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BREEZE ARCHIVES:
3/3/2010 |
TOM WARD - Will Steve Laffey run?
We're only a day or two away from the first anniversary of the date former Republican Mayor and U.S. Senate candidate Steve Laffey of Cranston told WPRO radio talk show host Dan Yorke "I love Rhode Island. I love the people," but "you only want me if you have a serious financial problem in an organization and you want to fix it. I'm not so sure that the people really want to fix it." On that day, Laffey said he would not be a candidate for governor.
A lot has changed since March 5, 2009.
A year ago, America was still basking in the afterglow of President Barack Obama's inauguration. "Hope" and "change" were in the air, and a massive fiscal stimulus was easily passed as a jobs plan. As the summer wore on, joblessness worsened, the federal deficit exploded, and a complex and unreadable health care reform plan frightened Americans. They spoke out - loudly - and a national grassroots movement called the "tea party" was born.
The noise settled down as fall arrived, but Republican election wins in Virginia and New Jersey - and later in Massachusetts - made it clear that an anti-Obama backlash had arrived on the wings of tea party anger and mistrust.
Rhode Island's fiscal problems are huge. Will we "really want to fix it?"
I imagine that's what Laffey is trying to figure out as he criss-crosses the state telling all who will listen his plan named How to Fix Rhode Island's Economy. In January, even Laffey claims he was surprised when more than 400 folks turned out at the Quonset 'O' Club to hear him speak.
Read Laffey's complete plan here:
www.valleybreeze.com/www/Laffey_Fix_RI.pdf
I met him for the first time a few weeks ago when he visited Woonsocket's Bocce Club to speak with the Taxpayer Coalition there. It was a smaller crowd, no more than 70 including about 20 city firefighers. As a rule, Laffey is perceived as an enemy of the unions, but on this night firefighters had tough but fair questions, and Laffey had direct answers. They might not like his message, but he argued that he would tell them the truth about their endangered pensions, and warned them that the people they kept choosing as their representatives were in fact betraying them.
Laffey's main points:
* General Assembly leaders and Republican Gov. Donald Carcieri knowingly passed an unbalanced budget last summer. He calls it "fraud" and thinks every one of them should be turned out of office.
* The R.I. pension system is broken. It should be closed, and all funds given to pensioners in a lump sum so they can have their own portable IRAs. Give current workers a generous IRA.
* Welfare is far too generous in Rhode Island as compared to other states, and is bankrupting us.
* Laffey is no fan of fellow Republican Carcieri, and barely knows him, though he claims to have made several efforts to meet with him. He blames Carcieri for the budget fiasco, and for not engaging in party-building during his eight years in office.
"15 minutes with Steve Laffey" an interview with Tom Ward
We’d appreciate readers’ thoughts on this story, especially those that provide greater insight and information to all of us.
Please avoid comments that are obscene, hateful, or otherwise inappropriate. If you post offensive comments, we will delete them as soon as we can. If you see such comments, please report them to:
Marcia Green, Editor-in-Chief, The Breeze newspapers
3/9/2010
On the other hand, Laffey could just be Jim Bunning in, "Cheaps Clothing".
3/5/2010
I can only tell you that Steve Laffey is the real deal. He not only talks the talk, he walks the walk. He has the skills and abilities to fix this state. He is the only person with a real plan. We don't need another talking head or career politician! Would you hire a plumber to fix your car? It amazes me how many politicians make decisions that involve our lives and our finances WITH NO EXPERIENCE to make those decisions. Now we are all paying for it. Our state, as well as many of our cities and towns are close to plunging into the abyss. Our legislature continues to pass budgets with shortfalls that must be addressed over and over again. We have a projected $1.6 BILLION deficit over the next 4 years and that is with a projected average of 2% growth. Where is the growth? I believe the figure will balloon to over $2 BILLION. Steve Laffey saved Cranston from bankruptcy. That is the experience we need.
3/5/2010
I am a STATE EMPLOYEE....and I get it TOO! The pension system is broken, and needs to be fixed. We have to face the fact that lots of people are going to be impacted to "FIX" the current situation...and it cannot always be "someone else"... If Mr Laffey runs...I'll get behind him, and trust me that might not be a popular thing to do in my workplace. :-)
3/5/2010
I am someone who would be hurt by Laffey's propasal of changing the pension system, but it appears it might be in the best interest of ALL Rhode Islanders. We have to start making difficult decisions for our childrens sakes if they wish to live in RI when they become adults. Governor Carceiri has done nothing for this state except create more turmoil by always blaming the General Assembly (who deserve the blame by the way). But we are not going to change anything unless we vote out those not serving the best interests of Rhode Island, not the special interests. The greatest example of the problem in RI is that we now have Gordon Fox as Speaker of the House. The same group that has done NOTHING is still in power. Get home out and the rest of the self serving members of the General Assembly. I have tried to speak with my representatives and senator about term limits for the general assembly and they will not speak to their constituients about that. None of the leaders have the courage to leave the general assembly because they would not have their 'power' in the real world I sense.
3/5/2010
If you got anything out of what Steve Laffey said, remember to GET OFF YOUR BACKSIDE and make yourself heard!
3/4/2010
I love Laffey.
3/4/2010
We need Laffey
3/4/2010
Laffey for President !
3/4/2010
Steve Laffey=Solution to RI Economic woes!!!
3/4/2010
I've got my Steven Laffey sign ready for my front lawn! I don't know any other candidate who is bold and fearless enough to turn our state around.
Having to deal with our General Assembly is like trying to move cement. You can be sure that Steven will light a fire under their a$$.
3/4/2010
We the people need to take back our state from the very people we have empowerd. It is obvious their way is not working. We need to use our votes this year to get rid of the people who put us in this situation. I stress that it must be done this year, we can't afford to wait while our beautiful state is ruined by the special interest groups and their flunkies they help get elected. WAKE UP BEFORE IT'S TO LATE !!!!!!
3/4/2010
The situation is only complex when you need to turn it into something it isn't. Everything can be fixed. See it for what it is and move towards fixing it. RI is broke. Cut excess, even where it hurts, move on. I agree that looking for everyone similar to Laffey (conservative, honest, direct) is good. It takes time however, and we already have what we're looking for (Laffey). Lets just use what works (Laffey) and move on.
3/4/2010
Catherine LeMoyne: I am glad you pay enough attention to like Steve Laffy, BUT if he was still the Mayor of Cranston, YOU would want him voted out!!! You don't make sense. SOME incumbnets do work well for us. Take the effort to see whom else is a Steve Laffy.....
3/3/2010
Rhode Island is broken. It is functioning like a third world country. In order for us to be "functional" we need the courage to get into a long-term battle with the special interests. We don't need a Governor... we need a leader; we need a General
who is willing to take us into battle. I am hopeful
that Mayor Laffey will be willing to take "the Hill."
We MUST vote out ALL INCUMBENTS no matter who they are; and no incumbent should be running UNOPPOSED.
Believe it or not, I pray that the people of Rhode
Island have awakened from their slumber; we have
the evidence; now we need to ACT.
3/3/2010
I have spoken to Steve Laffey on many occasions. I have been to see him speak at several venues. He makes perfect sense, common sense. He does not apply a "sugar coating" and gives it to you straight. He tells you directly that fixing Rhode Island is not going to be easy. The best way I can explain this to people is as follows: I was in the hospital with my 11 year old daughter who had swine flu. She needed an IV for fluids and for medication. Never having had an IV before, she was really scared and asked me if it would hurt. Being honest with her, I told her "Yes. It will hurt for a little bit, but it's what you need to get better. Without it, you could get sicker and even die." My daughter, realizing the consequences, finally agreed to the IV. Afterwards, she said that it hurt for only a minute, but after, she felt much better. That's what Rhode Island needs. We don't need fluff. We don't need empty promises from politicians. We don't need "sugar coating". We need the facts given to us straight. And we need to recognize that pulling ourselves out of this financial hole is not going to be pleasant and it may even hurt for a little while. We need to take whatever steps are necessary to save our State. I believe that Steve Laffey is exactly what the State of Rhode Island needs in a Governor. Mr. Laffey has a plan to fix Rhode Island and he has the guts to execute his plan. Steve Laffey saved the City of Cranston from financial ruin, and I believe that he is the only person who can save Rhode Island. Caprio, Lynch & Chaffee are full of promises. We don't need empty campaign promises, we need results. Steve Laffey has the knowledge, the intelligence, and the plan to get our State back on track.
3/3/2010
Laffey has ideas that will ultimately be best for ALL Rhode Islanders. President Reagan used to say that 'ideas' are America's greatest strength. I ask Rhode Island to listen carefully to Steve Laffey's policy 'ideas'.
Sean OD
3/3/2010
Laffey will run. When he dose Chaffee' poll numbers will go down. Laffey will run as a Republican. In the end it will be Laffy and Caprio in a horse race.
3/3/2010
Steve Laffey is the only person who has told the truth about what is going on in Rhode Island. Those who malign him do so for one reason - he exposes them for the frauds that they are.
While I haven't been able to vote for the guy, (I live in MA, work in RI) I've read much of what Laffey has written over the last 7 or 8 years since he was mayor in Cranston. The stuff he says is unlike anything you will hear from every other politician. I recently did a google search and found some of the articles he has written from 2004, 2005, etc. It is scary to read what he wrote back then, predicting what was going to happen, and now seeing EXACTLY what he said was going to happen, happening. Say what you will about Laffey, he understands what is going on. I can understand his hesitation in running for governor. Can the people of Rhode Island stand the truth?
3/3/2010
Given the quality of life in Rhode Island I expect anyone with the means to leave will do so. I did so years ago and have never regretted it. No capable person, Republican, Democrat or Independant exists who can solve what confronts the State. Fold your tent and move on. Godspeed
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