>> FOR FEDERAL JUDGE TELLS OPPONENTS, THE BALL IS NOT IN HIS COURT.

IS THERE A BETTER WAY THAN SPECIAL ELECTIONS TO FILL VACANT SEATS OR VOTE ON BOND REFERENDUMS?

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

I'’M A PROUD SUPPORTER OF RHODE ISLAND PBS.

>> JOINING US WITH ANALYSIS, KEN BLOCK, WENDY SCHILLER AND HARRISON TITLE.

JIM: GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

CHALLENGERS TO A SHORELINE ACCESS BILL SUFFERED A SETBACK WHEN WILLIAM SMITH TOSSED THE CASE ON TUESDAY SAYING FEDERAL COURT WAS NOT THE RIGHT JURISDICTION FOR AN APPEAL.

THIS IS A VICTORY FOR THOSE TRYING TO OPEN UP THE SHORE.

YOU WERE ON THE LAST TIME WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION.

WENDY: I CAN UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT A PROPERTY, EXPECTED A LIFESTYLE CONDITION WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE PRIVACY.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW NO ONE OWNS THE OCEAN, THE SAND, THE BEACH.

BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND EROSION, WE HAVE SHIFTING LINES.

PEOPLE WORK HARD AND THEY WANT TO ENJOY THE SHORE ON THE WEEKENDS.

IF PEOPLE ARE NOT MAKING TOO MUCH NOISE, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH, BEING PART OF SOCIETY.

YOU LIVE IN THE OCEAN STATE.

I GET IT.

YOU CAN'’T JUST CLOSE OFF PUBLIC ENTITIES TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO USE THEM.

>> IT'’S A HUGE ISSUE FOR ME.

I'’VE ADVOCATED FOR ACCESS.

WHAT THE FIGHT IS NOW, IT'’S ABOUT LATERAL ACCESS.

THERE'’S ANOTHER PROBLEM IN THE STATE.

PERPENDICULAR ACCESS.

HOW DO YOU GET ONTO THE BEACH?

MY COMMUNITY IS INFAMOUS FOR MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO GET ACCESS TO PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS.

THAT IS THE NEXT FIGHT.

I'’M GLAD THIS WAS THROWN OUT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING BRING THE NEXT PIECE TO FRUITION.

JIM: IN BARRINGTON, THESE BEAUTIFUL STONE BANKS, OH THIS IS A RIGHT-OF-WAY.

YOU CANNOT PARK WITHIN 400 MILES.

YOU HAVE TO HIKE IT.

KEN: THEY MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR TOO MANY PEOPLE TO DO.

HARRISON: CONSULTING WITH LEGAL ADVOCATES, PASSING THIS LEGISLATION, THEY UNDERSTAND THIS COULD GO TO SUPREME COURT.

IT'’S IMPORTANT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE NO LAW.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT TAPPED IN TO LEGISLATION, SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.

JIM: SEEMS LIKE THE AG IS GEARED FOR A FIGHT.

HARRISON: ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS A RHODE ISLAND CONSTITUTION ISSUE.

I IMAGINE IT STAYS A RHODE ISLAND ISSUE.

JIM: THAT'’S WITH THE FEDERAL JUDGE SAID.

TO BE CONTINUED.

WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SPECIAL ELECTION SEASON.

WE HAD ONE LAST YEAR IN CD2.

WE HAVE ONE IN CD1 MOMENTARILY.

SHOULD WE BE HOLDING SPECIAL ELECTIONS WITH SUCH A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE, NOT ONLY FOR UNEXPIRED TERMS, BUT BOND ISSUES WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS?

KEN: WITH BOND ISSUES, THERE SHOULD BE A STATEWIDE PROHIBITION ON ASKING FOR VOTES IN A SPECIAL ELECTION TO ALLOCATE THAT KIND OF MONEY UNLESS IT IS A EMERGENCY.

THERE IS NO WAY NORMAL BONDING SHOULD HAPPEN IN A SPECIAL ELECTION BECAUSE WE KNOW EMPIRICALLY SPECIAL ELECTIONS ARE NOT WELL ATTENDED.

THE TURNOUT IS DRAMATICALLY LOWER THAN THE REGULAR SCHEDULED ELECTIONS.

WHEN IT COMES TO FILLING A SEAT FOR CONGRESS, LIKE RIGHT NOW, THE WINNER IS COMING OUT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY WITH 15,000 VOTES.

IT'’S A SMALL PIECE OF THE TOTAL ELECTORATE.

I DON'’T THINK IT'’S A GREAT WAY TO CHOOSE LEADERS.

MAYBE WE SHOULD BE APPOINTING PEOPLE TO TEMPORARILY FILL A SEAT AND HOLD OFF ON A PROPER ELECTION.

I DON'’T KNOW, IT'’S NOT MEANINGFUL IN THE RUN, IF SOMEONE WINS A POORLY ATTENDED ELECTION.

THERE'’S NOT MUCH COMPELLING ABOUT IT.

IT'’S EXPENSIVE.

NOT ENOUGH PARTICIPATE.

IT'’S NOT A GOOD IDEA.

WENDY: I DISAGREE, NOT ON THE BOND ISSUE, BECAUSE THAT TAKES EDUCATION.

JIM: THOSE ARE LONG-TERM PROJECTS.

WENDY: HERE'’S MY DILEMMA.

IN THIS SPECIAL ELECTION FOR CD1, THERE WAS DIVERSITY IN THE CANDIDATES.

THE PERSON EMERGED IS A DIVERSE CANDIDATE.

PERHAPS IF GOVERNOR MCKEE WOULD HAVE APPOINTED SOMEONE DIVERSE IF HE HAD THE POWER.

THAT CUTS OUT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE.

IF YOU ARE NOT EMBEDDED IN THE ELITE POLITICAL NETWORK OF THE STATE, YOU'’RE UNLIKELY TO BE APPOINTED.

IF THERE WAS BETTER PARITY, I WOULD BE ON YOUR SIDE.

WITHOUT THAT, I WOULD RATHER HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION.

HARRISON: VOTER TURNOUT IN CD1 CAN BE DIRECTLY TIED TO THE FACT THAT VOTERS NEED TO BE MORE ENGAGED.

WE NEED MORE CIVIC EDUCATION AND ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE.

THE MINUTE WE TAKE AWAY DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IS THE MINUTE WE TAKE THE PROCESS OUT OF THE HANDS OF VOTERS, NO MATTER HOW MANY VOTE.

THE PROCESS SHOULD BE LOOKING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VOTING.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS WORKING ON WORKING WITH HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH TO ESTABLISH CLUBS TO GET THAT.

THAT'’S IMPORTANT.

HAVING SOMEBODY UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, WHO'’S RUNNING AND ALSO HOW TO VOTE I THINK IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THE QUESTION THEN RATHER OR NOT WE SHOULD THROW AWAY SPECIAL ELECTIONS, WHICH ARE RARE, EVEN THOUGH WE'’VE HAD QUITE A BIT OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

JIM: REWIND 25 YEARS.

JOHN CHAFEE DIED.

THE WAY IT WAS SET UP FOR THE SENATE, BY RHODE ISLAND RULES, LINK, THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR, WAS ABLE TO APPOINT SOMEONE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF HANDWRINGING AMONG DEMOCRATS.

WE NEED TO CHANGE THIS!

IT IS GOVERNED BY THE STATES.

YOU DECIDE HOW TO FILL THAT SEAT?

WENDY: EVERY STATE HAS A DIFFERENT RULE.

THEY HAVE DIFFERENT RULES FOR SENATE VERSUS HOUSE.

SOME STATES HAVE A RULE YOU HAVE TO APPOINT SOMEBODY FROM THE PARTY OF THE PERSON WHO VACATED THE SEAT.

UTAH AND WYOMING, IF A REPUBLICAN RETIRES, YOU HAVE TO APPOINT A REPUBLICAN, EVEN IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT.

IT IS A COMPLICATED THING, PATCHWORK ACROSS THE COUNTRY BECAUSE OF ONE CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION THAT SAYS STATES SHALL REGULATE ELECTIONS.

JIM: HOW WOULD IT LOOK FOR YOU?

KEN: I HAVEN'’T GONE THROUGH.

JIM: COME ON DETAIL MAN.

KEN: I WROTE THE PROVIDENCE TEACHERS CONTRACT IN ADVANCE OF THIS.

WENDY: YOU CAN IMAGINE A SCENARIO WHERE WE SPEND MONEY ON THESE ELECTIONS.

THAT IS ANOTHER ISSUE.

EVEN THOUGH THEY WEREN'’T THE FAVORITE FOR THE MOST PROMINENT.

IN THE END, TURNING OUT MORE VOTERS SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE GOAL.

HARRISON: LET'’S REALIZE THE AMOUNT OF CANDIDATES THAT RAN.

SOME PEOPLE SAY IT IS BAD, SOME SAY IT IS ENCOURAGING.

THERE WAS A SPECIAL ELECTION.

WE SAW SO MANY CANDIDATES FROM SO MANY BACKGROUNDS.

AN IMMIGRANT FROM PAWTUCKET.

SO MANY PEOPLE SAID IT IS ENCOURAGING.

JIM: GO IT.

KEN: THAT'’S BECAUSE THE POWER OF INCUMBENCY WAS REMOVED.

IF WE WANT COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS, WE SHOULD BE MAKING CHANGES TO REMOVE THE POWER OF INCUMBENCY SO WE CAN GET FRESH FACES AND MORE PEOPLE INTO THE PROCESS IN OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED ELECTIONS.

THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGER REFORMS WE COULD MAKE TO OPEN UP WHO CAN SERVE AND COMPETE.

WHO CAN BE COMPETITIVE IF WE START MAKING CHANGES TO REMOVE THE POWER OF INCUMBENCY?

WENDY: TO THAT POINT, WE SUFFERED AS A STATE, BECAUSE WE STILL DON'’T HAVE A VOTE FROM CD1 AND CONGRESS.

THERE'’S A MISSING VOICE.

SOME STATES WILL APPOINT SOMEONE IMMEDIATELY TO FILL THE SEAT UNTIL THE SPECIAL ELECTION.

I THINK THAT'’S A BETTER SYSTEM TO ADOPT.

JIM: SAM'’SM UP AT THE STATEHOUSE HAS A COMMISSION, LOOKING AT HOW WE VOTE.

SHOULD EARLY VOTING BE THIS LONG?

SOME SAY WE COULD SHORTEN IT.

RANK-CHOICE VOTING.

THAT SOMETIMES SOUNDS GREAT IN THEORY BUT THEN IT GETS CONFUSING FOR PEOPLE.

WENDY: I WAS THOUGHT IT WOULD GET CONFUSING BUT I THINK I'’M WRONG.

PEOPLE IN MAINE AND NEW YORK CITY FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO IT.

KEN: IT TOOK A WEEK TO FIGURE OUT IF ADAMS HAD WON.

THAT DOESN'’T INSPIRE CONFIDENCE.

WENDY: IT GIVES ALTERNATIVE PARTIES A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING A HOLD ON POLITICS.

THE VIABILITY OF THAT THIRD PERSON, WHICH WE USUALLY DON'’T THINK ABOUT, BECOMES MORE POSSIBLE.

IF YOU WANT MORE VOICE AND PARTIES, RANK-CHOICE VOTING WILL TAKE US IN THAT DIRECTION.

KEN: IN MAINE, THOUSANDS OF VOTES, VOTERS WERE DISENFRANCHISED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT VOTE THE RANK-CHOICE VOTING CORRECTLY AND THEIR VOTES COULDN'’T BE COUNTED AT ALL.

IF 1000 VOTERS WERE DISENFRANCHISED BY REPUBLICANS, THERE WOULD BE AN OUTCRY.

IN MAINE, 1000 VOTERS LOST THEIR VOTE BY THE MECHANISM.

I THINK THAT IS TERRIBLE.

M.I.T.

ELECTION RESEARCHERS DID BLIND STUDIES ASKING VOTERS TO TELL THEM HOW THEY PERCEIVED THE RANK CHOICE PALLET AND THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT IT.

IT IS DOCUMENTED IN STUDIES.

I SHOULD LIKE RANK-CHOICE VOTING AS SOMEONE WHO LIKES THIRD PARTIES.

I DON'’T LIKE IT.

HARRISON: RANK-CHOICE VOTING HAS PICKED UP LEGISLATION IN OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY REBECCA KIDS SLAC.

GETTING OUT OF THAT INCUMBENCY POWER, WHICH IS SO DOMINANT IN RHODE ISLAND, I HAD A SENSE, TALKING TO PEOPLE ON THE DOORS, THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF IT.

JIM: YOU RAN FOR STATE SENATE?

IN 2022.

SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME AGO.

WENDY: A HISTORICAL NOTE.

AS A NATION, WE SLOWLY IN THE 1880'’S, THROUGH 1910, REMOVED FROM HAVING A PARTY BALLOT, COLOR-CODED IN RHODE ISLAND, SO YOU TOOK A BLUE BALLOT IF YOU WERE THIS PARTY AND THEN YOU DIDN'’T HAVE ANY CHOICES.

TO WHAT IS CALLED OFFICE BLOCK.

TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH OFFICE.

COUNTRY EVENTUALLY SWITCHED TO THAT.

THE EDUCATION LEVEL IS MUCH LOWER THAN IT IS TODAY.

WE MANAGED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT IN THE 1880'’S.

PEOPLE LEARN.

PEOPLE GET USED TO IT.

I AGREE IT CAN BE CONFUSING.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM OF TWO-PARTY DOMINANCE, YOU HAVE TO WEIGH THE DIFFICULTY OF DISENFRANCHISEMENT NOW VERSUS WHERE WE COULD BE 20 YEARS FROM NOW.

KEN: I'’M ALL ABOUT BREAKING THE STRANGLEHOLD OF TWO PARTIES.

JIM: HOW'’S THAT GOING?

[LAUGHTER] KEN: I DON'’T KNOW THAT THE RANK CHOICE PALLET IS THE MECHANISM.

JIM: WE WILL SEE WHAT THE COMMISSION HAS TO SAY.

CD1.

THE FIRST TIME WE'’VE HAD YOU ON SINCE THE PRIMARY.

HARRISON, THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME TO LIVELY.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

SOMEONE IN THE ARENA.

GIVE ME A THOUGHTS ABOUT THE VICTORY AND WHERE WE GO FROM HERE FOR GABE.

WERE YOU SURPRISED?

HARRISON: I WAS.

I WAS TALKING TO GABE TWO DAYS AGO.

HE MENTIONED HE HIRED THREE FIELD CAMPAIGN DIRECTORS, SOMETHING NO OTHER CAMPAIGN HAVE DONE.

JIM: WHAT DOES THAT DO?

HARRISON: PUTS BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

WE KNEW THE SPECIAL ELECTION WOULD COME DOWN TO BEING ABLE TO DOOR KNOCK AND TARGET VOTERS INFORMED.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY WEREN'’T INFORMED.

WE NEED TO DO THAT.

RUNNING A CAMPAIGN THIS RACE, IT WAS IMPORTANT EVERY CANDIDATE HAD MANY VOLUNTEERS ON THE GROUND.

FOR SOMEONE WHO HAD EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT, MANY VOTERS DIDN'’T KNOW, AND FOR SOMEONE TO BE AN IMMIGRANT AND A BLACK MAN FROM THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, THIS IS A HUGE WATERSHED MOMENT FOR RHODE ISLAND, BEING ABLE TO HAVE REPRESENTATION IN THE MOST DIVERSE DISTRICT IN RHODE ISLAND.

JIM: DID YOU THINK AARON WOULD WIN?

HARRISON: I DIDN'’T KNOW WHO WOULD WIN.

I THOUGHT THE RESULTS WOULD BE DECIDED BY A COUPLE AREAS, PARTICULARLY EAST SIDE, AND WAS INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THAT BROKE DOWN.

JOHN, YOU HAVE OTHERS.

AARON REAGAN BERG HAD PROMINENT AREAS OF INTEREST.

LOOK AT THE OUTCOMES OF HOW EACH CITY AND TOWN VOTED.

GABE DOMINATED THEM.

THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE VOTING OUTLOOK.

JIM: REAGAN BERG DID MAKEUP WENDY: HE WON SAME DATE, EARLY VOTING AND MAIL IN.

SAME-DAY REGISTRATION WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO SOLVING THESE ISSUES.

PEOPLE ALSO DON'’T KNOW YOU CAN VOTE IN THE PRIMARY, YOU CAN AFFILIATE WITH THE PARTY, TAKE THE BALLOT VOTE, AND DISS AFFILIATE ON YOUR WAY OUT.

SAME-DAY REGISTRATION, THERE IS NO EXCUSE NOT TO HAVE IT.

JIM: WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE MARGIN?

YES.

WENDY: YES.

HE DID SOMETHING STRATEGIC IN TERMS OF GAMING IT.

HE SAID LOOK, I'’M NOT IN FIRST PLACE NOW.

I'’M RELEASING THIS POLL.

I'’M WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE.

SERENA HAS FALLEN.

IF YOU DON'’T LOVE AARON, YOU CAN VOTE FOR ME AND GIVEN THE MARGINS, I CAN WIN.

THAT WAS SMART.

HARRISON: I DIDN'’T VOTE IN THE PRIMARY.

I TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

KEN: THERE WERE A LOT OF VERY STRONG, POLARIZED FEELINGS AMONG THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE AN APPROPRIATE PERSON CAME OUT ABOUT THE WINNER.

IT IS EFFECTIVELY A STATEWIDE RACE.

IT WAS CONDUCTED LITERALLY BY KNOCKING ON DOORS.

IT'’S A WEIRD RHODE ISLAND-ISM.

IN MOST OTHER PLACES, YOU DON'’T SEE THAT.

JIM: WHAT DID HE HAVE -- 12,000 VOTES?

KEN: IT'’S REALLY UNIQUE.

I DON'’T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE REGISTRATION AT ALL.

AS A CITIZEN, YOUR BIRTHRIGHT IS TO VOTE.

THIS CONCEPT OF NEEDING TO REGISTER.

WENDY: INCUMBENT POLITICIANS WILL NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN.

THEY DON'’T WANT SAME-DAY REGISTRATION.

IT CREATES MORE SCRUTINY ON GAME DAY.

THEY DON'’T LIKE IT.

KEN: IT'’S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE, SPECIFICALLY AT A LOCAL LEVEL, STATE SENATOR, CITY COUNCIL, A LOT OF CAMPAIGNS ONLY KNOCK ON THE DOORS IN WHICH THEY KNOW PEOPLE WILL VOTE FREELY.

YOU MAY HAVE A CASE WHERE SOMEONE IS REGISTERED BUT THEY HAVE NEVER VOTED BEFORE.

JIM: CONSOLIDATE YOUR RESOURCES.

WENDY: OBAMA AND TRUMP EACH IGNORE THAT AND WON.

USING SOCIAL MEDIA AND TEXTING.

A WHOLE BLOCK OF PEOPLE, GO TO EVERYBODY'’S HOUSE, WHETHER WE KNOW THEY VOTED OR NOT, AND GET THEM REGISTERED, INTO THE CAMPAIGN.

HARRISON: THAT'’S THE KEY.

SAME-DAY REGISTRATION ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

WE SHOULD WANT EVERYBODY WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO VOTE AS A U.S. CITIZEN TO VOTE.

THE CLOSER WE GET TO THAT IS THE BETTER FOR OUR STATE.

JIM: SAME-DAY, SAME-DAY, NO REGISTRATION.

[LAUGHTER] WENDY: UNTIL THE CAREER POLITICIAN GETS INVOLVED IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY.

YOU STARTED TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO RAN AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.

THEY CARED A LOT ABOUT WHO WOULD VOTE AND THEY STARTED TO IMPLEMENT REGISTRATION.

JIM: WE COULD DO AN ENTIRE HALF-HOUR ON THIS.

KEN AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION RHODE ISLAND.

LET'’S BLOCK OFF THE NEXT THREE HOURS.

STEPH MACHADO HAD A MIND BLOWING PEACE ABOUT ABSENTEE RATES IN PROVIDENCE.

HALF OF THE STUDENT POPULATION WAS CONSIDERED ABSENTEE WHICH IS 18 DAYS OR MORE.

KEN: LITERALLY, I READ THE CONTRACT IN PREPARATION FOR COMING TODAY.

I FIRMLY BELIEVE THE JOB OF TEACHING IS A WHITE-COLLAR JOB.

THE PROVIDENCE TEACHERS CONTRACT.

THAT CONTRACT IS 65 PAGES LONG AND GETS INTO EXCRUCIATING DETAIL ABOUT WHAT A TEACHER SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT DO, WHAT THEY GET PAID TO DO THIS OR THAT OR THE OTHER THING.

IN MOST WHITE-COLLAR JOBS, THE CONTRACT IS TWO PAGES.

IT DEFINES HER JOB IS TO DO THIS JOB WELL, WE WILL PAY YOU ASK, AND LEAVE IT TO MANAGEMENT.

WHEN YOU READ THE TEACHERS CONTRACT, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS IT SAYS IS ALL THE CONTENTS OF THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE NEW CONTRACT BY REFERENCE.

THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT GOES BACKWARD AND BACKWARD AND BACKWARD.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS IN THE CURRENT CONTRACT, YOU CANNOT READ ONE DOCUMENT TO FIGURE IT OUT.

YOU HAVE TO GO BACK DECADES AND READ ALL THE CONTRACTS.

YOU CANNOT MANAGE TO THAT.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT THE LARGER ISSUE OF THE TAKEOVER?

SMILEY IS HINTING WE WANT TO GET IT BACK BUT NOT RIGHT AWAY?

HARRISON: SO MUCH OF THIS TAKEOVER IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE BOARD, IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

THESE WILL BE APPOINTED/ELECTED POSITIONS, SPLIT HALFWAY.

THESE ARE CHANGE AND WILL REPRESENT MULTIPLE BOARDS.

THINK ABOUT HOW POWERFUL THE SEATS ARE AND HOW INFLUENTIAL THE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE MOVING FORWARD.

ON THE ABSENTEE ISSUES, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE ROOT CAUSES OF WHY KIDS ARE ABSENT.

WE KNOW THERE ARE ISSUES AROUND POVERTY IN RHODE ISLAND.

WE NEED TO HAVE MORE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, HEALTH CARE AND BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE KIDS ARE ABLE TO EAT AT SCHOOL.

ALL THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO WHETHER OR NOT A KID GOES TO SCHOOL OR NOT.

WENDY: 100% ON TARGET.

FOR DATA PURPOSES WE ARE LOOKING AT THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, LET'’S THINK ABOUT COVID AND THE PRACTICES, WEN SOMEONE GETS SICK -- MAYBE THEY DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A TEST.

YOU DON'’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR CHILD.

DO YOU INFECT PEOPLE?

SOME OF IT MUST BE DUE TO COVID HANGOVER PRACTICES.

THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR, WE NEED TO SEE WHAT THE TRENDS ARE LIKE.

A SAFE HOUSING ENVIRONMENT, A SAFE WAY TO GET TO SCHOOL AND BEING FED OUR FUNDAMENTAL TO SUCCESS.

KEN: I HAVE A CLOSE FRIEND WHO DECIDED SHE WANTED TO TEACH IN PROVIDENCE.

SHE APPLIED FOR AND OBTAINED A POSITION LAST YEAR.

SHE TAUGHT IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

IT TOOK A MONTH OF HER WORKING BEFORE THEY PAID HER.

HER MATH TEXTBOOKS DIDN'’T ARRIVE FOR 10 WEEKS AFTER SHE STARTED TEACHING.

SHE HAD VIOLENT CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM.

SHE WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

SHE LASTED 2.5 MONTHS.

THE PROBLEMS IN PROVIDENCE ARE MULTILAYERED.

IT'’S AN ADMINISTRATION PROBLEM.

IT'’S A PROBLEM WITH A FEW PROBLEMATIC STUDENTS.

IT IS SO COMPLEX.

IT IS SO BROKEN.

WE DESPERATELY NEED TO FIX IT.

WHAT WE ARE DOING IN PROVIDENCE AND IN OTHER URBAN CORE SCHOOLS IS FUNDAMENTALLY UNFAIR TO THE CHILDREN WE ARE HARMING.

HARRISON: WE ARE FAILING GENERATIONS.

KEN: IT IS SUSTAINING GENERATIONAL DEFICIENCIES AND PROBLEMS AND THE ABILITY OF HUMAN BEINGS TO EXCEL IN THEIR LIVES.

WE HAVE TO FIX IT AND STOP MESSING AROUND.

WHETHER THE CONTROL IS AT PROVIDENCE, WHO FAILED TO WELL RUN THE SCHOOLS FOR DECADES OR WHETHER IT IS BEING RUN BY THE STATE NOW, NOBODY HAS DONE IT RIGHT.

NO ONE DESERVES TO RUNIT AT THIS POINT.

WE NEED A DIFFERENT ANSWER.

JIM: FINAL THOUGHT.

WENDY: THE ARGUMENT ABOUT PUBLIC CHOICE, USING PUBLIC TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR VOUCHERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THINKING ABOUT, ENCOURAGING MORE COMPETITION ACROSS SCHOOLS THROUGH THAT SYSTEM, OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE THIS WITH PUBLIC DOLLARS, ESPECIALLY PARENTS FROM LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES HAVE SAID THIS EMPOWERS THEM AND THEY CAN MAKE SURE THEIR CHILD WILL THRVE IN SCHOOL.

THAT IS COMING DOWN THE PIKE, WHETHER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS I'’M NOT SURE.

IT'’S COMING.

JIM: OUTRAGEOUS OR KUDOS.

KEN: I HAVE A KUDOS.

JIM: OH MY GOODNESS.

KEN: THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL IS RUNNING A TERRIFIC STORY THIS SUNDAY ABOUT THE BLOCK ISLAND FIRE.

KATIE MULLANEY AND ANTONIA WROTE AN ASTONISHEDINGLY GREAT PIECE ABOUT THE FIRE AND RESPONSE TO THE FIRE.

FIRST-CLASS JOURNALISM.

IT BLEW ME AWAY.

I NEED TO CALL OUT THE JOURNAL AND THOSE REPORTERS WHAT A GREAT JOB THEY DID.

I HOPE THEY WIN ALL KINDS OF AWARDS.

I HOPE WE SEE MORE REPORTING LIKE THAT.

IT REALLY IS JUSTIFICATION FOR HAVING A STATE PAPER AND SHOULD CAUSE PEOPLE TO WANT TO PAY FOR IT AND READ IT.

JIM: HARRISON, WELCOME, FIRST TIME ON LIVELY.

SHOULD WE KEEP HIM?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WENDY: THIS IS OUR DREAM.

JIM: THE JUDGES ARE TOUGH.

HARRISON: I'’VE SURVIVED THE HAZING.

JIM: THERE YOU GO.

WE HAVE WORMS IN THE GREEN ROOM.

HARRISON: OUTRAGE.

PAWTUCKET RIGHT NOW, PARTICULARLY THE OFFICER DOLAN SITUATION IS CONCERNING WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ACTIONS BY THE OFFICER, NOT ONLY DATING BACK, GOING ALL THE WAY TO 2021 BUT ALSO LOOKING AT HIS RECENT ARREST, IT'’S A HUGE POINT OF CONCERN AND I HOPE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DOES SOMETHING FINALLY AFTER THREE YEARS OF DEBATING.

WENDY: THIS MAN IS STILL BEING PAID BY TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

A LOT OF MONEY.

IT'’S OUTRAGEOUS.

I AM SICK OF EIGHT PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE AND A COUPLE PEOPLE IN THE SENATE SHUTTING THINGS DOWN ALL THE TIME.

YOU ARE ELECTED TO BE A CONGRESSPERSON.

THIS IS A SYSTEM.

IF YOU DON'’T LIKE IT OR CARE AND WANT TO DESTROY IT, GET OUT OF POLITICS.

DON'’T GOING TELL YOUR CONSTITUENTS YOU ARE DOING THE BEST THING FOR THEM BY SHUTTING THE GOVERNMENT DOWN AND COSTING US MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND DISRUPTING THE CORE FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT.

YOU SWORE AN OATH TO THE CONSTITUTION TO UPHOLD IT AND THIS IS THE GOVERNMENT THE CONSTITUTION PRODUCES AND YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION NOT TO SHUT IT DOWN BECAUSE YOU ARE CRANKY OR YOU WANT TO MAKE A POLITICAL POINT.

JIM: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE CRANKY.

WENDY: EVERYBODY PAYS TAXES EVERY DAY THE GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN.

THE INEFFICIENCY COSTS US SO MUCH MONEY.

GET ANGRY.

DON'’T SWALLOW THE RHETORIC.

THEY ARE DOING IT TO MAKE A POINT.

THEY DON'’T CARE ABOUT THE IMPACT ON YOU.

THEY HAVE AN OBLIGATION NOT TO SHUT DOWN.

JIM: AS A COROLLARY, TOMMY TUBERVILLE HAS BEEN A ONE-MAN STOP SIGN.

HOW DOES THAT WORK PROCEDURALLY?

WHY IS ONE MAN ABLE TO HOLD UP ALL THESE MILITARY PROMOTIONS?

WENDY: THE SENATOR FROM ALABAMA.

THE HAVE A LOT OF DEFENSE CONTRACTING IN ALABAMA.

BIDEN JUST MOVED A BIG SOURCE OF FEDERAL JOBS OUT OF HUNTSVILLE.

THESE ARE NOMINATIONS.

YOU HAVE TO CLOSE THEM OUT WITH 51 VOTES.

YOU HAVE TO HOLD 30 HOURS OF DEBATE ON EACH NOMINATION.

THERE ARE 300 NOMINATIONS.

THAT LEAVES THE DEMOCRATS AND THE SENATE FOR SIX MONTHS.

THAT IS ALL THEY WOULD BE DOING.

THIS IS ABOUT ABORTION POLICY.

THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT WILL ALLOW SOMEONE IN THE MILITARY TO GO TO A STATE THAT ALLOWS ABORTION WITH A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THEY WANT THEM TO REVERSE.

THEY WILL NOT REVERSE IT.

HE LET THREE NOMINATIONS GET VOTED ON THIS WEEK.

THAT'’S IT.

THAT'’S WHAT'’S WRONG WITH THE SENATE.

JIM: THAT'’S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

COME BACK HERE NEXT WEEK.

WE WILL HAVE FULL ANALYSIS.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'’S GOING TO HAPPEN OVER THE WEEK.

WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IT NEXT WEEK.

JOIN US.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

♪ [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.

FOR OVER 30 YEARS, A LIVELY EXPERIMENT HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS TO THE POLITICAL ISSUES FACING RHODE ISLANDERS.