLES TRANSIT AGENCY?

WE TALK TO A POLICY EXPERT WHO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING IT FOR YEARS.

ANNOUNCER: A LIVEY EXPERIMENT IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HAIL.

I AM JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR OVER 30 YEARS ALIVE THE EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US, AN ATTORNEY AND LEGAL ANALYST, LOU PULNER.

AND THE FORMER CRANSTON MAYOR.

WELCOME.

I AM JIM HUMMEL.

GREAT TO BE BACK WITH YOU THIS WEEK.

LAWMAKERS STILL HAVE MAJOR DECISIONS TO MAKE BEFORE THE GAVEL COMES DOWN FOR THE LAST TIME THIS YEAR.

AS ALWAYS, THE BIG DECISIONS WILL SURROUND THE BUDGET.

BUT PAYDAY LENDING, PUBLIC RECORDS LAW CHANGES AND GUN LEGISLATION ARE STILL UP IN THE AIR.

ALAN, LET ME BEGIN WITH YOU.

THE ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT WITH A BIT OF CONTROVERSY IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER’S BILL OF RIGHTS.

AS MAYOR, YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS AN AWFUL LOT.

IT’S GOTTEN SMARTER THAN WE EVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BEFORE.

DO YOU THINK?

>> IT’S ABOUT TIME.

IT’S BEEN YEARS THAT TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S AND MAYORS HAVE BEEN HANDCUFFED AND NOT ABLE TO TALK WHEN THE CASE IS BROUGHT FORWARD.

THE BILL THAT HAS COME FORWARD THAT HOPEFULLY WILL HAVE SOME TRACTION THIS YEAR SHOULD ALLOW CITIES AND TOWNS, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVES, THE POLICE CHIEF, THE ABILITY TO TALK ABOUT THE CASE, GIVE THE CHIEFS WHO SHOULD HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY -- IN THE DISCIPLINE PROCESS, THE ABILITY TO IMPOSE DISCIPLINE NOT JUST TWO DAYS, BUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS DISCIPLINE WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THIS BECAUSE I EXPENSIVE PROCESS WE HAVE SET BY STATUTE RIGHT NOW.

IT’S TIME THAT IT HAS TO HAPPEN.

GUEST: I THOUGHT THE MAXIMUM IN THE BILL WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WAS FIVE DAYS.

JIM: MINOR INFRACTIONS, AFTER TO 14, AND AT IS UP TO INTERPRETATION.

GUEST: THE ONLY PROBLEM THE MEDIA SEEMS TO HAVE, THE ACLU END COMMON CAUSE, IS THAT THEY DON’T HAVE TO GIVE OVER THE BODY CAMERA FOR MINOR VIOLATIONS.

AND MINOR VIOLATIONS WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE CHIEF.

SO IT’S KIND OF A QUESTION AS TO WHAT IS A MINOR INFRACTION.

>> THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN USEFUL TO HAVE AN EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT FACT GREATLY IMPACTS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT ARE HIGHLY POLICED, SO TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE BILL AND ALSO SOME OF THE CONTENTION AROUND THIS BILL AND LOOK AT IT FROM AN EQUITY LINES, TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT IS THIS IMPROVEMENT, IS IT ENOUGH?

HOW DO WE SEE IT IN FACT IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES?

PARTICULARLY FOR MAYORS, WE USED TO GO TO THE CHEESE AND THE MAYORS.

IT MADE IT LOOK LIKE YOU ARE HIDING.

SO BEING ABLE TO AT LEAST TELL THE PUBLIC, THIS IS WHAT WE’RE- LOOKING AT AND THIS IS WHERE WE ARE GOING, THAT WILL GO A LONG WAY.

GUEST: IT DOES GO ALONG WITH FOR TRANSPARENCY AND LETTING THE PUBLIC YOU KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE PROCESS OF IT ANYTIME YOU HAVE A STATUTORY FRAMEWORK WHERE YOU AREN’T ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT IT, EVERYONE IS LIKE SO IF YOU ARE HIDING SOMETHING AND AS MAYOR, THE POLICE CHIEF STANDING BY YOUR SIDE, YOU HAVE AT LEAST THE ABILITY TO GIVE SOME INFORMATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHY YOU ARE TAKING THESE ACTIONS OR NOT TAKING ACTIONS.

THAT HAS BEEN A BIG HANDCUFF FOR DECADES NOW WITH THIS EFFECT.

AND FOR ALL THE REASONS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, NOT JUST ACCOUNTABILITY OF OFFICERS, BUT HOLDING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE SO THE TAXPAYERS AND VOTERS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON, WITH A DID SOMETHING RIGHT OR WRONG.

IT TOOK A WHILE, BUT I AM GLAD THE SIDES CAME TOGETHER TO TRY TO WORK OUT THESE COMPROMISES.

IT IS STILL NOT PERFECT, BUT IT’S BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY.

>> IS SO IMPORTANT AND IT WILL GO A LONG WAY.

PAGE, YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT PAYDAY LENDING.

TELL ME WHERE IT STANDS NOW?

GUEST: WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THIS?

[LAUGHTER] IT’S A BUSINESS THAT PREYS ON POVERTY AND IT IS BENEFITING INSTITUTIONS WITH MONEY AT THE BACKS OF PEOPLE IN POVERTY.

IT IS PREDATORY.

GUEST: 260% INTEREST.

AND IT GETS PEOPLE TRAPPED IN THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND A WINK OUR SENIOR POLICY ANALYST SPOKEN IN OPPOSITION OF THIS BILL AND USED HER OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS A PERSON WITH THE GRADUATE DEGREES AND VERY ACCOMPLISHED, THEY CAN STILL GET STUCK IN THE PAYDAY LENDING TRAFFIC.

SO IT IMPACTS A LOT OF PEOPLE, MORE THAT ARE ACTUALLY OUT TALKING ABOUT GETTING TRAPPED IN PAYDAY LENDING.

I KNOW IT PAST THE HOUSE LAST YEAR AND IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE SENATE AND IT STILL HAS A WAYS TO GO.

GUEST: IT IS STILL IN PLAY.

I DON’T KNOW WHY.

GUEST: IT HAS BEEN 13 YEARS.

THE PERSON WHO IS LOBBYING FOR THAT PAYDAY LENDERS IS A FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

HE HAS PUT THEM AT BEYFORTUS 13 YEARS.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE BILL PASSED, MAKE NO MISTAKE.

IT AUDITORY AND IT DOES PREY ON THE DISADVANTAGED AND THE POOR.

BUT I DON’T HAVE MUCH HOPE IT WILL PASS.

GUEST: IT IS USUROUS, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

THIS IS MARKETED WITHIN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES.

AND PAIGE IS RIGHT, IF WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED IMMEDIATE CASH AT AN IMMEDIATE DISADVANTAGE AND TOSS THEM INTO THE PROCESS.

GUEST: YOU NEVER GET OUT OF THE HOLE, RIGHT?

THEY PROVIDE PEOPLE TO TESTIFY THAT THIS IS THE QUICK CASH THAT I NEEDED AND IT GOT ME OVER THE HUMP.

BUT WE ALL KNOW IF YOU NEEDED IT A MONTH AGO, YOU WILL PROBABLY NEED IT MONTHS DOWN THE LINE.

GUEST: IT’S THE ROOT CAUSE OF WHY PEOPLE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO SUSTAIN THEIR LIVES.

EVEN PEOPLE WORKING DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN THEIR LIVES.

THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE TACKLING AND NOT ALLOWING THESE INDUSTRIES TO CONTINUE CAUSING THESE PROBLEMS.

THE BUDGET THIS YEAR IS A BIG ONE.% MICHAEL HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN TAKING IT RIGHT BACK OVER THE YEARS, AND HE SAID THAT THE MCKEE ADMINISTRATION WHAT EVERYBODY SAID THEY WEREN’T GOING TO DO, USE THE FEDERAL RESCUE ACT MONEY TO PAY FOR IT SEVERAL ADDITIONAL EXPENSES WHICH WILL BE A PROBLEM DOWN THE LINE.

GUEST: OF COURSE IT IS.

I DON’T UNDERSTAND, WE CAN NEVER GET OUT OF OUR OWN WAY WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET IN RHODE ISLAND FOR IT’S GOOD TO BE $14 BILLION THIS YEAR?

IT’S TWICE WHAT NEW HAMPSHIRE IS AND THEY DON’T HAVE THE SALES TAX.

I SAY THAT EVERY TIME WE GO INTO THIS DISCUSSION.

[LAUGHTER] WE HAVE 100 $96 MILLION SURPLUS THIS YEAR WHICH IS GREAT, BUT IT WILL NOT BE THERE NEXT YEAR, AND THE PROGRAMS HE IS FUNDING TO DO IT WILL NOT BE PAID FOR NEXT YEAR.

AND IT IS JUST A HORRIBLE CYCLE KIND OF LIKE PAYDAY LENDING.

GUEST: AS A FORMER MAYOR, YOU ARE ALWAYS TAUGHT ONE-TIME FIXES INTO YOUR BUDGET WHICH ARE NESTING COSTS, ARE NOT GOOD PRACTICE.

WHETHER IT IS ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, STATE LEVEL, FEDERAL LEVEL.

BUT AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL, YOU CAN’T PRINT MONEY, THAT IS WHERE GROWTH HAS TO BE CHECKED.

I AM GLAD THEY ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT THAT BUDGET TO SEE THE BILLS IMPACTS.

THE GOOD NEWS AT LEAST FOR THIS YEAR IS THAT THE MAY REVENUE ESTIMATING CONFERENCE HAS AN EXTRA $60 MILLION.

WHEN YOU HAVE A $50 BILLION BUDGET, THAT USED TO BE A LOT OF MONEY.

NOT SO MUCH ANYMORE.

GUEST: I HAVE LOTS OF IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN SURPLUS.

OUR KIDS IN OUR FAMILIES NEED IT TREMENDOUSLY.

THERE ARE THINGS THEY CAN DO IT ONE TIME TO HELP FILL THE GAPS WE HAVE.

ONE THING WE LEARNED THROUGH COVID WAS THAT THE IMPACT OF OUR CRISIS RESPONSE STABILIZATION PROGRAMS FOR KIDS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE STILL IN A CHILD MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND THE CRISIS MOBILE RESPONSE UNITS HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED BY FAMILY SERVICE.

WHAT THEY DO IS THEY BRING PEOPLE INTO COMMUNITY FOR KIDS TO DO ASSESSMENTS ON KIDS.

92% SUCCESS RATE OF GETTING KIDS DIRECTLY INTO SERVICES THEY NEED WITHIN 30-40 FIVE DAYS.

IT HELPED ALLEVIATE THE WAIT TIMES IN OUR EMERGENCY ROOMS.

WE HEARD FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS SAY IF A GAME CHANGER, AND THEY ARE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY THIS YEAR.

LET’S KEEP THAT GOING ONE MORE YEAR, HELP OUR KIDS RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC.

IT’S ONE WAY TO USE THE FUNDING TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDS EXACERBATED BY COVID THAT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR KIDS, SCHOOLS AND FAMILY HEALTH.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU ARE LOOKING AT IN THE WINNING DAYS?

WE HAVE ABOUT THREE WEEKS LEFT?

GUEST: WALKING THE HALLS SO MANY YEARS, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

IT IS IN THE ART OF THE DEAL AS THE BUDGET IS ABOUT TO COME OUT, THAT IS WHERE THE TRADE-OFFS GO WITH SOME OF THESE BILLS AND THAT IS WHY EVERYONE JUST HAS TO BE CONSTANTLY MINDFUL TO SEE WHAT COULD POP UP AT THE LAST MINUTE AS A TRADE-OFF FOR THIS PIECE OF THE BUDGET OR THAT.

GUEST: AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WE HAD A TEAM FOR FIVE PEOPLE AT THE JOURNAL IT BACK IN THE DAY AND I REMEMBER WATCHING THE SUN COME UP FOR THAT IT WOULD TAKE REPORTERS FOR MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT THE 500 BILLS THAT WOULD PASS.

ANYTHING YOU ARE LOOKING AT, LOU?

GUEST: I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

IT SHOULD BE FUNDED OR REFUNDED.

AND PAYDAY LENDING.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN, BUT I JUST DON’T HAVE BEEN A GOOD FEELING ABOUT IT.

GUEST: THAT HAS BEEN A LOT ABOUT THE RHODE ISLAND TRANSIT AUTHORITY.

THEY PASSED A BOND 10 YEARS AGO TO MOVE THE HUB FROM KENNEDY PLAZA.

I SAT DOWN THIS WEEK WITH JOHN FLAHERTY, USE IS AN ADVOCATE WHO WORKS WITH THEM AND NOBODY KNOWS MORE ABOUT RIPTA.

HE HAS BEEN LOOKING AT IT FOR DECADES.

I ASKED HIM ABOUT BOTH MOVING THE HUB AND THEIR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, HERE IS A BIT OF INTERVIEW THIS WEEK.

GUEST: IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT AT LEAST FROM GROSS MARKS PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME CHAMPIONS FOR BUILDING A FULL-SERVICE INDOOR TRANSIT CENTER IN PROVIDENCE.

THE BOND FOR THIS FAST IN 2014, IT’S BEEN 10 YEARS.

BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET BEHIND IT AND WE ARE SUCH THAT WE THINK IT SHOULD BE PAUSED UNTIL THERE HAS BEEN A COMMITMENT BY STATE LEADERS TO SUSTAINABLY FUND THE TRANSIT SERVICE.

WITHOUT THE SERVICE, A HUB IS OF LITTLE CONSEQUENCE FOR PEOPLE WHO USE TRANSIT.

FOR THE TRANSIT SYSTEM TO WORK RIGHT, IT’S GOT TO BE CONVENIENT, RELIABLE, AND FREQUENT.

IF IT DOESN’T HAVE THOSE INGREDIENTS, THEN IT’S GOOD TO BE A HARD SELL TO GET FOLKS WHO AREN’T CURRENTLY USING THIS.

WHERE YOU LOCATE THE HUB IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT.

GUEST: WHY HAS RIPTA BEEN SUCH A TROUBLED AGENCY AND THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS?

GUEST: A BIG CHUNK OF IT IS FUNDED THROUGH THE STATE’S GAS TAX WHICH HAS BEEN A DECLINING SOURCE OF REVENUE.

AND IT HASN’T BEEN MUCH OF A POLITICAL MANDATE TO FIX THAT SO THEY HOBBLED ALONG YEAR AFTER YEAR, THE GAS TAX GOES DOWN, INFLATION GOES UP AND THAT PUTS THE SQUEEZE ON SERVICE.

IF YOU TALK TO MOST RIDERS, MYSELF INCLUDED, PEOPLE WILL SAY THE AGENCY DEPLOYS VERY LIMITED RESOURCES IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE TO MOVE THE MOST NUMBER OF PEOPLE, BUT IT STILL HOBBLES ALONG.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE MY ENTIRE INTERVIEW WITH JOHN FLAHERTY, JUST GO TO OUR YOUTUBE PAGE, THE RHODE ISLAND PBS YOUTUBE PAGE, AND LOOK FOR OUR INTERVIEW.

PAIGE, WE COULD DO AN ENTIRE SHOW ON RIPPED UP.

BUT THERE IS AN INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE BRICKS AND MORTARS VERSUS THE SERVICE.

THEY HAVE BEEN IN THIS DEATH SPIRAL OF, WE ARE HAVING FINANCIAL TROUBLE SO WE HAVE TO CUT ROUTES PERMIT BUT IF YOU CUT RIPTA, YOU LOSE RIDERSHIP RIGHT, AND FOR OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES TO HAVE RELIABLE ACCESS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, ESPECIALLY FAMILIES WHO RELY ON IT TO GET TO WORK, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE GOOD PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT CONNECTS US TO SO MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT IMPACT OUR ECONOMY.

OUR FAMILIES AND OUR KIDS.

AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR THIS.

ONE OF THE THINGS RHODE ISLAND KIDS COUNT HAS BEEN IN STRONG SUPPORT OF HIS FOR THE REVENUE FOR RHODE ISLAND WHICH WOULD PUT A 3% TAX ON FOLKS WHO EARN MORE THAN $1 MILLION, AND IT WOULD PROVIDE FUNDING TO BE RESOLVED FOR CERTAIN THINGS FROM THE SCOPE FOR CHILD CARE, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, K-12 EDUCATION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS RELATED TO BRIDGES AND ROADS.

IT’S ANOTHER WAY WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE A STRONGER TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

BUT WE NEED THE REVENUE TO DO IT.

GUEST: THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE PROBLEM.

THE REVENUE GOES TO THE GENERAL FUND.

MY COOKIES WHEN HE WAS HEADING UP THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, IT SOUNDED LIKE A GOOD IDEA.

BUT WHO WILL DO THAT?

GUEST: NOBODY THIS BILL ACTUALLY CREATES A RESTRICTED RECEIPT FOR THIS.

IT WOULD BE THE FIRST IN MANY TRIES TO DO THIS.

GUEST: I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN UPSET THAT THE GAS TAX GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

BECAUSE IT HASN’T BEEN, WE STILL HAVE THE WORST RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY HAVE SOLD A LOT OF LOTTERIES OVER THE YEARS THAT IT WILL GO TO EDUCATION AND WHERE DOES IT GO?

GUEST: TO THE GENERAL FUND.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE GETTING BACK TO RIPTA, WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION.

THE 1.I DISAGREE WITH IS WE CAN’T WAIT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE OF NOT ONLY SUSTAINING -- A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCE FOR RIPTA, BECAUSE LET’S FACE IT, THIS IS NOT BOSTON.

WE DON’T HAVE A T WISDOM.

RIPTA IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF RIDERSHIP ACROSS THE STATE FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NOT HAVE A VEHICLE.

SO THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE DISCUSSION.

SECOND OF ALL, BUILDING THAT HUB CENTER ISN’T JUST ABOUT BUILDING A HUB CENTER, YOU ARE TRYING TO BUILD WHAT THE QUOTE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

TOD.

THAT TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT WILL HELP, IF YOU DO IT RIGHT, EXPLORE -- HOPEFULLY EXPAND YOUR COMMERCIAL BUSINESS CASE AND OTHER BUSINESSES HOPEFULLY WILL BE ATTRACTED TO COME IN BECAUSE WITH WHAT COULD HAPPEN, YOU WILL HAVE INDIVIDUAL, WORKFORCE HOUSING IS A COMPONENT.

PEOPLE WORKING DOWNTOWN, TAKING -- RIDING ON RIPTA TO GO TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE.

THEY SET THAT UP AT THE NEW CENTRAL FALLS PUTS OUT THAT LATE TRAIN STATION AND THERE IS HOUSING THERE.

I THINK FOR A PROBLEM FOR YEARS, RIPTA HAS NOT HAD A GODFATHER, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, UP IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

YOU NEED JUICE WITH THE PEOPLE MAKING THE DECISIONS.

I DON’T LIKE THIS TERM, SOME PEOPLE CALL IT THAT REDHEADED STEPCHILD.

GUEST: PEOPLE DON’T LIKE IT WHEN YOU USE THAT TERM.

[LAUGHTER] GUEST: BUT EVERYONE HAS SPECIAL INTERESTS, AND RIPTA IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

WE WILL SEE WHERE IT GOES.

TALKING ABOUT THE WASHINGTN BRIDGE, LAST TIME WE WERE WITH YOU, THEY HAD JUST COME OUT WITH COST ESTIMATES THAT THE COST TO REPLACE WILL BE WELL NORTH NOWRA OF 600 MILLION DOLLARS.

THIS HAS HAD AN EFFECT ON SO MANY PEOPLE.

I KNOW THAT YOU LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE, BUT YOU GO TO THE EAST BAY EVERY DAY I CROSS THE BRIDGE OF DAY TO TAKE MY SON TO SCHOOL.

GUEST: IT HAS A LOT OF EFFECT ON NOT KNOWING HOW LONG THE MOVIE ON A DAILY BASIS.

ALSO FOR OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE STAFF THAT COMING ACROSS THE BRIDGE EVERY DAY AS WELL.

AND THEY HAVE HAD TO ADJUST THEIR TIMES?

GUEST: LUCKILY WE HAVE FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES.

GUEST: SO YOU ARE NOT SITTING THERE GOING OH, YOU ARE 10 MINUTES LATE THE?

GUEST: BRIDGE IS REALLY BAD, IF YOU HAVE TO WORK FROM HOME TODAY, YOU CAN DO THAT.

WE ADJUSTED.

ANYBODY CAN DO THAT.

LAST TIME WE HAVE A VALUE ON WAS EARLY IN THE PROCESS.

NOW GOVERNOR MCKEE HAS STEPPED BACK FROM THE DAY OF RECKONING, SEEMS LIKE YOU CANNOT BE AT THE LEGAL -- ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEGAL, BUSINESS CAN TALK TO US UNTIL THEY GET THROUGH THE LEGAL PROCESS, BUT THAT WILL BE A LONG TIME.

GUEST: IT WILL BE A LONG PROCESS.

THIS STARTED THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW WHERE IT IS JUST GETTING THE INITIAL DISCOVERY, TRYING TO GET SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE, HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED TO GET US TO THIS POINT FOR THE MEANWHILE, IT IS GOOD TO BE A LONG RUNWAY THAT WILL HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT TO TRY TO GET MORE APPROPRIATE ANSWERS, NOT JUST TRAVEL TIMES, BUT HOW MUCH OF THE REALLY GOING TO COST?

WHEN ARE SOME OF THESE FACTORS GOING TO REALLY KICK IN?

BECAUSE -- WE TALKED ABOUT THE DIRECT TRAFFIC.

YOU’RE ALL SEEING A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS ON THE SIDE STREETS TRYING TO GET ONTO THE ROADS, GET TO WORK.

THEY ARE INFECTED EVERY SINGLE DAY, THOSE WHO ARE CLOSE TO 195.

GUEST: I THINK IT WILL BE CLOSE TO $600 MILLION AND WOULD HAVE SINGLED TO CARE ABOUT LIKE THEY’RE DOING WITH THE BALTIMORE BRIDGE.

IT’S NOT GOING TO BE GOOD.

JIM: WHAT IS THE OVER-UNDER ON YEARS?

GUEST: I BET YOU THREE AND A HALF.

JIM: YOU THINK IT WILL BE BEYOND?

GUEST: I THINK SO, JUST ON A CONSTRUCTION STANDPOINT, I AM DOUBLE THAT.

GUEST: I AM NOT GOING TO ARGUE WITH YOU.

I AM JUST NOT.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: THE OTHER THING TOO, THE QUESTION WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG, YOU WANT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.

THE LAWYERS WILL GO AFTER THIS THAT I DO THINK IT IS THAT HE IS OUT FOR A, BUT HOW DID WE GO FROM THIS VANTAGE SINCE THEIR COMMUNITY IN JULY SELECTED INCIDENT THAT IN DECEMBER?

GUEST: WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS SO WE DON’T HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN.

SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT WAS WRONG, NO -- CREATE DEFECTS SUCH AS ASSISTANCE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY SO THAT WE PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.

JIM: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN THE SAVIOR ON A LOT OF BIG CASES.

WE WERE THINKING THE LAWYERS ARE GOING TO BE HERE, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN LIKE THIS, BUT THE DOJ IN PROVIDENCE, THEY WILL NOT ANNOUNCE FITS.

IF PEOPLE TAKE THE TIME UNTIL THEY HAVE THE CASE, I WONDER WHETHER THEY WILL ULTIMATELY BE THE ONES TO FIND OUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE.

GUEST: AT THE VERY LEAST, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS TO HAVE A LOT OF OVERSIGHT AND DIVING IN PARALLEL WITH WHAT THE LAWYERS ARE DOING BECAUSE THE LAWYERS ARE TRYING TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FINANCIALLY, BUT WE WILL NEED A LOT OF ASSISTANCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON TOP OF THE FINANCES, BUT GETTING DOWN TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF IT.

BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE NUMBERS BELONG TO THEM TOO.

JIM: WOULDN’T YOU THINK YOU FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION WANT TO KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY WENT?

GUEST: YOU WOULD THINK.

IT’S A DISASTER.

JUST A DISASTER.

AND IT’S NOT GETTING BETTER ANYTIME SOON.

JIM: LET’S GO TO A COUPLE MORE THINGS I WANT TO GET TO.

THEY ARE, WHAT DO YOU HAVE THIS WEEK?

GUEST: MY ELDRIDGE IS IN THE SPORTS FIELD.

I JUST READ -- I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT NCAA ALLOWED HER TO GET TO THIS PLACE, WITH THIS NIL DEALS THAT WHERE THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA MADE A PROMISE TO ONE OF THEIR OUR PORT ABOUT RECRUITS FOR $9 MILLION NIL DEAL, AND BROKE HIS PROMISE TO HIM, WHERE NOW THIS QUARTERBACK IS IN FEDERAL COURT ON HIS VISITATIONS HOW DO WE GET TO THIS POINT?

JIM: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL HAD THAT ARTICLE.

AND THE KID HAS MADE A COMMITMENT.

SO YOU THINK IT’S GOING TO COME.

IT’S JUST AWFUL NOW BECAUSE REALLY THEY ARE BUYING ATHLETES.

THE TRANSFER PORTAL MAKES IT EASY FOR THEM TO GET THERE AND THAT THEY PROMISE THEM MONEY.

GUEST: YOU PROMISE, BUT KEEP YOUR COMMITMENT.

IT’S FRAUD IF YOU DON’T DO THAT.

JIM: YEAH.

LOU, WHAT DO YOU GOT?

GUEST: FOREVER, MARIJUANA WAS ILLEGAL, GAMBLING WAS ILLEGAL BUT WHEN I TURNED TO BIG REVENUE FOR RHODE ISLAND, IT’S NO LONGER INTERVALS.

SMOKING IS STILL EXEMPT, CASINOS.

I JUST THANKED BEFORE OURSELVES UP TO THE CASINOS AND NOW NOT ONLY IS THE SMOKING DON’T NOT GOING TO PASS, THEY WANT TO INCREASE THE CREDIT LIMIT TO 100,000 DOLLARS FROM $50,000.

SO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CYCLE OF DEBT AND GETTING TO THE PEOPLE MORE IN DANGER OF BAD THINGS.

I AM JUST SAYING, ALL THE SYNTAXES ARE GOOD NOW.

JIM: BEFORE WE GET TO YOUR STOMACH.

-- FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME.

IT’S YOUR DEBUT.

SHOULD WE KEEP HER ON?

GUEST: ABSOLUTELY.

JIM: I WILL GET TO YOUR BRIDGE OR KUDOS IN A SECOND.

ELSEWHERE IN RHODE ISLAND, YOU CAN’T SMOKE, BUT THE LEGISLATURE CARVED OUT THIS EXEMPTION.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE, SPEAKER, SENATE PRESIDENT HAS CANCER.

HE DOESN’T MAKE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SMOKING.

YOU CAN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THAT IT IS THE WORKERS ARE THAT ANYTHING NOT WHAT IS NOT ADDING UP YET?

GUEST: IT’S THE REVENUE.

IT HAS BEEN ARGUED BY THE CASINOS THAT IF YOU STOP LETTING PEOPLE SMOKE IN THE CASINOS, THE REVENUE WILL GO DOWN.

JIM: 20 YEARS AGO IN DUNKIN’ DONUTS, NEEDS TO GO IN AND YOU COULDN’T SEE THE GUY NEAR YOU.

THIS TALK IT AND IT OPENED UP A FUNCTION OF PEOPLE WHO CAME IN AFTER THE SMOKE CLEARED.

IT ISN’T AS SIMPLE AS A LEGISLATOR SITTING IN GUEST: MAYBE JUST THE SENATE PRESIDENT SETTING THE LIGHT.

LOVE, TIMES CHANGE.

YOU HAVE DATA SUPPORTING A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TUESDAY FOR STUDENTS THEIR JOB OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THEY PLOW THROUGH A LOT OF THESE ISSUES.

GUEST: I WAS IN THE HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING WHEN EMPLOYEES TESTIFY FROM THE ONE OF THEM CAME IN WITH HER MEDICATION LINED UP ON THE TABLE THAT SHE HAD NO HEALTH ISSUES UNTIL WORKING THERE, AND THE IN FACT, THE EMPLOYEES OF THE LIES FROM BEING FORCED TO WORKING CONDITION, WAS THERE SO IMPACTFUL.

I DIDN’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE ISSUE BEFORE THAT HEARING AND I WALKED A LISTENING LIFE, LIFE, WHAT IS THIS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN?

JIM: KIDS LOOK AT ME LIKE I’M A FOSSIL THAT USED TO BE ABLE TO SMOKE ON FINANCE.

REMEMBER THAT?

[LAUGHTER] ROW 50 WAS SMOKING AND PRO 14 WAS NON-SMOKING, DO THEY HAVE -- DID THEY HAVE A PLEXIGLAS?

NO.

WHAT WE PROVIDE?

THE LEGISLATURE SEEM SYMPATHETIC TO THEM?

GUEST: ABSOLUTELY, THEY SEEMED SYMPATHETIC.

THEY QUESTIONED THEM INTENSELY, DO YOU REALLY ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO HAVE A CHOICE IN WHERE THEY ARE WORKING?

BUT THE EMPLOYEES WERE VERY, VERY STRONG IN THEIR TESTIMONY AND I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF OUTRAGE FOR THEM AND SYMPATHY FOR THEM AS ONE.

JIM: DO YOU HAVE AN OUT RAGE OR KUDO THIS WEEK?

GUEST: BOTH.

I WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS.

OFTEN TIMES REPORT DATA ON HOW CENTRAL FALLS IS STRUGGLING BUT THE LAST YEAR OR SO WE ARE HEARING SO MANY GREAT THINGS COMING OUT OF CENTRAL FALLS, THE BUILDING OF THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL.

LAST MONTH THERE WOULD THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT DR. MILLIKEN AND MAYOR RIVERA ARE OPENING A NEW HOUSING SO IT IS CONNECTED TO THAT FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

I HEARD YESTERDAY THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE CITY IS OUTPACING THEIR CHILD OUT WHICH SCREENINGS THIS YEAR WHICH IS THE SCREENING TO IDENTIFY KIDS THAT MAY HAVE DEVELOPED DISABILITIES AND ALLOW THEM TO CONNECT TO PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION.

CENTRAL FALLS IS DOING A LOT OF AMAZING WORK.

WE HAVEN’T SEEN THE RESULTS YET IN THE DATA, BUT IT TAKES TIME.

BUT THE LEADERSHIP OF CENTRAL FALLS, I AM JUST SO IMPRESSED.

JIM: THE LITTLE LEGEND THAT COULD.

ALSO, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS ACT.

THERE IS A LOT COMING UP.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I THINK THE ADVOCATES, THEY PUT 37, 47 CHANGES.

WE TALKED TO LOU DE PALMA FOR THE SHOW.

YOU LOOK AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE GOVERNOR’S PEOPLE CAME UP SO STRONGLY AGAINST IT.

ALMOST AN ORCHESTRATED EFFORT.

I WONDER IF THIS IS A YEAR WHERE IT GETS LOST?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

GUEST: TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY.

IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT CONSTANTLY SO THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN GOVERNMENT.

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ALSO FORGET, EVEN IF THERE IS AN EXEMPTION THAT, IF IT IS A PUBLIC INTEREST FROM A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC INTEREST, THAT CAN OVERLAY SOME OF THAT AND IT IS STILL UP TO THE MUNICIPALITIES.

IT GIVES YOU THE OPTION TO DO IT.

EVEN STILL YOU HAVE A LOT OF ROADBLOCKS THAT GET PUT UP.

I DO STUFF FOR MY CLIENTS, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS IT HAS TO BE THE RIGHT BALANCE AND THAT LAW NEEDS TO BE CONSTANTLY LOOKED AT AND VETTED.

JIM: FINAL THOUGHTS ON THAT ONE?

GUEST: JUST REMEMBER WHAT IT TOOK TO GET THOSE EMAILS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS THAT TRAVELS TO PENNSYLVANIA.

IT WAS A NIGHTMARE.

WE FINALLY DID AND NOW WE KNOW WHY THEY WERE TRYING TO HIDE THEM WHICH DOESN’T SURPRISE ME MIKE MATHENY DOESN’T WANT THEM -- JIM: WASHINGTON BRIDGE.

THINK OF ALL THOSE EMAILS.

WHY IT DOESN’T TELL THE STORY.

WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL, PAIGE TO HAVE YOU BACK.

FOLKS, IF YOU DON’T BECAUSE JUST SEND AT NOON, WE ARCHIVE ALL OF OUR SHOWS ON THE WEBSITE.

YOU CAN CATCH US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND WHENEVER YOU GET YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTS, TAKE US ALONG ON A CAR RIDE FOR A WALK, STICK WITH US.

NEXT WEEK WILL HAVE A FULL RECAP AND ANALYSIS WHEN "IN LIGHT OF THE EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!

♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY, VISIT NCICAP.ORG]