A Blog Called Hope

In the days following the state police raid of the Narragansett Indian smoke shop, Governor Carcieri repeatedly insisted that he ordered the state police to avoid physical confrontation with tribal members. But earlier this afternoon, retired State Police Col. Steven Pare told a court that he never received such an instruction from the governor.

Attorney William Devereaux: “…never said withdraw if the resistance is not manageable?”

Col. Steven Pare: “No, he did not.”

Attorney William Devereaux: “Did he (Governor Carcieri) ever use the word withdraw?”

Col. Steven Pare: “Not that I recall, no.”

Call us crazy, but we’re more inclined to believe the colonel.

Making good on a pledge to clean up the GOP-fostered culture of corruption in Washington, House Democrats like Patrick Kennedy and Jim Langevin today voted in favor of sweeping ethics legislation that will shine new light on federal campaign finance reports.

From Congressman Kennedy:

“The American people are demanding open and honest government and it is my firm belief they should receive nothing less,” said Congressman Patrick Kennedy. “With this comprehensive lobbying reform bill Congress is making a commitment to change the way business is done in Washington and in turn we are working to earn back the trust and the confidence of the American people.”

Here’s what it does:

• New transparency for lobbyist bundling and political campaign fund activity, as well as other financial contributions – requires disclosure when lobbyists bundle campaign contributions for any federal elected official, candidate, leadership PAC or national political party; and requires lobbyists to detail their own campaign contributions, and payments to Presidential libraries, Inaugural Committees or entities controlled by or named for Members of Congress.
• Greater transparency in earmarking and the legislative process – requires that all earmarks included in bills and conference reports, and their sponsors, be identified on the Internet at least 48 hours before Senate votes; subjects “dead of night” additions to conference reports to a 60-vote point of order; requires Senators to certify that they and their immediate family members have no financial interest in the earmark; ends the practice of secret Senate holds; makes conference reports available for public review on the Internet 48 hours before the vote.
• Lavish convention parties – prohibits Members of Congress from attending national political convention parties held in their honor and paid for by lobbyists or their clients.
• Ends K-Street Project – Prohibits Members of Congress and their staff from attempting to influence employment decisions in exchange for political access.
• A strong lobbyist gift ban – prohibits lobbyists and their clients from giving gifts, including free meals and tickets, to Senators and their staff; House passed similar gift ban in rules package in January.
• Limits on privately funded travel – bars lobbyists and their private-sector clients from paying for multi-day travel trips by Senators and their staff; House passed similar travel ban in rules package in January.
• Restrictions on corporate flights – requires Senators, Senate candidates and Presidential candidates to pay charter rates for trips on private planes; bars House candidates from accepting trips on private planes.
• Strong revolving doors restrictions – prohibits Senators and their senior staff from gaining undue lobbying access by increasing the “cooling off” period for Senators from one to two years before they can lobby Congress; prohibits senior Senate staff from lobbying contacts with the entire Senate for one year, instead of just their former employing office.
• Expands public disclosure of lobbyist activities – requires lobbyists to file reports on their lobbying twice as often each year, and for the first time to file them electronically in a public, searchable database; and increases civil and criminal penalties for knowingly and corruptly violating lobbying disclosure rules.
• Congressional Pension Accountability – Denies Congressional retirement benefits to Members of Congress who are convicted of bribery, perjury and other similar crimes.

There’s an interesting story out of South Carolina’s Times and Democrat newspaper today that looks at how campaigns are reaching a broader and in many cases younger audience by communicating through the Web.

In Rhode Isalnd, few campaigns have gone as far as the major nationals have in hiring full-time staffs dedicated to all things online, from blogging and socoal networking pages to keeping their Websites stocked with fresh pics and video…and maybe even the occasional right tone.

You can bet a large number of local candidates will turn to the Web in both the 2008 and 2010 cycles to reach their constituency. Some innovative Dems, like General Treasurer Frank Caprio went the way of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick in starting a site almost exclusively dedicated to streaming video, giving voters the opportunity to view content that never made it to broadcast TV.

“Technology is traveling so fast; now it has transformed American politics. It’s beginning to advance politics by getting ordinary Americans back in the process. Before, there was a one-way campaign where candidates talked to voters; now we have a two-way campaign,” said Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Dean and others who attended last week’s CNN-YouTube debate say the Internet has had a profound effect on politics – changing the way voters get information about candidates, the way campaigns are organized and fund-raising.

WASHINGTON –On July 30, 2007, the United States House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation H.R. 3123, sponsored by Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, extending Liberians’ Temporary Protected Status until at least September 30, 2008. Kennedy has authored and sponsored legislation regarding the citizenship status and opportunities of Liberian-Americans every year since 1998, and has tirelessly advocated for its passage.

“Thousands of Liberians who live in Rhode Island and America have rebuilt their lives here, have contributed to their communities, and have raised American-born children,” said Congressman Patrick Kennedy. “Furthermore, from within the United States, they are in a much stronger position to not only continue their contributions to American society, but at the same time, they can also continue to play a pivotal role in furthering Liberia’s recovery from years of strife and turmoil.”

Advocates of this legislation include bipartisan Members of Congress, as well as, Charles A. Minor, Liberia’s Ambassador to the United States, and Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf who explains, “For those unable to come back home now, we must appeal to you to grant them continuing protection status, and residency where appropriate, to put them in a condition to contribute to their country’s reform and development.”

Currently, 3600 Liberian refugees living in the United States have Temporary Protected Status (TPS) until October of this year, when it is due to expire. Thousands of Liberians –– including the estimated 7,000 to 15,000 who live in Rhode Island (the largest concentration of Liberians per capita in the U.S.) –– have resided here in the United States since the outbreak of civil war in the African nation in March 1991, with many already achieving legal citizenship.

“This bill is about fundamental fairness. This bill is about keeping hard-working families together. This is a bill that strengthens our foreign policy. It would be unfair for families who have lived in the United States for over 10 years serving in all facets of society, from nurses and doctors to Marines and NFL Players, to face deportation to a country that is not yet ready for their return,” said Kennedy.

FBI and IRS agents raided the Alaskan home of Sen. Ted Stevens yesterday looking for information on a 2000 substantial remodeling project supervised by Bill Allen, a contractor and supporter that has already plead guilty to bribing Alaskan state legislators.

Stevens said in a written statement that his lawyers were told Monday morning that federal agents “wished to search my home in Girdwood in connection with an ongoing investigation. I continue to believe this investigation should proceed to its conclusion without any appearance that I have attempted to influence its outcome. I will continue my policy of not commenting on this investigation until it has concluded.”

Congressman Kennedy spoke on the Floor of the House earlier this evening in support of legislation that would dramatically increase funding for veterans assistance programs, including mental health care.

Kennedy has been recognized as a national leader in the mental health parity movement.

Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts presided over a moving ceremony this weekend that sadly saw two more names etched into the memorial stone in the Garden of Heroes, located on the south law of the State House.

The Garden is dedicated to all Rhode Island military personnel who lost their lives in the war against teror since 9/11. Former Lt. Governor Charlie Fogarty lead the effort to build the garden, which was opened in 2005.

Lt. Governor Roberts has been an outspoken proponent of our troops and has aggressively promoted a creative program to help support the families of deployed soldiers. Click here to find out how you can purchase an American Flag decal for your license plate for only $5.00 All proceeds go DIRECTLY to the Rhode Island Military Relief Fund.

Congressman Kennedy invited Speaker Pelosi to Rhode Island Saturday, here’s some video of her discussing the growing influence of women in politics.

The Democratic Party of Rhode Island is looking for volunteers interested in serving in the RIDP Women’s Caucus to promote gender equality and a number of other issues important to all Rhode Islanders. If you’re interested in getting involved, all you have to do is email the party.

Thanks to the hard work of field director Gabe Amo today’s “Go Green” event was a total success. Between the Warwick and Providence events, we distributed hundreds of energy-efficient light bulbs and signed up a ton of people to get active in and learn more about the RI Democratic Party. We even registered a few dozen people to vote!

A BIG thanks to a all the volunteers who helped out today, especially Alexis, Guadalupe, Patrick, Jay, David, Jason and Kristen. You were all great representatives of the Democratic Party, and left a positive impression with everyone we reached today.

Today’s event was part the national Democratic Reunion, which this year, focused on our party’s commitment to a safer, cleaner environment.

UPDATE Apparantly, the Bush administration thinks Americans are stupid as chief flak Tony Snow vehemently defended Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and refused to acknowledge the false testimony he gave to Congress.

“He has testified truthfully and tried to be very accurate,” the chief White House spokesman, Tony Snow, said of Mr. Gonzales’s testimony this week before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Mr. Snow said repeatedly that Mr. Gonzales had not been contradicted by Robert S. Mueller III, the F.B.I. director, as has been widely reported, on whether there were serious disagreements within the Bush administration on its secret surveillance program.

Here’s some video from yesterday on Sen. Whitehouse’s call for a special counsel perjury investigation.
WASHINGTON –Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse is among a group of Senate Democrats seeking an investigation into whether U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales committed perjury.Whitehouse has signed a letter asking for a special counsel to look into whether Gonzalez perjured himself regarding the firings of U.S. attorneys and administration dissent over President Bush’s domestic surveillance program.The three other Democrats who authored the letter are Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Charles Schumer of New York and California Sen. Dianne Feinstein.A draft copy of the letter was obtained by The Associated Press shortly before a news conference planned by the senators. They say the attorney general should be held — quote — to the “highest ethical standards.”more