Chris Fierro

As we head into the rush at the end of the session, let me take this opportunity for a quick bit of shameless self promotion.

WRNI’s Ian Donnis has a great spot on new media and local politics.

You can also download the MP3 here.

Despite my inclusion, the piece is well worth the listen!

On The Issues, Press Releases, Twitter, video blog

The budget for FY 2010 appears on the general assembly website, but it is not exactly easy to find.  So, in case anyone is looking for the budget, here you go. (Each link will open up a PDF file)

Press Releases

Join me at Senator Whitehouse’s upcoming event.

Press Releases

Just by way of a quick update, I think that we expected to see the House Finance Committee’s budget this week. The process would have been a caucus on Thursday and a hearing on the actual budget today. This hasn’t happened, and as far as anyone can tell, it is supposed to happen next week.

I’ll make a video update when the budget document is revealed. Until then, have a nice weekend!

Press Releases

Here are a few random things that I thought were worth sharing:

• The American Cancer Society is having a fundraiser at the Burrito Co. on June 22, from 3 to 7 PM. I’m going to try to get there, but at the very least, I’ll make a donation.  The ACS is a great cause, and the Burrito Co. is a fantastic eatery in Woonsocket–a home run of an event.
• It may be hard to believe, but sometimes I agree with Arlene Violet. I saw her at the Tea Party at the State House yesterday, but wasn’t able to get over to introduce myself. Political ideologies aside, she has been a fighter for what she believes in, and I admire that.
• Speaking of the tea party, here is a sample of the emails that I’ve been receiving from some of the Woonsocket taxpayer coalition folks:
  

  1. Pass Fair Funding Formulas for the State- Don’t lose federal stimulus money because we do not have a formula-

  2. Request waivers and extensions to S3050 mandating changes to the tax class gaps now!
  Providence has a waiver, why shouldn’t Woonsocket??

  3. General and massive cuts to spending to close budget gaps- stop supporting the Lobbyists..
  Support the taxpayers!

  4. Restore state aid to cities and towns like Woonsocket that desperately need it and that are educating inner city children.

Well, that seems like a sensible agenda to me, bearing in mind that massive cuts per #3 are easier said than done. We seem to be getting to the point where the next cuts will likely hurt the areas of community hospitals and MRDD services, neither of which will really help Woonsocket taxpayers in the long run. Striking a balance in the cuts has got to be a priority as well.

Press Releases

Sorry for the delay–I have been meaning to update my video blog for over two weeks! I have been very busy with my day job, and answering a lot of constituent questions about the pension, the budget, and cuts to services for the developmentally disabled. Lots going on, so check out the video update.

As promised, here is the link to this Monday’s important City Council meeting. Hope to see you there!

Annoucements, video blog

I apologize for not updating in a while, particularly with a video blog. My intent is to move the video blog day away from Fridays, which can be very hectic as I try to catch up the workweek at my day job. (Also, I get to dress down on Fridays, and I’d like to be able to do so without worrying about how I look on camera…)

So, enjoy the long weekend, and please accept my apologies for not updating.

I’ll post a new video blog on Tuesday and hopefully continue to do so regularly.

Annoucements

Yesterday, I voted against the e-verify bill. I did not take an ideological stance against the bill so much as a technical one. The two major factors that I see are:

1. The e-verify program’s uncertain future. Currently, the database and system are not funded. The Obama administration has stated that they’ll make a decision on the system at the end of this month—it would have been nice to be able to vote on a system that we know the federal government is going to back. Until they make it official, this is a potential unfunded mandate.
   
   
2. Identity theft. The e-verify system does not detect identity theft, it just assures that a name and SSN go together and are legit. There is no means to verify that someone is indeed who they say they are.  Identity theft is already rampant in this digital era—so if any valid name and SSN combo will get you through the system, we are going to see more and more cases like this one.

I also received many emails like this one from concerned citizens and small business owners:

· COST to SMALL BUSINESSES – This will adversely affect ALL businesses in RI and imposes just one more obstacle to doing business here. Implementation and training, as well as time spent paying staff people while they appeal inaccurate information, will be costly to businesses both small and large.  One small business in MD refused to implement the program saying that it would cost an additional $27k per year in administrative costs.

· ERROR RATE – To operate E-Verify, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will rely on the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) database, which has been identified as a source filled with over 17.8 million errors, many related to name, date of birth or citizenship status.

· DISCRIMINATION – The system has major faults, as it often inaccurately identifies immigrants and U.S. citizens as not being “employment-eligible.” This will, in some cases, prevent qualified, documented immigrants and U.S. citizens from getting jobs and will unfortunately encourage discrimination among employers.

· MARRIED/DIVORCED WOMEN – Potential and current employees are likely to be faced with erroneous results of the E-Verify system, especially those who have immigrated here or changed names after a marriage or divorce. This means it is another piece of legislation that will affect everyone, but unfairly target the immigrant population.

I did not speak out against this measure on the house floor out of respect for its sponsor, my colleague from Woonsocket. But I want to go on record with you, my constituents, about why I voted the way that I did…

Press Releases

A special video announcement:

On The Issues, Press Releases, video blog

My weekly video update–a short but important one. I’m itching to get outside on this 70 degree Spring day, so that is it for now!

Press Releases