Chris Fierro

As someone who is young (I don’t always feel it!) and a democrat, I have to commend the work that the RI Young Democrats are undertaking.

Check out this video supporting Rep. Pacheco’s young voter pre-registration legislation. Pre-registering voters is one way that we’ll streamline our state’s voter rolls and increase voter participation.

On The Issues

I consider this good news–Caritas Christi Health Care has formally asked for permission to enter in to talks with Landmark:

Landmark Medical Center has revealed its intention to become part of Caritas Christi Health Care, a Massachusetts-based chain of six Catholic hospitals.Superior Court Judge Michael A. Silverstein, who has been supervising the struggling hospital’s management for more than a year, on Thursday approved Landmark’s proposal to negotiate exclusively with Caritas Christi.

It will take many months to bring the proposal to fruition. But Thursday’s ruling marks a significant milestone in the effort to save the Woonsocket hospital, which asked for court supervision in 2008 because it was in danger of financial collapse.

You can read the whole ProJo article here. I’ll add my press release to this shortly…

Press Releases

Tonight, I went and testified at the Public Utilities Commission to express my strong reservations about National Grid’s request for yet another rate increase. (The hearing in Woonsocket was one week ago, and I was unable to make that due to a prior committment to attend the Boys and Girls Club’s Annual gala.) So I headed down to Warwick tonight. Here is the text of my statement:

My name is Chris Fierro. I am a Rhode Island State Representative representing District 51, which is in the City of Woonsocket. I am here tonight on behalf of my constituents to urge this commission to exercise your power to deny National Grid’s requested rate increase.

We in Woonsocket cannot afford an increased burden. Across our state, wages are stagnant and unemployment is amongst the highest in the nation. At a time when we’re all struggling to get by, please do not give a rate-payer funded bailout to National Grid. We’re all getting by with less–Grid can too.

There were about thirty people in attendance. I was surprised when they clapped at the conclusion of my short remarks.

On The Issues

Well, it is the end of summer, and election season here in Woonsocket. I’ll have some thoughts on the municipal elections shortly. In the meantime, the biggest question that I’ve heard around the district is “When are you guys going back into session?”

The ProJo reports that we’ll be back on October 28th and 29th. I am a bit skeptical, as the dates have moved at least three times.  None of the rank and file reps seem to know exactly what the agenda will be for those two days.

I will post an update when I have more details.

Other than that uncertainty, I have been very busy. Tonight I’ll be attending Common Cause RI’s panel discussion on ethics and the so-called “speech in debate” clause. We need strong ethics rules, and I am proud to co-sponsor legislation that will restore the power of the ethics commission.

Tomorrow, I will be attending the Public Utility Commission’s public hearing for National Grid’s rate increase request. I haven’t written it up yet, but I intend to make the point that the rates keep going up unchecked while wages are stagnant. I’m also looking for a legislative fix to the problem of the rubber-stamp PUC.

This weekend, I’m officiating one of my best friends’ wedding and then off to a work-related conference for the first half of next week.

Longer-term; I am planning two events in Woonsocket for the Fall as well as working on an end of session newsletter…I’ll have some details on those shortly.

On The Issues

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