Sometimes, Government Works

On Tuesday afternoon, I sent a letter to Gordon Fox, Speaker of the R.I. House of Representatives, urging him to use all of his resources to stop the governor from giving 6 percent raises to 14 senior officials, members of the governor's cabinet.

My letter seemed to set off a firestorm. Shortly after 4 p.m., a resolution was circulating on the House floor to stop the raises, and the speaker himself, silent on the issue until now, went on the record as opposing the move. Later Tuesday evening, the governor's office announced it was withdrawing the proposal.

I think this is a decent example of government working. But it took more than a few stepping up to the plate and saying the things everyone was thinking: this is not a good idea, and it is certainly not the right time. 

As I said in my letter, “It would be sufficient to reject this proposal on the basis of last week’s revenue estimating conference forecast of a $50 million shortfall. But it is more than that.

“Rhode Island came into this recession early, and we are among the last to be leaving. To say that the administration’s leaders have worked hard during this period is to ignore a stark fact: we are, as a state, underachieving. And regardless of how hard they have worked, these leaders have not accomplished what we need to accomplish to put Rhode Island back on its feet.

"...giving raises to senior officials sends the wrong message. Regardless of how deserving one may think these directors may be, granting raises in these circumstances is to thumb our noses at the taxpayers of the state.

"There are not two economies at work here, one for high government leaders and another for the rest of the population. If Rhode Island is suffering, it is important that we in government share the pain, and not be permitted to insulate ourselves or those among us while taxpayers are left to feel the brunt of the turndown."

I meant every word of this, and I am pleased to have contributed even in the smallest way to the decision not to move ahead with this proposal.

This is a good example of government working, but for that to be so, it means every one of us must be paying attention, and willing to step up and speak out when the occasion demands.

But give the speaker and the governor credit, too, for listening. Government is a two-way street, and requires that someone speaks out, and someone listens. 

Now, if we can just get focused on economic development, and turning this state around...