Gov. Donald L. Carcieri has spent a lot of time smiling recently. When the House passed its 2007 budget last week, the state was halfway toward finishing a process that started in the winter with a $222 million deficit and a lot of gnashing of teeth. (The Senate has yet to act.)
But if the governor’s smile looks a little frozen, it may be because he just heard the results of the most recent Rhode Island College poll of voters.
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If the election for governor were held now, it might be too close to call, with Carcieri and Lt. Gov. Charles J. Fogarty locked in a statistical dead heat.
But compared with state senators and representatives, the governor is doing just fine. More than half – 54 percent – of those polled said they trust the governor to do the right thing most of the time. Only 20 percent had a similar level of confidence in the Legislature.
Some of that distrust is clearly a product of casino and tax issues. By a nearly 2-to-1 margin, respondents were against granting a license to operate a casino in West Warwick without a competitive bidding process. Two-thirds oppose cutting taxes for the wealthy – a measure the House has already passed and the governor supports.
It’s too soon to predict the shape of the political landscape by election day.
But we hope that one message everyone takes home is that it is vitally important to engage the public in an honest discussion of important issues and win popular support for your agenda. That doesn’t mean more and better spin. It means real democracy.
The big time comes to Rhode Island
As big events in Rhode Island go, the U.S. Women’s Open, starting today at Newport Country Club, is one of the biggest. More than 100,000 people will attend the premier championship in women’s golf, and The United States Golf Association estimates that between $20 million and $25 million will be pumped into the local economy.
In addition to the tangible benefits, NBC and ESPN will broadcast 14 hours of live coverage, which will show off the natural beauty and heritage of the state. It is the kind of positive exposure that can’t be bought at any price.
Yes, there will be annoying traffic tie-ups, but the benefits are more than worth the inconvenience.
So relax, and rather than complain, join in the fun. If you don’t have your tickets yet, there is still time. As of the middle of last week, tickets were available for every day – Monday through Wednesday are practice rounds ($15 per person), while the championship takes place Thursday through Sunday, ($40). Children 17 and under are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased by calling 877-325.4653.
