JIM: THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY GOVERNOR MCKEE'S CHOICE TO LEAD THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM COMES UNDER INTENSE FIRE FROM THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS' UNION.

AND A RELEASE OF THE HEALTH BUDGET SIGNALS THE BEGINNING OF THE HOME STRETCH TO THE SUN POLICE OF THIS YEAR'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION.

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI I AM JOHN IS, JR. FOR OVER 30 YEARS, "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT, THIS PROVIDED PROGRAMMING.

ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US FOR ANALYSIS, HARRISON TUTTLE, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ROAD AT PAC.

BILL BARTHOLOMEW, POLITICAL FOUNDER OF THE BARTHOLOMEW TOWN PODCAST, AND A REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST, LISA PELOSI.

HELLO EVERYONE.

I AM JIM HUMMEL.

WHAT A WEEK IT'S BEEN WE HAVE A RAFT OF LOCAL ISSUES TO GET TO LATER.

BUT FIRST OFF A JURY CONVICTED DONALD TRUMP THURSDAY ON 34TH FELONY COUNTS IN HIS CRIMINAL TRIAL, MAKING HISTORY AGAIN IN NO WAY TRUMP PROBABLY ENVISIONED WHEN HE BECAME PRESIDENT EIGHT YEARS AGO.

SO I WANTED TO GET INITIAL REACTION AND THEN WE WILL GET TO THE POLITICS OF IT ALL.

INITIAL REACTION?

GUEST: I WAS STUNNED.

I DIDN'T THINK THE VERDICT WAS COMING THROUGH THEN THE EMAILS STARTED POPPING THAT THEY WERE COMING OUT WITH A VERDICT.

FOR IT TO BE UNANIMOUS ON ALL 34 COUNTS, I PUT ASIDE DONALD TRUMP AND THAT HE WAS REPUBLICAN.

THIS IS A FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT BEING CONVICTED OF FELONY CHARGES.

IT JUST STUNNED ME.

JIM: BILL?

BILL: FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, WE WERE ON AIR AND HAD LEARNED OF THE JURY WERE GOING TO BE SENT HOME AT 4:30, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED A VERDICT WAS IN AND JUST FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT OF IT BEING ON THE RADIO, IT WAS STUNNING THAT WE HAD TO RAPIDLY SHIFT.

I AM NOT SURE I WAS STUNNED WITH THE OUTCOME.

SEEMED LIKE IT WAS TRENDING IN THAT DIRECTION HAVING COVERED THIS CASE AS BEST AS YOU CAN FROM RHODE ISLAND EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND IT IS WHAT IT IS SANTA UNPRECEDENTED.

NONETHELESS, WHETHER AS BILL MENTIONED, THE CASE AROUND THE FACTS AND THE TRIAL, HAVING A U.S. PRESIDENT BE CHARGED WITH A FELONY, ONE FELONY, NEVER MADE 34, IS AN EYE-OPENING MOMENT FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THE FACT THAT THIS MAN COULD POTENTIALLY BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SHOULD ALARM A LOT OF FOLKS.

I WILL SAY THAT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE FOLKS THAT HAVE FILLED THE NEED CANNOT VOTE, BUT WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO CAN RUN FOR PRESIDENT AND POTENTIALLY BE PRESIDENT, WITH A FELONY, IT'S GOOD TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE DIALOGUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY OF HOW THAT UNFOLDS.

LISA: I WAS THINKING WHAT COMES NEXT?

ME KNOW THE SENTENCING IS HAPPENING ON JULY 11, BUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE FOR THE FIRST DEBATE BETWEEN PRESIDENT BIDEN AND DONALD TRUMP, THEY WILL BE DEBATING BEFORE HE HAS THE SENTENCING.

HE HAS A SENTENCING JULY 11 AND THEN A WEEK LATER, THE GOP CONVENTION WILL PROBABLY VOTE IN TRIBUTE CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT.

JIM: JULY IS NOT GOING TO BE QUIET NOT AT ALL.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THEY DIDN'T ALLOW CAMERAS IN THE COURT ROOM.

IT'S IN UNFILTERED LANDS.

HAVING COVERED A LOT OF TRIALS IN THE YEARS, UNLESS YOU ARE SITTING IN THE COURTROOM, PEOPLE CAN SPECULATE, BUT I HAVE NEVER TRIED TO GUESS WHAT A JURY IS GOING TO DO, BECAUSE UNLESS YOU LISTEN TO EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF TESTIMONY, THE JUDGE SHIPPED OUT INSTRUCTIONS AND ALL OF THAT, IT'S HARD.

I HAVE BEEN MOVED TO SECOND-GUESS JURIES UNLESS SOMETHING COMES OUT LATER, BUT I JUST THOUGHT THE WHOLE CAMERA IN THE COURTROOM THING -- THIS WASN'T EVEN A FEDERAL COURT, HE COULD HAVE EASILY ALLOWED IT IN THERE.

BILL: ABSOLUTELY, THERE SHOULD BE A CAMERA IN EVERY QUARTER MEAN THIS POINT.

IN THIS COUNTRY NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THIS CASE IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT IN TERMS OF MOVING FORWARD, HOW DO WE GET TO A POINT WHERE THERE IS TRUE TRANSPARENCY IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

RIGHT NOW IT IS FILTERED THROUGH THE LENS OR THE INTERPRETATION OF SORT OF RUNNERS, CERTAIN REPORTERS SERVING AS AMBASSADORS FROM INSIDE THE COURT TO OUTSIDE SUPPORT FORT.

THAT IS A HUMAN FILTER THAT CAN TRANSLATE THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF THEM SOMEWHAT MORE DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT THE NAKED EYE WOULD SEE.

JIM: HARRISON, WHAT ABOUT THE POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS?

SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID IT MIGHT HELP THEM WITH FUNDRAISING, ULTIMATELY IT IS GOING TO WEIGH ON SOME VOTERS WHO CAN'T CROSS THE LINE TO VOTE FOR SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THE DIVIDE WITHIN OUR COUNTRY AND WHERE VOTERS STAND.

IT'S BECOMING INCREASINGLY OBVIOUS THAT YOUNGER VOTERS THAT WOULD USUALLY VOTE FOR A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE SUCH AS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, ARE BEING MOVED AWAY FROM EVEN PARTICIPATING IN THE ELECTION.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT OVER THE COURSE OF MULTIPLE MONTHS AND WE ARE SEEING A BASE THAT TRUMP HAS BEEN EMBOLDENED BY THIS TRIAL, WHICH IS PRETTY SHOCKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, THIS IDEA THAT THEIR CANDIDATE GETS CHARGED WITH A FELONY AND IS STRONGER FOR IT.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS THE CASE.

DOING A QUICK LOOK ON TWITTER YESTERDAY, WE SAW HIS CAMPAIGN WEBSITE CRASHED.

SO I AM NOT SURE IF TRUMP IS HAPPY ABOUT THIS DECISION.

BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK HE IS LOSING SLEEP ABOUT IT, CONSIDERING THIS IS DRIVING RIGHT INTO THE NARRATIVE THAT HE SAID ALL TRIAL, THAT IT IS A RIGGED ELECTION, A RIGGED CASE IN WHICH THE JUDGE DID HIS BEST TO, YOU KNOW, SILENCE HIM FROM MAKING COMMENTS THAT WOULD CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE TRIAL.

BUT HERE WE ARE IN THIS COUNTRY A COUPLE OF MONTHS AWAY FROM THE ELECTION, AND WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO HAS A FELONY UNDER PRESIDENT WHO IS NOT REALLY LISTENING TO A PERCENTAGE OF HIS BASE, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO VOTE FOR HIM THIS NOVEMBER.

JIM: THOUGHTS ABOUT IT GOING INTO THE ELECTION SEASON?

TRUMP SUPPORTERS ARE ONLY GOING TO BE STRONGER BEHIND HIM COMING LISA: GO WITH TRUMP BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE I AM COMFORTABLE WITH BIDEN.

BUT NOW WITH THE FELONY COUNTS, THERE IS A CONVICTED FELON, THEY THINK IT COMES DOWN TO THAT BUCKET IN THE MIDDLE.

WILL THEY CHOOSE, OR WILL THEY CHOOSE TO NOT COME OUT AND VOTE, IT'LL COME DOWN TO HOW MANY SUPPORTERS EACH.

JIM: ONE HAS TWO BE CONTINUED.

WE DO HAVE A RAFT OF LOCAL ISSUES.

WE WILL GET TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

BUT LET'S START WITH THE CORRECTIONAL DIRECTOR CHOICE.

STILL NEEDS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.

RAY HAS SOME BAGGAGE BUT GOVERNOR MCKEE IS STANDING BY HIM.

BUT I HEAR ADS ON WPRO AND THE UNION HAS HIRED A FORMER PROVIDENCE POLICE OFFICER WHO HAS HAD A FORMER SCRAPE UP WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE?

BILL: IT'S AN INTERESTING MOMENT.

IT'S A QUESTION OF, IS GOVERNOR MCKEE MISREADING THE ROOM IN TERMS OF HIS POLITICAL AMBITIONS GOING FORWARD?

IS THIS THE TYPE OF THING THAT COULD JAM HIM UP?

I WONDER IF IT IS AT THAT LEVEL, THE POLITICAL LEVEL, THAT ANY DECISIONS WOULD BE MADE AS FAR AS PULLING BACK SAULSBERRY?

YOU WILL NOT FIND IN THIS REGION, A CORRECTIONS OR FACILITY OR OTHERWISE THAT HAS HAD A MORE -- A LINEAGE OF HORRIFIC INCIDENTS AND IS JUST OVERALL A PROBLEMATIC FACILITY.

YOU WILL NOT FIND IT ANYWHERE IN THIS REGION.

SO THAT ALONE MAY BE A DISQUALIFIER.

IF YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS' UNION -- I THINK, IS THERE A CHANCE THAT THIS IS POLITICAL PURELY AND THIS IS ABOUT MY KEY IN 2026?

THERE IS A CHANCE.

JIM: BUT IT SEEMED LIKE MORE THAN THAT, FOR ME ANYWAY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

HARRISON: HARRISON: I THINK GOVERNOR MCKEE'S BIGGEST STRENGTH IS THAT HE IS LOYAL TO THE PEOPLE THAT HE SELECTS AND pPICKS, AND SOMETIMES THAT CREATES A BIT OF A POLITICAL PROBLEM FOR THE GOVERNOR.

I WILL SAY THAT THE CONCERNS OVER THE INTERIM DIRECTOR, IS ALSO FROM COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AS WELL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEATHS AT THE ACI, THE AMOUNT OF OUTCRY DATING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2022, AND THE PANDEMIC PARTICULARLY.

AND SO FOR -- FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF AN ORGANIZER AND FOLKS ON THE GROUND, I DON'T PARTICULARLY BELIEVE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS HAPPY ABOUT THE DIRECTION THAT TH CORRECTIONS FACILITY IS GOING EITHER.

THAT THE SELECTION OF THE NEW DIRECTOR WHETHER IT IS NATIONAL, WHETHER IT CONTINUES TO INCREASE WAYNE SALISBURY, IS A MOMENT IN WHICH REGARDLESS OF WHO IS PICKED, NEEDS CHANGES WITHIN THE ACI, PARTICULARLY AROUND SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AND THE WAY FOLKS ARE RECEIVING MEDICAL TREATMENT WHEN THEY HAVE ISSUES WITHIN THE FACILITY.

JIM: THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD DEATHS WITHIN THE FACILITY AND AS YOU SAY, SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, WE NEED A PROGRESSIVE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM IN THE STATE.

WE SHOULD BE A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE UNIQUE IN THAT WE DON'T HAVE COUNTY JAILS, GIVEN THAT THERE IS A COMPOUND WITH SEVERAL FACILITIES.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING NEW AND POTENTIALLY GROUNDBREAKING HERE AND MORE OF THE SAME AND MORE OF THE SOME OF THE HIGHLY NEGATIVE RESULTS WE HAVE SEEN IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD TOLERATE.

HARRISON: AND THERE ARE REAL CONCERNS WITHIN THAT ACI BUILDING ITSELF.

IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE REBUILT.

.

JIM: WELL, IT'S A SERIES OF BUILDINGS.

THE NEWEST BUILDING IS 15 YEARS OLD.

AT THE SUPER MAX GOES BACK TO THE 1800S.

LISA: THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TENSION BETWEEN THE BROTHERHOOD OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND THE GOVERNOR.

I REMEMBER BACK WORKING WITH A GOVERNOR AND WE WERE ON CHANNEL 10 IN A DEBATE FOR THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE AND THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WERE LINED UP AND PROTESTING BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO GET SOMETHING IN THEIR CONTRACT.

THEY BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR HAS THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ONCE IN HIS DIRECTOR'S POSITION, AND TO HAVE A PROCESS WITH THE SENATE WITH ADVICE AND CONSENT, SO THAT THE PROCESS GO THROUGH.

I AM NOT SEEING ANYTHING NEW ABOUT WAYNE SALISBURY THAT HASN'T BEEN OUT THERE FOR YEARS.

HE HAS GONE UP THROUGH THE RANKS.

LET THE PROCESS HAPPEN.

JIM: YES, AND LET'S SEE IF THE UNION AND OTHERS INTERESTED GET TO THE SENATORS ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO -- BUT I AGREE WITH YOU, THE GOVERNOR SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE HIS CABINET, SHORT OF SOMETHING VERY, VERY EGREGIOUS.

LISA: ABSOLUTELY.

LET THE PROCESS HAPPEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE HURT THE OTHER SIDE, THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE SUPPORTING WHAT INTERIM DIRECTOR SAULSBERRY HAS BEEN DOING.

SO LET'S HEAR FROM ALL SIDES.

JIM: THE BUDGET IS SCHEDULED TO COME OUT TONIGHT AFTER OUR TAPING AND THAT IS USUALLY THE SIGNAL OF THE BEGINNING TO THE HOME STRETCH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, TALKING ABOUT IT AND MADE YOU.

AN ADJOURNMENT LET'S TALK ABOUT OTHER THINGS, LAW ENFORCEMENT BILL OF RIGHTS.

WHERE IS IT RIGHT?

BILL: STILL IN THE SENATE.

WE SAW THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DESPITE MULTIPLE HOURS OF DEBATE ON THE FLOOR REGARDING AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD CLOSE A LOOPHOLE FOR DEADLY FORCE WHEN IT CAME TO AN OFFICER WHO USES DEADLY FORCE AGAINST DEPARTMENTAL VIOLATION, TO HAVE THEIR LEOBOR TRIAL WAIVED.

JIM: TO JUST MOVE ON.

BILL: THAT WAS A SPECIFIC CARVEOUT.

BUT THERE IS A DEBATE STILL IN THE SENATE.

BUT THIS WAS WHERE IT STARTED, THE SENATE WITH THE TASK FORCE'S COMMISSION IN 2020.

I BELIEVE THERE ARE DEBATES WITHIN THE SENATE AS TO WHAT THE HOUSE-PASSED.

THERE WAS A CHANGES.

OF COURSE WE HAD AN ISSUE REGARDING INFORMATION REQUESTS FOR, QUOTE, "MINOR OFFENSES" AND HOW THAT WOULD REQUIRE NOT BY LAW FOR POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO RELEASE BUT CAMERA FOOTAGE.

THAT IS A PROBLEM.

WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT BUT CAMERA FOOTAGE HAS BEEN NOT ONLY FOR THE PRESS, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPARENCY.

THE IDEA THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH REFORMS THAT HAVE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND MORE TRANSPARENCY IN THIS AREA HAS BEEN CLOSED OFF WAS A BIT CONFUSING FOR LEGISLATORS AND ADVOCATES LIKE MYSELF.

SO WE HOPE THAT IS INCLUDED.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, LEOBOR, FOR YEARS, HAS BEEN A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION, PLANTED LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE.

THE QUESTION NOW BECOMES, ARE WE ACTUALLY GOING TO CHANGE THIS BILL FOR THE BETTER?

MY HOPE IS THAT WE DO, WITH THE CORRECT REFORMS MADE.

JIM: AND YOU HOPE THAT IT DOESN'T GET LOST IN THE SAUCE LIKE THE OH, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE COULDN'T AGREE ON THIS.

THEY HAVE COME TO ALMOST 90%, I THINK.

BUT DON'T LET THAT GET LOST.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PASSING IT EARLY IN THE SESSION AND THEN IT WENT RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW.

BILL: THAT'S RIGHT, TO HARRISON'S POINT AND TO THE POINT OF CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM, BODY CAMERAS AND COMPLETE ACCESS TO BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE FOR ANY VIOLATION -- JIM: THEY TELL THE STORY, GOOD OR BAD.

BILL: IT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE TO HAVE A STICK THAT.

IT'S A CRITICAL COMPONENT ESPECIALLY IN THIS DAY AND AGE FOR TRANSPARENCY EVEN IF IT IS FOR A MINOR INFRACTION LIKE OUR UNIFORM VIOLATION.

IF TARGET 12 HAS TO PURSUE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF AN OFFICER THAT HAD AN EXPOSED TATTOO, LET THEM SPEND TIME ON THAT.

THEY WILL NOT SPEND TIME ON THAT.

WE KNOW THE BETTER CAMERA FOOTAGE IS FOR SERIOUS INCIDENTS, AND THAT IS WHAT THE PUBLIC IS INTERESTED IN, BUT I THINK THAT IS A MAJOR HANG UP.

YOU ARE RIGHT, LAST YEAR -- IT'S ALMOST AMAZING THAT IT DIDN'T GO THROUGH LAST YEAR.

LET'S HOPE THE SAME DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN THIS YEAR.

LISA: YEAH, I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE YEAR BECAUSE THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT EARLY IN THE SESSION THAT THEY HAD ENOUGH TIME TO WORK IT OUT THAT HERE WE ARE IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE SESSION AND THESE DETAILS ARE COMING UP.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE BODYCAM, WE JUST SAW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE GOAL FOR SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER.

AND HE HAD IT TURNED OFF.

MAYBE WE WOULD HAVE SEEN SOMETHING MORE MAY BE IN HIS FAVOR, MAYBE NOT.

SO IN THIS DAY AND AGE I FULLY AGREE WITH YOU THAT WHEN YOU SAY SOMETHING, ABSOLUTELY NO RELEASE OR FULL OF THE LEASE OR TRY TO PICK AT THE MIDDLE, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE T. DO THE FULL RELEASE.

HARRISON: ONE OF THE BIG INNING'S PROBLEMS ARE LEOBOR WITH THE AMOUNT OF VOICES THAT HAD AN OPINION ON THIS ISSUE.

JIM: AND ALL DIFFERENT OPINIONS.

HARRISON: ALL DIFFERENT OPINIONS.

WHAT I BELIEVE IN WHAT WAS SAID ON THE FLOOR ON THE HOUSE THAT PARTIES WERE NOT INVOLVED.

IN THESE CONVERSATIONS.

IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE DAYS OF HAVING THE SAME FIVE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM NOT INCLUDING OF VOICES AT THE TABLE, THAT WE SHOULD BE MOVING IN THE LATTER, INSTEAD OF WHAT OCCURRED DURING THIS PROCESS.

YES, THE SAME FIVE JIM: PEOPLE MINUS THE SMOKING CIGARS.

CAN SMOKE CIGARS IN THE BACK ROOMS.

[LAUGHTER] THERE ARE ALSO RUMBLINGS ABOUT REFORM IN THE COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, WHICH HAS COME UNDER FIRE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

ELISA, THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE TO MAKE IT LIKE A DEPARTMENT LIKE D.O.T.

THAT IS ONE PROPOSAL.

IT'S KIND OF A QUASI-COUNCIL.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE WHO WOULD HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, THEY ARE NOT TRAINED ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

LISA: AND TO STOP AND THINK ABOUT, WHY WE DO THESE BECAUSE I PUBLIX -- WHY DO WE DO THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO BEGIN REQUEST ONE I COULD SEE IT MOVING INTO DEM.

I DON'T SEE IT BEING A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT.

IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE A CABINET POSITION.

EVERYONE CALLED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, IT'S NOT, IF THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

SO THIS COULD BE THE DIVISION UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT.

HARRISON: THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT AT A TIME WHEN THE CLIMATE IS IN PERIL, WE SHOULD HAVE THE BEST EXPERTS AT OUR LOCAL UNIVERSITIES.

WE HAVE PLENTY OF EXPERTS IN THE FIELD SO TO PUT OUR STATE IN THE BEST DIRECTION, WE WILL NEED THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE AND ARE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD.

BILL: I COMPLETELY AGREE.

IT WORTH CONSIDERING PUTTING IT UNDER THE AUSPICES OF DEM.

CONSOLIDATION MAKES A LOT OF SENSE FOR US IN GENERAL.

CRMC NEEDS TO BE REFORMED.

LOOK AT THE SHORELINE ACCESS QUESTIONS.

JIM: THAT SHAMBLIN'S DECISION YEARS AGO.

AND THEN MOST RECENTLY WITH QUEEN ASSET.

THEY HAD A SEAWALL WALL AND SAID LET'S CHANGE THE REGULATIONS.

NO, TAKE THE SEAWALL DOWN AND DO WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

BILL: WE JUST NEED TO SHORELINE CERTAIN ISSUES, WHETHER IT IS THE FIRE DISTRICTS, CRMC, THAT EVERY NIGHT HAS TO BE AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE AND THAT MATCHES WITH THE LEGISLATION THAT HAS ALREADY PASSED AND MAY BE PASSED IN THE FUTURE.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL?

IT HAS NO CHANCE OF PASSING BUT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF MASSACHUSETTS, THE ORIGINAL STATE TO HAVE IT YEARS AGO, LOME MAKE A LONG TRIP, I LEARNED TO TESTIFY.

NOW IT HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

YOU HAVE A LONG, ALL FOR NOW.

THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE IS CERTAINLY A MAJOR FACTOR IN DEBT.

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SHOULD COME OUT OF THE CONSTITUTION CONVENTION AND ELECTED TO THE POSITION.

THE CLASS OF 21 OF THEIR OWN TO BE THE RESPECTER OF ACTIVITY I DID KNOW THAT THIS GOES ALL THE WAY.

I THINK IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE CITIZEN WATCHDOGS IN THE STATE, PARTICULARLY THE ONES WHO DRIVE PEOPLE CRAZY IN PLACES LIKE WARWICK -- CRAZY IN A GOOD WAY, THEY ARE DOGGED IN ACCESS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE -- THOSE ARE THE TIPS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE TO BE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

NOT SOMEONE IN THE POLITICAL CLASS.

TAKE A LOOK AT FOLKS INVOLVED IN THE APPOINTMENT.

IT'S THE SAME FIVE PEOPLE.

[LAUGHTER] JIM: GO AHEAD.

LISA: I WAS THINKING, WOULD THE DAY OF RECKONING HAVE HAPPENED BY NOW IF WE HAD HEADED INSPECTOR GENERAL?

JIM: WE MIGHT NOT HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT OF THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE.

IT'S INSPECTORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE ALL THESE YEARS LATER.

LISA: I KNOW THERE IS A COST ASSOCIATED WITH ESTABLISHING THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, BU WE COULD PUT LEGISLATION IN THAT SAYS IT SHOULD BE COST EFFECTIVE, LIKE IF IT DOESN'T COVER BRINGING IN THE COST OF IT AFTER FIVE YEARS, THEN WE JUST DO AWAY WITH IT.

BUT WHY NOT TRY IT?

YEAH.

JIM: AND WE ARE AT ALMOST $14 BILLION BUDGET RIGHT NOW.

IT'S LIKE LINE-ITEM VETO.

WHO WANTS THEIR POWER ERODED?

IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

IT IS A HOLLOW ARGUMENT FOR THE SPEAKER TO SAY WE HAVE THE AUDITOR GENERAL, BUT HE ANSWERS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THEY CAN BARELY GET DONE WHAT THEY NEED TO DO EVERY YEAR.

I AGREE WITH BILL.

WHO DO YOU CHOOSE TO DO IT?

IT'S AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION.

HARRISON: I THINK LEGISLATORS HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN THIS, NOT ONLY FROM THE ASPECT OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY CHOOSE TO PASS THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, BUT ALSO THE QUESTION OF CAPACITY FOR MANY LEGISLATORS.

THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH OVERSIGHT IS DONE COMPARED TO OTHER STATES AND HERE IN RHODE ISLAND, BECAUSE WE HAVE A PART-TIME LEGISLATOR.

.

IF WE HAD FULL-TIME LEGISLATORS WHO WERE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK, DO INVESTIGATIONS WITH THEIR OWN TEAM, I THINK WE WOULD BE IN A VERY DIFFERENT SPOT.

JIM: IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU ARE LOOKING AT BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE SESSION?

HARRISON: WE CERTAINLY HAVE BILLS THAT ARE PENDING.

WE HAVE PAYDAY LENDING WHICH IS THE CONVERSATION THAT HAS BEEN OVER THE COURSE OF MULTIPLE YEARS.

THERE IS A HOUSING BUDGET, AND CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES, TO PRODUCTION I KNOW THE SPEAKER MADE THAT A TOP PRIORITY.

THERE ARE ADVOCATES WHO WOULD WANT MORE MONEY IN THE BUDGET TOWARDS HOUSING OUTSIDE OF THE BOND.

BUT WE WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS HERE AS WE SEE WHAT MONEY IS ALLOCATED, AS THE SPEAKER HAS MENTIONED THAT SOME CUTS WILL BE MADE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS HERE.

JIM: ANY THINK YOU ARE LOOKING LISA: AT?

SUNDAY FOR RIPTA.

COMING FORWARD WITH FULLY FUNDING RIPTA AND WHAT THEY NEEDS TO DO FOR WHAT THEY SERVICE.

JIM: THE MAY REVENUE ESTIMATING CONFERENCE DID A LOOK AT THAT, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, $70 MILLION MORE IN THE SURPLUS.

BUT IT'S ALL IN 10 FIXED.

WHAT WILL YOU DO STRUCTURALLY ABOUT ROOFTOP?

BILL: I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING.

RIPTA AND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

HOW TO MAKE A TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT WORKS AND IS PRACTICAL FOR RHODE ISLAND.

IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT A LOSS LEADER OR AN INVESTMENT, WHATEVER THE CASE IS, YOU HAVE TO FIND THAT FUNDING, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, MUST'VE RIPTA FUNDING COMES FROM THE GAS TAX AND IT IS DOWN.

HARRISON: AS WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PRODUCTION.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT PUBLIC TRANSIT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.

IF WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE MULTI USE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE REAL ESTATE, RETAIL PROPERTIES, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE CAN GET AROUND USING PUBLIC TRANSIT.

THEY GO HAND-IN-HAND, AND WITHOUT AN INVESTMENT IN ONE OR THE OTHER, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIX OUR CRISIS.

JIM: AS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THE NEW EVERYTHING GOING ON AROUND THAT JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN HOP ON THEIR END TO WHERE THEY LIVED AND BUSINESSES ARE POPPING UP THERE TOO.

LET'S GO TO OUTRAGES AND KUDOS PERMIT DEAL, LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU.

BILL: I HAVE A RARE CLUKUDOS I WANT TO GIVE A KUDOS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, PARTICULARLY THIS WEEK -- IT IS LAST WEEK'S STORY, RHODE ISLAND IS ONE OF 30 STATES TO JOIN THE DOJ IN SIGNING ONTO AN ANTITRUST SUIT AGAINST LIVE NATION.

LIVE NATION HAS A MONOPOLY ON THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS.

ASK THE TAYLOR SWIFT FANS, ASK ANYBODY WHO ATTENDS CONCERTS AND THE AMOUNT OF FEES, THE WAY THAT THEY OPERATE, THE REAL ESTATE FEES, THEIR TICKET MASTERPIECE, ALL OF THAT.

BUT ALSO ON THE BACKEND, THE WAY THAT THEY FRANKLY ABUSE ARTISTS OF ALL LEVELS.

IT'S A DISGRACE THAT LIVE NATION HAS OPERATED FOR AS LONG AS IT HAS THE WAY IT HAS AND I COMMEND ALL OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO SIGNED ON TO THAT SUIT.

JIM: YOU DID A PODCAST ON THIS TOO.

BILL: YES, THAT ACTUALLY DROPS ON MONDAY.

ALONG WITH THE LONGFORM STORY.

LISA: THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR YOU HAVE TO WATCH FOR SHENANIGANS THAT CAN HAPPEN AT THAT GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

I HAVE AN OUTRAGE- KUDO.

GOVERNOR MCKEE WANTED TO PURCHASE THE CITIZENS BACK BUILDING IN EAST PROVIDENCE.

TRY TO DO THIS AT THE END OF THE SESSION WAS WRONG.

AND THAT TO SAY, WHAT TO PAY TWICE THE AMOUNT OF THE ASSESSED VALUE OF THE BUILDING, WAS ROUND.

I WAS OUTRAGED ON THAT.

BUT I WAS HAPPY AND I GIVE KUDOS TO THE HOUSE SPEAKER FOR PUTTING THE BRAKES ON THAT SO IT IS NOT MOVING FORWARD THIS SESSION.

JIM: IT'S LIKE WHEN GINA RAIMONDO FIRST PROPOSED THE TRUCK TOLLS.

THAT MAY BE A PROPOSAL WE CAN LOOK UP FLUID THAT THE BEST DECISIONS ARE NOT MADE UNDER THE GUN.

LISA: THAT'S RIGHT.

TO THE BUILDING HAS BEEN UP FOR SALE FOR TWO YEARS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE HAVE EXTRA MONEY, LET'S USE IT FOR THAT AND GIVE THEM TWICE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR IT?

[LAUGHTER] IT BLEW ME AWAY.

JIM: I UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT, YOU WANT TO HAVE A STATE-OWNED BUILDING SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY RENT FOR THE MASONIC TEMPLE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE STATE HOUSE, TALK ABOUT PRIME PROPERTIES.

I SAID, HOW LONG HAS THE BUILDING BEEN EMPTY?

OH, THEY STOPPED CONSTRUCTION DURING THE DEPRESSION.

YOU MEAN IN 201929 WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WITH THE BUILDING OF THE GIFTS?

SO THE CONCEPT MIGHT BE A GOOD ONE.

AND I LISA: AM THINKING, NOW YOU WANT TO MOVE STATE WORKERS TO EAST PROVIDENCE?

HOW MANY OF THEM WANT TO GO OVER THE BRIDGE?

[LAUGHTER] HARRISON: A POINT OF OUTRAGE.

THERE WAS A BILL PASSED THIS WEEK REGARDING -- PENETRATING THREATS TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS THAT IT WAS BACKED BY THE TWO BIGGEST TEACHERS UNIONS IN THE ENTIRE STATE.

WHAT IT DID WAS REQUIRED INCREASE PENALTIES TOWARDS ALREADY EXISTING PENALTIES WHICH WAS A YEAR.

IF YOU WERE TO THREATEN A PUBLIC OFFICIAL OR TEACHER, IT WAS SUBJUGATED TO A YEAR.

RIGHT NOW IN THE HOUSE, THEY PASSED IT TO WHERE IT INCREASES THE PENALTY TO FIVE YEARS.

WHAT WE SEE HERE IS THAT IT APPLIES TO CHILDREN AND APPLIES TO KIDS IN SCHOOL.

IN THE LANGUAGE IN THE BILL PARTICULARLY FOR -- PERTAINS TO WHETHER IT RECORDS WAS RECEIVED EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.

JIM: WHO MAKES THAT DECISION?

HARRISON: THE TEACHERS, OR ANY PUBLIC OFFICIAL WHO MAY HAVE FELT THREATENED.

WE KNOW THE DISPARITIES WITHIN DISCIPLINE WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

SO OUR FEAR, AND IT WAS THE FEAR OF THE ACLU AND OTHER 15 ORGANIZATIONS COMING FROM COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT SIGNED ON, WAS THAT THIS WAS INCREASING THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.

THAT THIS IS NOT A CASE IN WHICH TEACHERS WHO WERE THREATENED WERE NOT PROTECTED.

THERE WASN'T A LAW THAT DID NOT PUNISH THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT DID SO.

THAT THIS INCREASED IT.

AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE NEGATIVE EFFECTS BASED ON CHILDREN OF COLOR PREMIER LI.

JIM: DO YOU THINK IT HAS ANY CHANCE OF GOING THROUGH OR IS THE OPPOSITION ENOUGH?

HARRISON: WE WILL SEE IN THE SENATE.

IT HAS NOT BEEN SCHEDULED FOR COMMITTEE YET, BUT THIS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF BILLS GETTING PUSHED THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WITHOUT LEGISLATORS HAVING EIGHT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IT.

JIM: OK, FOLKS.

IT IS A QUICK 30 MINUTES.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

THANKS TO HAVE ALL OF YOU.

NEXT WEEK, WE WOULD HAVE THE FULL DETAILS OF THE HOUSE RELEAR TONIGHT, WE'LL HAVE THE FULL ANALYSIS FOR YOU NEXT WEEK AS A LIVELY EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

[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 -- >> HI I AM JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR OVER 30 YEARS, IT LIVELY EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED HIS TEST