Lincoln Chafee - Independent Candidate for Rhode Island Governor

Media: August 2010 Archives

Carpenters Union endorses Chafee, several Democrats

August 31, 2010

Projo Politics Blog
By Katherine Gregg

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Lincoln D. Chafee has scored another union endorsement in his campaign for governor: Carpenters Local 94, a building trades union representing about 2,200 private-sector workers and retirees in Rhode Island has endorsed the independent candidate for governor.

All but one of the Carpenters' other endorsements went to Democrats.

For example, the union also endorsed Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts and Secretary of State Ralph Mollis for reelection, Smithfield Councilman Stephen Archambault for attorney general, Gina Raimondi for state treasurer, former state Democratic Party Chairman Bill Lynch for Rhode Island's open 1st Congressional District seat, incumbent James Langevin for reelection as the state's 2nd District congressman, and John Lombardi in the contest to succeed Mayor David Cicilline in Providence.

But the union also endorsed Republican Scott Avedisian for reelection as mayor of Warwick.

Some, but not all, of the endorsements were previously announced by the candidates.

A statement issued by the union on Tuesday said the endorsements, voted in late July, resulted from an "unprecedented member-driven process.''

"In this tough political and economic climate, we put it back to our membership to dig in and really get involved with the political process. They rose to the challenge, sitting through many interview sessions in order to find those candidates that we feel will put the state back on the right track, and the members back to work,'' said David Palmisciano, the local president and district business manager.

Throughout the interview and vetting process, questions centered on each candidate's plans for job creation and the enforcement of construction industry laws and regulations.

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The company that didn't get the deal

WRNI
By Scott McKay

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WRNI) - The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation expects to close on the deal to give a $75-million loan guarantee to a video game company headed by former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling. WRNI's Scott MacKay takes a look at a company that didn't get any financing by the EDC. Click here for the audio, following is the transcript:

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Chafee puts former state judge on his campaign team

August 26, 2010

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Projo Politics Blog
By Katherine Gregg

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Former U.S. Senator Lincoln D. Chafee has added two advisers to his campaign for governor.

And no surprise, one is retired District Court Judge Stephen P. Erickson -- who accompanied Chafee on his thwarted mission earlier this week to convey his concerns about the $75 million Curt Schilling deal to the state's Economic Development Corporation -- who has signed on as his senior legal adviser.

Erickson will provide legal representation to the campaign as needed and will serve as a member of the campaign leadership team.

Republican-turned Independent Chafee has also signed long-time aide Jonathan Stevens as his director of policy.

Stevens, as director of policy, is leading the development of the campaign platform and will also serve on the leadership team, according to a campaign announcement.

Erickson recently retired after 20 years on the District Court bench.

Prior to that, he did a four year stint as former Governor DiPrete's director of legislative affairs, and spent eight years representing parts of Aquidneck Island as a Republican state representative, getting elected minority whip along the way.

Stevens was legislative director in Chafee's Washington Senate office, office director of his Newport office, Congressional liaison to the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, planning director for the City of Warwick, director of economic development for the City of Newport and district press secretary for U.S. Rep. Claudine Schneider.

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Chafee: Let Bush tax cuts expire

August 25, 2010

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WPRI.com Blogs
By, Ted Nesi

One thing's for sure - Lincoln Chafee is not running for governor as a tax-cutter.

The latest evidence comes in a Huffington Post interview Tuesday, in which Chafee says he thinks the tax cuts signed into law by President Bush in 2001 and 2003 should be allowed to expire for everyone - including families making under $250,000 a year.

That position puts Chafee, who voted against the tax cuts as a Republican senator, at odds with President Obama and most Democrats (let alone Republicans who want to extend the cuts for everyone) - although not Alan Greenspan, as the piece notes. Here's Chafee:

    "I don't see how anyone could make the argument" that tax cuts for the wealthy will spur economic growth, Chafee said. "Just look at the evidence. When [the tax rates] were put in place in the 90s the economy prospered. When the tax was repealed under Bush, the economy crashed... I know it would be difficult to do, but the evidence would suggest that the wealthy can pay and the economy did rebound when Clinton put that tax policy in place in 1993. It cost him both houses of Congress but the evidence is that [the] economy will benefit."

    Asked specifically if Congress should let the entire package of Bush tax cuts expire, including for those making under $250,000, Chafee tried to draw from the pragmatism he saw in Clinton's approach.

    "Yeah," he said. "The tax cuts expire and they have been a failure. What could be more of a failure than what we have with our economy right now?"

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Lincoln Chafee Calls For Bush Tax Cuts To Expire

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Huffington Post
By, Sam Stein

Former Sen. Lincoln Chafee (I-R.I.) said on Tuesday that history has vindicated his opposition to the Bush tax cuts and that by the end of the year Congress should let those tax cuts expire both for the wealthy and all Americans.

In an interview with the Huffington Post, the Republican turned Independent politician -- now running for governor of Rhode Island -- scoffed at the arguments made by his former colleagues who are trying to keep the tax rates at their current reduced levels.

"I don't see how anyone could make the argument" that tax cuts for the wealthy will spur economic growth, Chafee said. "Just look at the evidence. When [the tax rates] were put in place in the 90s the economy prospered. When the tax was repealed under Bush, the economy crashed... I know it would be difficult to do, but the evidence would suggest that the wealthy can pay and the economy did rebound when Clinton put that tax policy in place in 1993. It cost him both houses of Congress but the evidence is that economy will benefit."

Asked specifically if Congress should let the entire package of Bush tax cuts expire, including for those making under $250,000, Chafee tried to draw from the pragmatism he saw in Clinton's approach.

"Yeah," he said. "The tax cuts expire and they have been a failure. What could be more of a failure than what we have with our economy right now?"

Among those debating the efficacy of the Bush tax cuts, Chafee occupies a unique place. He was one of only two Republicans to oppose the first package considered in 2001. It was, at the time, a lonely perch inside the GOP tent. Bush had run his campaign on a promise to provide fiscal relief from the top earners on down. Senator Jim Jeffords, then caucusing with Republicans, joined Chafee in opposing the tax cuts on the grounds that they were irresponsible. Once the size of the package was reduced in conference committee, however, the Vermonter switched his tune. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) would ultimately side with Chafee against the package, but as Chafee recalls it, "McCain's vote came out no where."

The final vote, ultimately, was a loss for the Senator but not a complete setback. While the Bush administration got the tax cuts into law they were forced to sunset the package after ten years, both for budgetary and political purposes.

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NEA-RI endorses Chafee for Governor

WRNI
By, Scott MacKay

Here is the union's message in support of Linc Chafee, who is running as an independent, for governor.

    National Education Association Rhode Island endorses Lincoln Chafee for governor:National Education Association Rhode Island (NEARI) President Larry Purtill today announced that Independent candidate Lincoln Chafee has received the organization's endorsement for governor.

    "NEARI is excited to support Lincoln Chafee for governor," said Purtill. "Our members are public school teachers, education support professionals, higher education faculty and staff, and state and municipal employees, and they have all come to the same conclusion - Rhode Island needs new leadership in the governor's office. We need a governor who will deal with public sector unions and other advocates for children in a respectful way. We need a governor who will make decisions based on actual data and bring Rhode Islanders together to move our state forward. We need a governor who cares about children and working families.

    "We believe that Linc Chafee will be that governor. Linc Chafee cares deeply about children and public education and he understands the hard work that our members do every day. Linc Chafee has a sincere interest in working with us to make Rhode Island a better place for all its citizens, and we expect his tenure as governor will have a unifying effect on our state."

    NEARI Executive Director Bob Walsh stated, "The National Education Association Rhode Island stands ready to help elect Linc Chafee. We believe that Linc Chafee understands the critical role that public education at all levels plays in our state. Linc Chafee is an experienced leader we can trust. We will work to ensure that our more than 11,500 members understand the stakes of the upcoming election, and that they have the resources they need to make an informed decision and participate fully in the process."

    "I am very pleased to receive NEARI's endorsement for the first time in my career," said Chafee. "Rhode Island needs a governor who understands the critical role that education plays in economic development. Good schools are the key to strong communities where families can live and businesses can prosper. I will make education a centerpiece of our economic strategy and will work tirelessly to make our state's education system the finest in the country."

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Linc Chafee is a tested leader of unquestioned integrity and a strong independent voice. As Governor, he will work hard to create new jobs, rebuild our economy, solve our chronic budget problems, end corruption, and forge a new way forward for Rhode Island.

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