PROVIDENCE, RI – Rhode Islanders pretty much always know where U.S. Sen. Jack Reed stands on issues. But RIPR political analyst Scott MacKay has found a hot-button social issue on which Reed has been mum.
Jack Reed has long been Rhode Island's most respected political figure. Even in the anti-Washington and anti-incumbent swirl that has enveloped the nation's capitol, every Rhode Island public opinion survey for years has shown high job approval ratings for Reed.
PROVIDENCE, RI – Both sides are impassioned in the debate over the pension overhaul. Rhode Island Public Radio political analyst Scott MacKay reminds us that in order to fix this critical problem, everyone must be willing to compromise.
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PROVIDENCE, RI – The ragtag army that is the Occupy Wall Street movement has been ridiculed by politicians, talk show nation and many in the media. But with a Congressional Budget Office report showing the top 1 percent nearly tripled their wealth in the last 30 years, RIPR political analyst Scott MacKay says this protest seems to be resonating with the remaining 99 percent.
PROVIDENCE, RI – The General Assembly has not helped its image much lately. But Rhode Island's pension mess has given the Smith Hill crowd a chance at redemption, says RIPR political analyst Scott MacKay.
PROVIDENCE, RI – A year is a lifetime in politics these days, but there is little doubt that Cicilline's reelection has drawn the most interest so far. A flock of credible candidates are lining up to challenge the freshman Democrat and he is out meeting and greeting as if the vote was taking place next month rather than next year.
Protestors waving anti-car tax signs gathered outside Providence City Hall recently to criticize the tax increases proposed by Mayor Angel Taveras and the city council. And more than 200 people showed up at last week's Warwick City Council meeting to fire away at Mayor Scott Avedisian's plan to increase car taxes to pay for city services.
PROVIDENCE, RI – One of the storm clouds gathering over Rhode Island's economic future is our poorly educated work force. Our state ranks near the bottom of New England in the number of college educated workers that employers need for the jobs of a new century.
PROVIDENCE, RI – The clich is that politics makes strange bedfellows. WRNI political analyst Scott MacKay brings us the odd couple that is working together to fix the Providence financial mess.
Shortly after Angel Taveras was elected Providence mayor, City Council President Mike Solomon brought Taveras some bad news; the city's finances were in shambles, worse than they had been depicted by former Mayor David Cicilline.
At first Taveras was skeptical; things couldn't be that dire, he thought.
PROVIDENCE, RI – Rhode Island's General Assembly has enacted legislation requiring all voters to get photo identification. WRNI political analyst Scott MacKay wonders why our recession-racked state is spending taxpayer dollars on this one.
PROVIDENCE, RI – On Independence Day, Rhode Islanders can celebrate our state's embrace of a first step towards full marriage equality for our gay citizens.
After a tortuous debate, the Rhode Island General Assembly has finally approved legislation that grants our gay citizens the right to civil unions.
