OCG launches campaign for Voter Initiative
Theme: “Citizens’ Interests vs. Special Interests”
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Chip Faulkner, Associate Director of Massachusetts Citizens for Limited Taxation explains how lower property taxes were achieved through voter initiative.
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More than 150 applauding OCG members and guests filled the Quonset O Club on Saturday morning, April 23rd to launch OCG’s campaign to bring Voter Initiative to this burdened state. And they got a n inspiring message – from the national level by speaker Paul Jacob – from the neighboring state level by speaker Chip Faulkner, Associate Director of Massachusetts Citizens for Limited Taxation – and from the local level from speakers Steve Kass and Senator Marc Cote. And they were further encouraged with strong support from Ken McKay representing Governor Carcieri, and commentators Harry Staley, Jim Davey, and Bruce Lang. And, of course, to tie these eight speakers together was our own incomparable moderator, Bob Arruda.
Who were these eight speakers that filled those intense 2½ hours with the undeniable message that Rhode Island is ready for, and in desperate need of Voter Initiative?
Well, Bruce Lang opened the event with a brief account of OCG’s birth. It was a fine report of OCG’s growing strength over the past 11 years.
He was followed by Rep. Jim Davey of Cranston, founder of The Taxpayers Alliance in that town. He’s also a member of an “unholy alliance” in the House which consists of 15 republicans and 16 democrats that he thinks may be able to sustain vetoes on some issues. He spoke of the growing unrest with the leadership of that body.
Next was Harry Staley of Westerly, who described the rapid growth of his new 3,800-member organization: The Rhode Island Shoreline Coalition (RISC). Harry described his group’s concern with the state’s leadership and its support for Voter Initiative, which he called “the finest piece of legislation I’ve ever read.”
The next speaker drove up from Washington for the event: Paul Jacob, President of Citizens In Charge. This is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the initiative and referendum process, and expanding it into the 26 states that do not yet have it. He described how democracy depends upon people being involved in government to stop those who would rule “by hook or by crook.”
Famed WPRO talk show host Steve Kass then took the podium and he talked about his support for Voter Initiative for many years, and what will need to be done to overcome the ‘unlimited money’ that will be spent to prevent its passage.
Senator Marc Cote of Woonsocket was the next speaker, and he described in detail the various aspects of the Voter Initiative bills (S-124 and S-125) he has been polishing and proposing for the past eleven years.
Ken McKay, representing Governor Don Carcieri next spoke. (He is Chief of Staff) McKay assured the audience that the Governor was in full support of Voter Initiative.
The final speaker was Chip Faulkner, Associate Director, Citizens for Limited Government. This is the Massachusetts group that put Proposition 2 ½ in force more than 25 years ago – forever changing the tax structure of that state. His talk was related to the challenges of obtaining signatures from thousands of citizens – in the face of almost community-wide opposition. He has personally collected 28,000 signatures.
Following a rousing question period, members began signing the petition forms, which were distributed to all of the tables. (Report by Will Barbeau) [return]
Senate again 'tables' Senator Cote's Voter Initiative bill
Bev Clay was one of six OCG and RISC witnesses who supported Senator Marc Cote’s Voter Initiative bill at a recent hearing. Vote was 5 to 3 to table the issue. Senators Cote, Lenihan and Bates voting against tabling and Senators Goodwin, DaPonte, Doyle, Tassoni and Alves voting to table.
Arruda sees state in danger of fiscal meltdown
OCG chairman Bob Arruda opened up the last board of directors meeting with dire predictions of a meltdown in state finances if present trends are not changed.
He noted the current effort to unionize 1,300 child care workers who are independent contractors with the state could spread to the other 45,000 independent contractors. With usual full benefits packages he foresaw huge costs if this were allowed to happen.
He pointed out that even as the state faced a $168 million dollar shortfall in its budget for next year, the legislature has nevertheless given 67 of their aides an average raise of 10 percent. Magistrate and Judicial raises requested by Chief Justice Williams are as high as 38 percent. Arruda noted that the state budget has been in a deficit condition for several years, but that onetime windfalls have been used to rescue the budget. The tobacco payout was one such source, which is now gone.
The mounting size of the retirement costs is another threat to solvency, along with the current drive by Supreme Court Justice Williams to obtain raises for judges and magistrates.
With so many pressures for raises and other expenditures, Arruda said that it was more urgent than ever for Operation Clean Government to push as hard as it can to get a Voter Initiative referendum on the ballot in the next election. He explained that this was the reason for OCG’s campaign for Voter Initiative.
He concluded by noting that although OCG does not take positions on current issues -- focusing on the process itself -- he believes that as alert citizens we musts remain aware of trends that can push the state into desperate circumstances. [return]
Progress noted on money, people & web
Progress reports submitted to the Board on membership by June Spink, fund-raising by Nolan Byrne and on the web site by David Clarke. The trends were all positive. Clarke, a lawyer by profession has been working on the web site for several months and now believes that the new design is emerging. Members are urged to stay in touch with ocgri.org for the latest developments in the organization and in state government. Clarke will continue working on making the site interactive with members. [return]
Members invited to board meetings
Operation Clean Government’s Board of Directors meets on the first Thursday of each month at 6:45 P.M. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick. Members are invited to attend whenever they wish. Board meetings review the organization’s finances, membership growth, programs under development such as Candidate School, and most importantly, progress of ethics or election complaints which have been filed. Meetings usually last three hours. [return]
OCG resigned from SOP coalition when it sought donations: illegal
In announcing its complaints to the Elections Board, OCG also called for the replacement of Chairman Roger Begin. The basic problem goes back to 1996 when the Board issued a conflicted Advisory Opinion (96-01) on financial reporting, by allowing the Chamber of Commerce to call itself an “individual” and thus avoid forming a PAC.
Photo above illustrates the illegal instruction by the RIghtNOW! Coalition, formerly the SOP Coalition, issued to its members.
Operation Clean Government has filed two complaints with the Board of Elections documenting twenty-one election law violations. Several months later the Board of Elections has not responded to these charges.
One of the complaints documents the illegal fund raising tactics of the Separation of Powers Task Force to which OCG belonged at the time.
On October 15, the RIghtNOW! Coalition sent out an email appeal to member organizations requesting donations of $1,000 from each organization to the RIghtNOW! PAC. (Note: organizations cannot contribute to a PAC.)
OCG executives knew immediately that an election law had been violated and notified the coalition, also resigning from the group because of the infraction. Understand that a group which follows the infractions of others must be extra-scrupulous in obeying all laws--to the letter! [return]
Arruda explains how Voter Initiative effort will be run
The petitions are coming!
The petitions are coming!
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Arruda was recently caught outside a well-known restaurant relaxing in the sun before a big meeting.
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After forum coordinator Sandra Thompson gave her report to the board, Bob Arruda outlined what he thought would be OCG’s focus until the next election in 2006.
The main activity which OCG will pursue in that time period will be educational: teaching the various publics how Voter Initiative will benefit their interests.
This will involve reaching out to other groups, particularly the many taxpayer organizations that are trying to hold the line on taxes.
It will also involve contacting the several national organizations that promote citizen participation in government, and bringing their expertise to bear on the local situation.
Mostly, however, it will involve teaching Rhode Island citizens that they have much more to gain than lose from Voter Initiative. This will be done by demonstrating that the version being advanced here is the product of eleven years of refinement to remove all of the threats which opponents use: particularly the imagined loss of civil rights.
After the April forum, OCG will focus also on a petition drive to create a grass-roots level of demand for citizen participation in government.
All in all, it will be a busy time for everyone involved with OCG. [return]
OCG Launches first online newsletter
Welcome to the first monthly edition of Citizen eNews. Every month, we'll keep up up-to-date on what we are up to and the hot issues of the day. As an email alert subscriber, you are automatically signed up for the online newsletter.
We welcome your comments and suggestions! Please send them to [email protected]. And be sure to check your preferences via the link at the bottom of this email if you want to make any changes to your subscription. [return]
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