Former RI congressman Eddie Beard got held up last October as an example of something quite rare -- a blue-collar worker who went on to serve in the hallowed halls of the nation's capital.
If you want a sense of why this situation persists, consider the latest breakdown by the watchdog group MapLight of how much it cost to win a seat in Congress in 2012:
We remain stuck in the pit of winter, judging by the forecast for the latest in a string of storms. Yet things are already percolating for our next massive political season, so let's get to it. As always, your thoughts, tips, and reactions are welcome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org.
The informal launch of Senator Jack Reed's campaign for his fourth term is set to start Sunday evening with a packed fundraiser at the Providence Biltmore.
Welcome back to my Friday column. (Sorry to miss you last week; there was a little snow, as you might have heard.) Your thoughts and email are welcome, as always, at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org.