>> THIS WEEK ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT," THE BOARD OF REGENTS AGREES TO LOOK AT ONE CASE.

IS THE SOCCER STADIUM GETTING BACK ON TRACK?

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> HI, I'’M JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR OVER 30 YEARS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS TO POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

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

JIM: JOINING US, BILLY HUNT, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF RHODE ISLAND.

URI BOKO SCIENCE PROFESSOR, AND REVENGE, AND JOE POWERS, CHAIRMAN OF THE RHODE ISLAND REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WE APPRECIATE YOU SPENDING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON SECOND THOUGHT, THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF ELECTIONS DOES WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT EVERY SIGNATURE SUBMITTED BY THE CAMPAIGN, EVEN IF IT MAY NOT HAVE ANY PRACTICAL EFFECT AS WE ARE LESS THAN A MONTH OUT FROM PRIMARY DAY.

THE VOTE ON TUESDAY WAS PROMPTED BY ONE OF ITS NEWER MEMBERS WHO SAID IT WAS A NOD TO PUBLIC FEEDBACK THAT MEMBERS COULD HAVE BEEN MORE PROACTIVE WHEN FRAUDULENT SIGNATURES WERE DISCOVERED.

EMILY, LET ME BEGIN WITH YOU.

IT WAS NICE TO KNOW THAT THE NEWEST BOARD MEMBER WAS REACTED TO THIS.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS NOW?

EMILY: YOU MAKE A KEY POINT OF BEING RESPONSIVE.

THAT IS WHAT WE LIKE TO SEE.

THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS ARE SHOWING THEY ARE BEING RESPONSIVE TO RHODE ISLANDERS.

ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE INTEREST GROUPS LIKE, BECAUSE, JOHN MARION, POINTING OUT THAT THE INITIAL DISCOVERIES WERE MORE PRIVATE.

THEY ARE BRINGING THE DISCUSSION TO THE PUBLIC AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT.

AS THE MEDIA HAS COVERED, WE HAVE SEEN THIS WAS UNPRECEDENTED, THE NUMBER OF FRAUDULENT SIGNATURES.

IF WE WANT TO ENSURE ELECTION INTEGRITY, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP.

JIM: SO MUCH OF IT IS PUBLIC PERCEPTION.

JOE: 100%.

YOU HAVE TO COMMEND -- JIM: A CRANSTON GUY.

JOE: A CRANSTON GUY.

REVISITING THIS TO MAKE THIS TO MAKE THE SYSTEM WORK FOR ITSELF, IT SEEMS THERE IS A MECHANISM MISSING ALL OF THIS.

YOU HAVE SOME PEOPLE SAYING THEY CAUGHT THE NAMES SO ELECTION INTEGRITY IS IN TACT.

OTHER PEOPLE SAY WHAT DO WE DO MOVING FORWARD.

EVEN THOUGH THEY'’RE GOING TO REVISIT IT, HER NAME IS STILL GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT.

THERE JUST SEEMS TO BE THAT ONE EXTRA STEP WE NEED TO BRING THINGS INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.

EVERYTHING WE DO WE CAN GET INSTANT GRATIFICATION ON, WE CAN GET INSTANT RESULTS.

IT SEEMS RHODE ISLAND IS MISSING SOMETHING AS FAR AS ELECTION INTEGRITY TO KEEP THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF WHAT IT IS THEY ARE VOTING ON ALL INTACT.

IF WE DON'’T DO THAT, IT IS GOING TO FALL APART.

JIM: THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY HAD ITS OWN ISSUE LAST SUMMER WITH I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS.

BILLY: WE HAD TOO MANY OF OUR SIGNATURES REJECTED.

OUR REJECTION RATE WAS NOT AS HIGH AS SABINA'’S.

THIS CASE DID NOT FEEL LIKE THEY HAD A LOT OF URGENCY TO ACT ON THE ISSUE.

THE OTHER CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE HAD ONE OF HIS RIBS AND IT IS THERE TO OBJECT.

THEY CLAIMED THEY DID NOT HAVE STANDING.

THEY TRIED TO CRAM I DID NOT HAVE STANDING.

THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE THREE WEEKS AGO WHEN THIS INITIALLY HAPPENED.

EVERY PROCEDURAL PROCESS.

THE PORT OF ELECTIONS COULD HAVE CALLED THE PETITIONERS, THE NOTARIES, ASKED THEM TO APPEAR BEFORE THE BOARD, TESTIFY THE OATH THEY SIGNED ON THE BACK OF THE FORM WASN'’T IT TRUE -- WAS INDEED TRUE AND THAT THEY WITNESS THOSE SIGNATURES COLLECTED.

IF THEY DON'’T CONFIRM THAT, THEY SHOULD REJECT THE PAGE.

THE BOARD COLLECTOR BROUGHT UP THAT.

IT WAS NOT EVEN BROUGHT TO A VOTE.

THIS SHOWS BECAUSE IT IS A SPECIAL ELECTION AND THE CANDIDATES ARE NOT BENEFITING FROM THE TRADITIONAL ENDORSEMENT PROCESS WHERE THE TOWN COMMITTEES ARE ABLE TO COLLECT SIGNATURES ON BEHALF OF THE CANDIDATES, IT SHOWS WHAT IF THERE IS FOR THIRD-PARTY ENDORSED FOR INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES TO GET ON THE BALLOT.

ALL OF THESE PERCEIVED FRONT RUNNER CANDIDATES HAVE EVER HAD TO COLLECTED SIGNATURES BY YOURSELF IN A STATEWIDE ELECTION.

SHE HAS ALWAYS BENEFITED FROM THE ENDORSEMENT PROCESS.

NOW THAT SHE HAS HAD TO DO THIS, IT IS SURE WHAT A CONVOLUTED AND DIFFICULT PROCESS IT IS.

THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME CHANGES IN HOW THIS PROCESS TAKES PLACE TO MAKE A BALLOT MORE ACCESSIBLE.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT THE PROCESS?

IS TALKED ABOUT MOVING THE PRIMARY.

WHETHER YOU DO THAT IN THE SPRING OR EARLIER, IT SEEMED WE NEEDED MORE ROOM TO BREATHE.

EVERYONE WAS UNDER THE GUN.

EMILY: RIGHT.

AND WE HAVE TRACKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, MAYBE EXTENDING THAT TIME BEFORE THE PRIMARY.

BILLY, YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT ABOUT BALLOT ACCESS AND RECONSIDERING LAWS ELATED TO BALLOT -- LAWS RELATED TO KNOWLEDGE ACCESS -- RELATED TO BALLOT ACCESS.

ALASKA DOES NOT REQUIRE SIGNATURES.

I AM NOT ARGUING THAT IS THE WAY TO GO, BUT AS YOU MENTION, MODERNIZING THE SYSTEM WOULD BE IMPORTANT.

THERE IS A TEAM OF URI PROFESSORS IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT LOOKING AT ELECTION PROCESSES.

THEY HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON MAIL IN BALLOTS.

SIGNATURE VERIFICATION.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE RESEARCHING AND PAYING ATTENTION TO AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

JIM: THAT IS WHAT THE ENGINEERING BOND WENT TO.

YOU HAVE THE ENGINEERS IN THE BASEMENT TRYING TO RECONFIGURE ELECTIONS.

JOE: YOU ARE RIGHT, IT IS OPENING UP THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE HAVE.

THE PEOPLE VERIFYING VISA SIGNATURES HAVE A HUGE UNDERTAKING.

I RAN FOR OFFICE LAST YEAR AND I WAS TOLD AS SOON AS YOU GET ANY AMOUNT OF NAMES ON THE CARD, GET IT IN.

DON'’T SWAMP THEM, GIVE THEM TIME TO DO ALL OF THIS.

MY QUESTION IS WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

WHAT IS THE RUSH?

WHY ARE WE PUSHING TO GET THIS DONE?

SOMEONE LIKE MATOS IS GOING TO END UP ON THE BALLOT ANYWAY AND MY QUESTION IS WHY.

THEY ARE LIKE BECAUSE THEY ALREADY PRINTED THE CARDS.

WHY?

I DON'’T UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS SUCH A RUSH.

WE SHOULD HAVE A MORE MODERNIZED SYSTEM TO GO THROUGH AND VERIFY THESE THINGS TO MAKE SURE IT IS DONE CORRECTLY.

DON'’T EVEN TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION COLLECTIONS OF SIGNATURES AND HOW YOU GOT THEM.

SOMEWHAT IN A HIGH OFFICE SHOULD HAVE SOMEONE LINED UP.

TRY TO AVOID THE ENTIRE MESS UP IN THE BEGINNING.

BILLY: ONE OF THE THINGS THEY COULD DO IS HAVE A SIGNATURE PETITIONS AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL BOARD OF CANVASSERS WHERE SOMEONE WHO IS A VOTER IN THE DISTRICT CAN GO TO THE WORD OF CANVASSERS AND SEE NOT JUST ONE CANDIDATE BUT SEE ALL THE CANDIDATES QUALIFIED TO SIGN FOR.

THEY CAN CREATE AN ID AND BE ABLE TO SIGN FOR ONE OR ALL OF THE BALLOT PETITIONS.

JIM: AND THE NOTARY IS RIGHT THERE.

BILLY: YOU ARE CUTTING OUT THE MIDDLEMAN.

I CAN TELL FROM THE LOGISTICS OF RUNNING AROUND THE STATE TO GET VOLUNTEERS, COLLECTED SIGNATURES, GET THEM NOTARIZED.

I COULD SHOW YOU A VIDEO OF ME DRIVING AROUND THE STATE LIKE A MADMAN TRYING TO DELIVER THESE PETITIONS.

ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO GO ONLINE.

JUST AS PEOPLE AFFILIATE AND DIS-AFFILIATE ONLINE, THERE IS A PROCESS AROUND IT.

PEOPLE GET MAY -- GET MAIL SAYING YOUR DISAFFILIATED.

YOU COULD HAVE A SUMMA PROCESS WHERE YOU GET A FOLLOW-UP PIECE OF MAIL SAYING YOU SIGNED THE PETITION FOR X, Y, AND Z CANDIDATES.

CALL THIS NUMBER FOUR POTENTIAL FRAUD OF SOMEONE PROCESSING SOMETHING ONLINE ON YOUR BEHALF.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO DO THIS IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS WAY OF MATCHING SIGNATURES IS A HARD WAY TO DO IT, ESPECIALLY WITH A LOT OF THESE BEING CAPTURED AT THE DMV ON ELECTRONIC PADS.

IT IS AN INACCURATE SYSTEM.

JIM: THAT IS AN INTERESTING POINT.

GO TO WHERE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE -- WHO CAN VERIFY IT RIGHT OFF INSTEAD OF STANDING IN FRONT OF SHAW'’S FOR HOURS.

JOE: I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA BUT I DON'’T TAKE AWAY FROM HAVING A CANDIDATE OUT THEMSELVES DOING IT BECAUSE I ENJOYED IT.

THEN AGAIN, WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE COMING TO A DOOR AND SIGNING PAPERWORK, THEY ARE HOLDING IT IN THEIR HAND, THEY HAVE SWEATY HANDS FROM WORKING IN THE YARD AND JUST DOING A SCRIBBLE.

YOU BRING TO TOWN HALL AND THEY ARE GOING TO SAY THAT LOOKS LIKE JOHN SMITH.

DOING IT WHERE THEY CAN WALK IN THE DOOR AND SIGN IN.

JIM: DID YOU KNOW THERE IS A SWEATY HAND EXEMPTION?

JOE: I LOOKED IT UP WHEN IT ONLY EXTENDED TO THE THUMB.

[LAUGHTER] BILLY: MOST VOTERS THINK THE CANDIDATES ARE OUT GETTING THE SIGNATURES THEMSELVES.

THESE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE ASSENTED TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF -- ASCENDED TO A CERTAIN LEVEL ARE ABOUT THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF GOING OUT AND HAVING TO FOR SABINA TO GET 500 SIGNATURES HERSELF?

I GOT OVER 250 SIGNATURES MYSELF WHEN I RAN FOR MY DISTRICT.

IT IS NOT HARD WHEN YOU ARE WILLING TO PUT IN THE WORK.

JIM: SHE IS VERY BUSY BEING WITHIN THE GOVERNOR.

EMILY: THAT UNDERSCORES THE POINT OF BIG BUSINESS SURROUNDING ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGNS.

IF YOU HAVE THAT ABILITY TO PAY FOR AN OUTSIDE VENDOR TO DO THIS WORK, IT HAS BECOME THAT SOME OF THE CANDIDATES DON'’T HAVE THE ABILITY FOR OUTSIDE VENDORS BUT YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE DRAWBACKS TO NOT GETTING YOUR OWN SIGNATURES AND ACCOUNTING FOR WHO IS EVER IN YOUR CAMPAIGN AND PAYING THEM TO BUILDERS PETITIONS -- TO BUILD THOSE PETITIONS.

JIM: THE NEW MEMBER WHO PROPOSED THEY TAKE A LOOK AT THE SIGNATURES SAID I THINK IT IS NOT GOING TO SHOW A WIDE DIFFERENCE, WE JUST WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

IN THE VOTERS MIND, SHE IS RACKING UP ENDORSEMENTS.

I WONDER IF THIS IS GOING TO BE IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, PRIME DATE AND IF SHE IS SUCCESSFUL OR IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A STAIN.

THERE IS A CRYSTAL OR QUESTION.

EMILY: IF WE LOOK AT BILL BARTHOLOMEW, HE HOSTED A DEBATE YESTERDAY ON THIS PODCAST, THAT WAS A BIG TALKING POINT AND CRITICISM OF MATOS'’S CAMPAIGN, SPECIFICALLY FROM DON CARLSSON.

LOOKING AT THIS FROM A STRATEGIC POINT OF VIEW OF ELECT -- OF ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGNS, IT MAKES SENSE.

SHE IS THE PRESUMED FRONT RUNNER THAT YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE THESE CRITICISM'’S OF HER CAMPAIGN.

I DON'’T KNOW HOW MUCH IS GOING TO STICK WITH THE AVERAGE VOTER AND HOW MUCH THERE ATTENTION, THE INSIDERS ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS, BUT WE ARE ALL AWARE THAT THERE IS LOW TURNOUT IN PRIMARIES.

IT TENDS TO BE THOSE WHO ARE MOST ATTENTIVE THAT ARE GOING OUT AND VOTING.

JIM: EMILY ALLUDED TO BILL BARTHOLOMEW'’S PODCAST.

GO TO HIS WEBSITE.

I LISTENED TO IT YESTERDAY.

IT TOOK THEM 50 MINUTES TO JUMP UGLY ON HER.

THEY TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF STUFF.

TO UKRAINE, THE ECONOMY, ABORTION.

THEY REALIZED TIME IS GOING OUT AND THEY NEED TO GO ON THE SIGNATURE SCANDAL.

JOE: AS FAR AS THE CAMPAIGNS ARE CONCERNED, I WOULD NEVER TAKE IT AWAY FROM A CAMPAIGN WHO HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE OUTSIDE HELP.

HOWEVER, I DO FEEL THERE IS ABSOLUTELY A DISCONNECT WITH THE CANDIDATES WHO DON'’T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO OUT.

YOU CAN RUN AROUND LIKE I DID.

YOU HAVE MORE OF ANY OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH PEOPLE.

WHERE SABINA MATOS IS, THE AMOUNT OF FREE PRESS SHE'’S GETTING FROM THIS, THE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION SHE IS GETTING, PEOPLE HAVE REALIZED YOU CAN OVERLOOK STAINS A LOT IN POLITICS.

JIM: IS THERE NO SUCH THING AS BAD PRESS?

JOE: EXACTLY.

HERNANDEZ GOING TO BE OUT THERE.

IT IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO GET A YARD SIGN OUT THERE.

THEY GO IN AND RICK AND I THIN NAME.

IT IS MARKETING, MORE OF THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

I WOULD NEVER TAKE IT AWAY FROM ANYBODY TO HIRE SOMEBODY.

DON'’T JUST RELY ON YOUR NAME.

BILLY: I FEEL BAD FOR SABINA.

I THINK SHE IS A VICTIM OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS'’ ACTIONS.

IT IS ODD THAT SHE SEEMS SHOCKED THAT PEOPLE ARE ATTACKING HER ON THIS.

I AM SURE THE ATTACKS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY WILL BE NOTHING IN THE GENERAL ELECTION AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE.

VOTERS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WEIGH THAT IF THEY WANT THAT TO BE A CONTINUING STORYLINE ABOUT THE LEGITIMACY, WHETHER IT IS DESERVED OR NOT OF THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.

JIM: BEFORE WE MOVE ON, AFTER THE PRIMARY, SINCE WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK, EVENTUALLY WHOEVER IS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, WHAT IS THE STRATEGY IN A VERY BLUE DISTRICT?

JOE: IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE OUR ENDORSED CANDIDATE, GARY LEONARD, WHO IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.

EVERYWHERE I HAVE GONE WITH HIM, ANYWHERE WE HAVE HAD HIM OUT, INCLUDING THE BRISTOL FOURTH OF JULY PARADE, HE COMES ACROSS AS THE RIGHT SOLID CANDIDATE.

OUR FOCUS WILL BE FOCUSING ON HIM AND GETTING HIS NAME OUT THERE AS FAR AS WHERE HE STANDS WITH HIS POLICIES, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, HIS QUALITY, EVERYTHING HE HAS EVER DONE WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, IN THE MILITARY, THE ONLY ONE WHO TRULY HAS LEADERSHIP SKILLS WHICH IS WHAT PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN LACKING -- WHAT RHODE ISLAND HAS BEEN LACKING.

WE NEED SOMEONE THINKING ABOUT CONSTITUENTS, NOT THEIR NEXT STEPS.

WE NEED SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO FOCUS ON POLICIES THAT WILL BE WELL ABOVE POLITICS IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM AND MAKE SURE HE PURPORTS THAT HE PERFORMS NOT FOR THE STATES BUT RHODE ISLAND ALONG.

JIM: TIDEWATER LANDING WAS IN A POSITIVE BECAUSE IT WAS HAVING FINANCIAL ISSUES.

THE DEVELOPER COULD NOT GET THE FINANCING HE NEEDED.

CONSTRUCTION STOPPED ON THE SOCCER STADIUM IN PAWTUCKET.

NOW IT LOOKS LIKE PRIVATE FINANCING HAS FALLEN INTO PLACE.

THOUGHTS ON THIS?

BILLY: IT IS A PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP.

THEY SEEM TO BE EMPHASIZING THE PARTNERSHIP WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT TEXT.

DOLLARS BUT EMPHASIZE THE PRIVATE ENTITY WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT DISCLOSING WHO THE INVESTORS ARE.

WE SEE A LOT OF SPORTS WASHING IN GOLF, WHO ARE THESE INVESTORS?

IT COULD BE SAUDI ARABIA OR HUNTER BIDEN INVESTING IN THE TIDEWATER LENDING.

I AM SAYING THAT TONGUE-IN-CHEEK.

THE FACT THAT THEY COULD TO A POINT WHERE THEY HAVE INVESTED THIS MONEY, IT IS PRIVATE EQUITY , EVENTUALLY THEY ARE GOING TO KICK IN THE BOND THAT IS WHEN YOU OBLIGATE THE STATE TO PUT IN EXTRA DOLLARS.

HOW DO THEY BRIDGE THAT GAP?

I WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE TERMS OF THE PRIVATE EQUITY DEAL IS.

IS THERE ANY TYPE OF DISTRESSED ASSET INVESTIGATION THAT WOULD CAUSE THE DEAL MORTGAGING THE BOND FUNDS TO BRIDGE THAT GAP WITH FUNDING?

THAT IS WHAT I WOULD BE CONCERNED WITH.

THERE IS NOT A LOT TO COMMENT ON AND NOT UNTIL THE FALL THAT THEY ARE EXPECTED TO GET EVERYTHING IN A ROW.

WE WILL SEE WITH THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE IS LIKE.

EMILY: I THINK THIS LOOKS GOOD FOR THE MAYOR.

HE HALTED THAT PUBLIC FUNDING AND I THINK IT WAS A SMART MOVE.

IT WAS -- IT PUT PRESSURE ON JOHNSON TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD ENOUGH PRIVATE EQUITY BEFORE MOVING FORWARD.

YOU STILL HAVE CRITICISMS OF THE PROJECT ITSELF.

IT IS GOING TO A SPORTS STADIUM VERSUS THE ISSUES WE SEE IN PAWTUCKET AND ISSUES ACROSS THE STATE OF EDUCATION AND HOUSING.

THIS SEEMS TO STILL BE MOVING FORWARD AND MAYBE THIS CAN BE A PROJECT WHERE -- I KNOW THERE ARE ALREADY DISCUSSIONS OF THIS COULD LEAD TO MORE HOUSING.

THIS COULD LEAD TO MORE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY HELP US IN THE LONG RUN AS A STATE.

JOE: IS OBVIOUS THAT TIDEWATER'’S HAS BEEN -- FROM THE BEGINNING.

FOR RHODE ISLANDERS'’ SAKE, I HOPE IT WORKS OUT.

THERE IS NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO TO STOP IT SO I HOPE IT WORKS OUT.

GOING TO THE CAPITALISM SIDE, THE IDEA OF ACTUALLY BUILDING A STADIUM WHERE YOU CAN HAVE SOME GROWTH, SOME RETAIL GROWTH, YOU CAN START PUTTING MONEY INTO HOUSING WHICH HOPEFULLY THE MONEY THEY WILL BE BRINGING IN THEY WILL BE USING FOR THINGS SUCH AS TO HELP PEOPLE MOVE INTO HOMES.

WHETHER THAT WILL HAPPEN I AM NOT EXACTLY SURE.

I AM RIGHT THERE ALONG WITH BILLY.

WHERE DID THE MONEY COME FROM?

CAN WE DISCLOSE WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE?

JIM: ALREADY THINKING HUNTER BIDEN -- ARE YOU THINKING HUNTER BIDEN?

JOE: HE WAS CLEANING OFF HIS PAINT BRUSHES RECENTLY SO HE MAY NEED SOME MONEY.

I DON'’T WANT TO SEE RHODE ISLANDERS AGAIN BEING STUCK HOLDING THE BILL IF AND WHEN THIS GOES FORWARD.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT SOCCER?

I HEAR CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC.

THEY ARE GOING TO RELY ON REVENUE.

THE REVENUE WAS GOING TO PAY THOSE BONDS.

YOU HAVE YOUNGER KIDS, ARE THEY INTERESTED IN SOCCER?

WHERE THEY GO TO A GAME?

EMILY: MY CHILDREN PERSONALLY, WE WOULD TAKE THEM.

WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE GOT TO -- BEFORE A SOCCER GAME.

IT IS A POPULAR SPORT AND ALL OF MY SONS, MOST OF MY SON'’S KIDS ARE EXCITED ABOUT SOCCER SO I COULD SEE IT BEING AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY.

MAYBE YOUNG ADULTS.

I SEE THE EXCITEMENT IN THESE STUDENTS AND THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS, THIS PLAN.

I THINK YOU MAY DRAW SOME YOUNG ADULTS TO STAY IN THIS STATE AND THAT IS A GOOD THING.

BILLY: WE STADIUM REVENUE IS NOT GOING TO FIND IT.

THEY HAVE CREATED A TAX DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY STATED EVEN IN THE ROSES CONDITIONS THE STADIUM IS NOT GOING TO GENERATE ENOUGH REVENUE SO THEY HAD TO TAKE TAX REVENUE FROM AROUND IT.

AS THE INVESTMENTS CONTINUE TO BE A STRUGGLE AND THE COST OF HIGH GOES UP, LESS INVESTMENT WILL BE GOING ON AND SO IT WILL BE THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND BUSINESSES PAYING THEIR TAX DOLLARS TOWARDS THESE PRIVATE INVESTORS WHICH I DON'’T THINK IS RIGHT.

THAT HAS BEEN THE OBJECTION FROM MANY.

JIM: WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS AS THE SHOVEL HITS THE DIRT.

LET'’S GO TO OUTRAGES AND KUDOS.

EMILY, WHAT DID YOU HAVE?

EMILY: I JUST SAW THE MEDIA COVERED IT HAS BEEN OVER 200 DAYS THAT BEACHES HAVE CLOSED IN RHODE ISLAND.

I THINK THAT IS A BIG CONCERN FOR RHODE ISLANDERS AS WE SEE EXTREME WEATHER AND OTHER CONCERNS OF CONTAMINATION BASED ON WASTE.

JIM: SYRINGES WASHING UP, TOO.

EMILY: RIGHT.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT POLITICIANS NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO AS WE MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE THE BEACHES BEING SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR ECONOMY.

IT IS A KEY POINT OF KEEPING OUR ENVIRONMENT CLEAN FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

BILLY: SIX MONTHS AGO MY OUTRAGE WAS THE ONGOING HOMELESS CRISIS.

SITUATION SEEMED TO BE FLAT-FOOTED WHEN IT IS CALLED IN NEW ENGLAND AND NOW WE ARE IN THE SUMMER AND DEALING WITH PROLIFIC HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.

THEY JUST CLEARED ONE.

IT IS AN ONGOING ISSUE.

ONE OF THE THREADS IS THAT IF WE ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH AS A STATE, WE HAD THE LARGEST BUDGET IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE.

WE SPEND MINUTES OF DOLLARS TOWARDS THESE PROGRAMS AND THERE IS REALLY NO OBJECTIVE GOAL OF WHERE WE ARE TRY TO GET WITH THE HOMELESS CRISIS, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.

A LOT OF THE PROJECTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE GOING TO BE TWO YEARS OUT BEFORE THAT HE GETS INTO PLACE.

WE NEED TO HAVE SOME ACTION ON THE HOMELESS PROCESS TO HELP NOT ONLY THOSE SUFFERING FROM HOMELESSNESS BUT THE TAXPAYERS FUNDING NOT ONLY SOCIAL SERVICES KEEPING THESE PEOPLE HOMELESS BUT THE CLEANUP AFTERWARDS.

AND HER MENTAL ISSUES, SENDING HAZMAT CREWS TO CLEAN UP FOR THESE ENCAMPMENTS AND THAT IS NOT FAIR FOR THE TAXPAYERS.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS BEFORE WE GET FLAT-FOOTED AGAIN AND IT GETS COLD.

JOE: I AM BRINGING IT BACK TO WHAT WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT, THE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES OF ELECTION INTEGRITY.

I THINK IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT IS SUPPOSED BEFORE THE PEOPLE BUT WE ARE NOT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY GET THE TRUE ANSWERS ON WHAT IS GOING ON.

WE ARE PUSHING THIS WAY TOO FAST.

THERE SHOULD BE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, THERE SHOULD BE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR RHODE ISLANDERS TO PARTAKE IN WHAT IS GOING ON AND ALSO TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN PLACE.

YOU HIRE SOMEBODY IN TO GO IN TO GET YOUR SIGNATURE, KNOWINGLY PUTTING WRONG NAMES ON THERE, KNOWINGLY DOING THINGS ILLEGAL AND RHODE ISLANDERS ARE STUCK WITH THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT GETS DONE IN RHODE ISLAND.

I THINK IT IS OUTRAGEOUS AND DOES NOTHING BUT HURT THE CONSTITUENTS OF RHODE ISLAND.

JIM: IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES, EMILY, YOU HAVE A BOOK THAT CAME OUT THAT YOU CO-AUTHORED.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

EMILY: IT IS "THE STATE OF PROGRAM AND POLITICS OF GOVERNMENT."

I EDITED IT AND WE HAVE COLLABORATORS FROM ACROSS THE STATE, SCHOLARS FROM A NUMBER OF UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES HERE IN RHODE ISLAND, EXPERTS IN MANY DIFFERENT AREAS.

-- WROTE A BOOK 20 YEARS AGO AND WE THOUGHT WE NEEDED ANY UPDATE TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS IN RHODE ISLAND -- AN UPDATE TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS IN RHODE ISLAND.

THE INFORMATION IT PRESENTS -- AND THERE IS A MEDIA CHAPTER, THERE WAS NOT A MEDIA CHAPTER IN THE ORIGINAL BOOK.

THERE IS A CHAPTER DEDICATED TO VOTING IN ELECTIONS AND THERE ARE POLICY SECTIONS AT THE END OF THE BOOK THAT COVER THE ENVIRONMENT, WOMEN IN POLITICS, HEALTH CARE POLICY, TRANSPORTATION POLICY, TAXES AND SPENDING.

JIM: AS THESE CAME IN, WHAT SURPRISED YOU AND WHAT DID NOT SURPRISE YOU?

THAT YOU EXPECTED TO BE WHAT HE WAS -- DID YOU EXPECT IT TO BE WHAT IT WAS?

EMILY: EACH CHAPTER PROVIDES A FRESH TAKE ON A DIFFERENT ASPECT OF RHODE ISLAND POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT.

WILL HAVE TO GET THE BOOK AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

SIMPLY LOOKING AT THE VOTING AND ELECTIONS CHAPTER, THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS OF MAIL BALLOT VOTING.

DISCUSSIONS HAVE CHANGED WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

THESE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES WE SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO AND UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS IN RHODE ISLAND.

JIM: WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT IN 20 YEARS FROM NOW THAT HAS NOT CHANGED.

JOE: PROBABLY NOTHING DIFFERENT.

JIM: WE WILL BE BACK AND IT WILL BE THE ELDERLY LIVELY PANEL.

JOE: I CAN'’T WAIT TO LOOK AT THE BOOK BUT WITH THE PARTY WE HAVE HAD, I DON'’T SEE MUCH IN THE WAY OF DIFFERENCE.

THE MEDIA NOW PLAYS A ROLE IN THE POLITICAL SIDE OF THE WORLD.

INSTEAD OF REPORTING, THERE COULD BE A POSSIBILITY THERE IS A PERSUASION.

EMILY: TALK ABOUT CHANGE -- BILLY: YOU TALK ABOUT CHANGES IN VOTING, WHETHER THAT IS GOOD OR BAD HAS YET TO BE SEEN.

I AM INTERESTED IN READING THE BOOK.

JIM: OR CAN WE GET IT?

-- WHERE CAN WE GET IT?

EMILY: RHODE ISLAND PUBLICATIONS.

IT WILL BE ON THE WEBSITE SOON.

JIM: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

IF YOU DON'’T CATCH US FRIDAY AT 7:00 OR SUNDAY AT NOON, WE HAVE OUR SHOWS ON RIPBS.ORG/LIVELY.

WE DON'’T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN VER THE NEXT WEEK BUT WE WILL BE HERE TO ANALYZE A NEXT WEEK.

COME BACK AS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" ASKED --"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 -- >> HI, I'’M JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR. FOR OVER 30 YEARS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS TO THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

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