The first half of 1999 has been marked by an investigation of Providence City Hall. Dubbed “Plunder Dome” by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the investigation has resulted thus far in indictments against three officials from the tax assessor’s office – none of them considered to be major players in Providence Mayor Vincent A. Cianci, Jr.’s administration.
But the investigation is ongoing and the U.S. Attorney’s office has openly suggested that more arrests are likely.
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Cianci, for his part, has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing. He has acknowledged speaking with a Boston lawyer about whether he must turn over records from a campaign account that the government has requested.
In other political news, U.S. Sen. John Chafee’s announcement early this year that he would not seek reelection in November 2000 has focused national attention on the seat. Among the candidates for the coveted post are Chafee’s son, and fellow Republican, Warwick Mayor Lincoln Chafee, U.S. Rep. Robert Weygand, a Democrat, and former Lt. Gov. Richard Licht. Radio talk show host and former Attorney General, Arlene Violet, has also expressed an interest in running for the seat.
Because Weygand has made it clear that he wants to move to the Senate, interest in his seat is also peaking. Two Democrats were the first to announce their candidacies. Secretary of State James Langevin and Cranston City Council President Kevin J. McAllister, a lawyer, are expected to square off in a primary.
Several other candidates – from both Democratic and Republican ranks – are expected to emerge.
At the General Assembly, it was a relatively quiet year for the business community. Things heated up in he closing weeks of the 1999 session as a flat tax proposal that would provide tax breaks for the state’s wealthiest citizens was bandied about.
Because of a promise of thousands of jobs in return for the tax breaks, Senate leaders embraced the idea, but their counterparts in the House, who said the idea was a slap in the face of working class citizens, refused to discuss the matter. The proposal could resurface in 1999.
Minimum wage received a boost this year. The legislature approved a 50-cent increase from $5.15 to $5.65 an hour in July 1999 and another 50-cent increase, to $6.15 in July 2000. The legislation also directly links the minimum wage to the cost-of-living index in July 2001.
