The need for conservative leadership

To the Editor:

As most Rhode Islanders know, our legislature is one of the most educated and experienced in the country but is synonymous with corruption. Of the 113 legislators, only 10 are Republicans, so whom should we blame for the financial woes our state and most municipalities our facing?

Over the last several weeks, there have been various statements made in the Johnston Sun Rise by our most seasoned politicians that need to be examined for honesty and clarity that any reasonably informed taxpayer would know was nothing more than re-election dishonest re-hash.

Rep. Stephen Ucci stated, “We need to ‘continue’ to pass laws and create policies that stimulate the economy and create jobs.” Note: In December our state’s unemployment climbed to 9.1 percent, so what should we continue to do?

Rep. John Carnevale said the General Assembly “has made improvements, but more needs to be done and a greater focus needs to be put on job creation and holding the line on spending and taxes” and went on to say that he is “now” shifting his focus to blue collar, private industry jobs. Note: Rhode Islanders pay among the highest taxes across the board in the country, including choking regulations and energy costs. But only now, Carnevale wants to place focus on private sector jobs and holding the line on taxation?

Sen. Stephen Archambault stated the General Assembly needs “the courage to be creative.” Was he referring to Ucci, Carnevale or perhaps himself?

Mayor Joseph Polisena said our state presents major obstacles in the form of “cumbersome rules and regulations” and criticized the Department of Environmental Management, which he called a “major issue.” In addition, he stated, “There’s a lot of bureaucracy in the state,” but the most alarming statement was that the “state’s going to collapse financially if they don’t do something.” Polisena served 12 years in the legislature, and since being mayor continues to blame the state and his Democrat colleagues for everything when he is also the problem for doing nothing meaningful.

The Democrat machine in our town and across our state are government labor union loyalists that have allied with the perverse liberal element in which taxpayers and people of faith and sound character are shown little respect. When will civil servants grow weary of holding their noses voting for politicians that they have little respect for as they put themselves before all others, including the future of their children?

Polisena also recently stated he does not believe in school choice, in which vouchers could save our town millions annually. In addition, he stated that to control spending, we must find a “delicate balance” with municipal unions to reach contract agreements that protect both employees and taxpayers. Shouldn’t taxpayers come first and foremost?

Polisena also takes credit that under his so-called leadership, 30 jobs have been cut via attrition, and he believes retirees should be allowed to come back on a part-time basis. Shouldn’t any part-time jobs go to unemployed Johnston residents who aren’t receiving hefty pensions?

Polisena believes our town should consolidate our services but only on a very limited basis, such as animal control, building inspections and stationary goods, including rock salt. Why not consolidate all our services like law enforcement, fire and rescue, education and every other department that would save additional millions annually? He wants a “delicate balance” in which union demands continue to bankrupt our cities and towns.

Also, recently Polisena noted the budget for snow removal has been used up, yet we continue to allow millions annually for such things as “longevity bonuses” as high as $9,000 annually, $20,000 family health care plans in which town workers contribute a few pennies on the dollar and built-in overtime provisions excluding endless sick days, personal days and eight-week vacations, etc.

Shouldn’t these career Democrats be advocating privatization, which is the only way forward to financial prosperity, getting tough on crime, welfare fraud, and initiating drug testing requirements for those collecting government subsidies, including work requirements? What about addressing illegal immigration and giving broader powers to the municipalities in addressing their dire finances, and what about transitioning the pension systems into private plans, etc.?

In closing, the endless cost saving reforms that could solve all our problems will only be realized when town residents and all Rhode Islanders realize the Democratic Party for what it truly is, in which patriotism does not apply. I hope the readers will pass this on and remember on Election Day the unequivocal need for conservative leadership that will address all the above.

Peter A. Filippi III

Johnston