Over the next thirty days, the RIGOP will select a new leader. We must all remain focused, energized, and be 100% supportive of the new leader whomever it may be. Ken’s moving on is but a bump in the road which the RIGOP will weather just fine.

I look forward to continue working with the RIGOP on issues of building an effective Party, an army of candidates, and addressing the issues that face us all in the State of Rhode Island, from taxes to illegal immigration to pension reform, to an out of control General Assembly, and as we all know, the list goes on.

Conservatively yours,

Raymond T. McKay
President, RIRA

Join us for a “family friendly” evening of fun, food and drink, live music, award presentations, and special guests, at the biggest and best local GOP party this holiday season! Hors d’ Oeuvres and Cocktails will be available from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.; with a great Buffet Dinner beginning at 7:00 P.M., with festivities continuing until at least 10:00 P.M. There will be Live Entertainment, as well as a Cash Bar throughout the evening.

An RSVP is required for dinner. Tickets are only $35.00 per Adult; and only $10.00 for Children 10 & Under! The buffet features Chicken Montello and Baked Stuffed Sole, along with salad, roasted potatoes, a vegetable medley, and chocolate cake. The children’s menu features Chicken Fingers and French Fries. Special dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.

To REGISTER BY MAIL, please send your ticket request along with your check (payable to “Rhode Island Republican Assembly”) to: RIRA, 19 BAKERS CREEK ROAD, WARWICK, RI 02886. You may also easily and securely REGISTER & PAY ONLINE by Credit Card or E-Check directly through the RIRA web site at http://ri-ra.org/christmasparty/ .

For more information, please contact RIRA President Ray McKay at president [at] ri-ra [dot] org or (401) 487-2514. As seating is limited, your timely RSVP and payment is greatly appreciated.

P.S. Two important reminders: As is our custom, due to the Christmas Party, there will not be a “second Thursday” RIRA general membership meeting in December. Additionally, we are asking that dinner guests bring at least one canned or other non-perishable food item to the Christmas Party, to benefit the RI Food Bank. A collection bin will be located at the door.

The Rhode Island Republican Assembly, like just about every other person and organization concerned about the solvency of the State of Rhode Island, adamantly opposes binding arbitration. Monetary issues in public-sector union contracts should not be decided by unelected individuals, who cannot be recalled by the election process if they saddle the taxpayers with budget-busting contracts. It is the responsibility of our elected representatives to make decisions in the public interest for the general welfare. Appointed bureaucrats should not be making decisions that are going to financially affect the taxpayers who then have no ability to reward or punish those decisions at the ballot box.

As the state and local cities and towns all struggle with out-of-control spending, the last thing we need is to permit binding arbitration which would allow our elected representatives to continue to avoid the hard fiscal decisions which must be made.

In a recent Projo article, it was pointed out that “…subjecting monetary issues to the binding-arbitration process would allow for quicker resolutions of contract disputes.” Perhaps so, but faster is not necessarily better. It is always faster to surrender than to fight, but that doesn’t necessarily make it the right decision.

In that same Projo article, Daniel Beardsley, Jr., executive director of the League of Cities and Towns was quoted as saying that allowing binding arbitration “…would put another half-dozen communities on the precipice of bankruptcy.” Agreed, and if bankruptcy were to be avoided, it would put such an increased burden on the taxpayers that more Rhode Islanders would be forced to leave the state in self-defense.

Another aspect of House bill 5700, in addition to the binding arbitration provision, is that contract benefits would automatically continue until a new agreement is reached. This is absurd! The taxpayers cannot afford what we have now, as evidenced by the red ink flowing everywhere. This continuation of salaries and benefits after a contract has expired renders it virtually impossible to ever reduce the pay and benefits of public-sector union workers. There is a business cycle, and labor is one component of the production of goods and services. If the cost of labor is only allowed to go one way – up, regardless of the economic environment, the inevitable consequence will be fewer goods and services. In the current economic environment, many private-sector workers have taken pay cuts, lost their health insurance coverage, or even lost their jobs. If we are all going to “share the sacrifice,” then workers in the public sector are going to have to make downward adjustments in their expectations as well.

The Rhode Island Republican Assembly urges, in the strongest possible terms, that the R.I. House, the representatives of all the people of RI, vote against House bills 5700, 5817, and 5961. Their passage would be a disaster both for the state and for the people.

Conservatively yours,

Raymond T. McKay
President, RIRA

Press Release from the Rhode Island Republican Assembly
Media Contact: president [at] ri-ra [dot] org or (401) 487-2514

Join us for a “family friendly” evening of fun, great food and drink, live music, award presentations, and special guests, at the biggest and best local GOP party this holiday season! Hors d’ Oeuvres and Cocktails will be available from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.; with a great Buffet-style Dinner beginning at 7:00 P.M., with festivities continuing for the rest of the night. There will be Live Entertainment provided by the band “Wing It,” as well as a Cash Bar available throughout the evening.

An RSVP is required for dinner. Tickets are $35.00 per Adult; and only $10.00 for Children 10 & Under! The great buffet features Chicken Montello and Baked Stuffed Sole, along with salad, roasted potatoes, a vegetable medley, and chocolate cake. The children’s menu features Chicken Fingers and French Fries. Special dietary needs (vegetarian, diabetic, kosher, etc.) can be accommodated with advance notice.

To REGISTER BY MAIL, please send your ticket request along with your check (payable to “Rhode Island Republican Assembly”) to: RIRA, 19 LAKESIDE DRIVE, SMITHFIELD, RI 02917. You may also easily and securely REGISTER & PAY ONLINE by Credit Card or E-Check directly through the RIRA web site at http://ri-ra.org/christmasparty/.

For more information, please contact RIRA President Ray McKay at president [at] ri-ra [dot] org or (401) 487-2514 or NFRA Northeast Region Vice President Will Ricci at NEVP [at] ri-ra [dot] org . As seating is limited, we encourage you to RSVP as soon as possible. We’ll see you on December 18th!

The American conservative voters and other like-minded voters throughout our state and nation now realize that our government can no longer be sustained at its current levels and that structural changes must be made at all levels of government and by all citizens.

Waking up in the morning and expecting money from the government is not the American way, nor is it what made this country great. Rhode Island’s budget shortfalls these past several years, which have been plugged by federal money, not by changes in Rhode Island government, is proof that out state and municipal governments’ way of doing business is broken and that we need and demand change.

Zebras do not change the colors of their stripes, nor will the one-party system we have in the General Assembly change itself overnight for the betterment of the people. Time and time again, the Democrats in the General Assembly have sided with unions and those looking for handouts, not with those looking to create prosperity in Rhode Island.

The answer to our financial problems is certainly NOT to increase state taxes. We must embrace one nation, one people, one language — for “United we Stand” a strong American People. Divided, we shall surely fall into the world of Socialism that will wipe out the middle class.

Change must start on many levels, from the Congress, to our Statewide offices, to the General Assembly, and all the way down to the local level.

We must all sit with our friends and family to Get Out The Vote for change. While this is one communication, it does not reach the approximately 600,000 possible voters in Rhode Island. For real change to take affect, YOU MUST become a grassroots activist and encourage your family and friends over the next day and a half to vote the Right Way this Tuesday. The polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Everyone should be able to find time within that fourteen (14) hour span to vote for the Right Change.

The following individuals were nominated and endorsed at the Rhode Island Republican Assembly’s Biennial Endorsement Convention back on June 12th, 2010. They were endorsed based on our by-laws, which require a two-thirds vote of those members present and eligible to vote. To the best of our knowledge — and we pay close attention — NO candidate listed has compromised his or her standing throughout the campaign season for RIRA to consider revoking their endorsement.

The 2010 RIRA endorsed candidates are:

U.S. Congress, District 1: JOHN LOUGHLIN

U.S. Congress, District 2: MARK ZACCARIA

R.I. Governor: JOHN ROBITAILLE

R.I. General Treasurer: KERNAN “KERRY” KING

R.I. Attorney General: ERIK WALLIN

RHODE ISLAND STATE SENATE:

Steve Gerling – District 18
Dawson Hodgson – District 35
Beth Moura – District 19
Dr. Chris Ottiano – District 11

RHODE ISLAND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

Representative Brian Newberry – District 48
Representative Joseph Trillo – District 24
Donald Botts – District 16
Timothy Burchett – District 34
Giovanni Calise – District 25
Michael Chippendale – District 40
Thomas Clupny – District 62
Doreen Costa – District 31
Phil Duquette – District 33
Daniel Gordon – District 71
William Grapentine – District 69
Michael Grossi – District 58
Matthew Guerra – District 46
James Halderman – District 35
Jennifer Hirons – District 44
Michael Picillo – District 39
Daniel Reilly – District 72
Erich Sturn – District 4

In closing, I again ask that you please sit with your family and friends over the next day and a half and discuss voting for a new lease on life by voting for the above candidates. YOU and your vote can make the change! YOU are the activist! YOU must get your friends and family out to vote so that their votes, along with yours, will ensure that change happens!

Thank you for your time and attention to this important issue.

God’s speed and blessings to you, your family, friends, and our hard working candidates and all their volunteers and staff.

Conservatively Yours,

Raymond T. McKay
President, Rhode Island Republican Assembly
president [at] ri-ra [dot] org

The event was attended by over 100 people, including all of the Republican statewide and federal candidates. The candidates were all allowed to speak to the convention, putting forth why RIRA should endorse them, and were allowed to answer questions from all in attendance.

The following candidates were endorsed the Rhode Island Republican Assembly:

First Congressional District – John Loughlin

Second Congressional District – Mark Zaccaria

Governor – John Robitaille

Lt. Governor – No Endorsement

Attorney General – Erik Wallin

Treasurer – Kernan “Kerry” King

Secretary of State – No Endorsement

The Rhode Island Republican Assembly will meet again on July 15, 2010 to take up any additional endorsements based on last minute filings.

The Rhode Island Republican Assembly also voted on several resolutions pertinent to this year’s elections. These resolutions also required a 2/3rd’s vote in the affirmative from the voting membership:

1) PASSED – Abolition of the office of Lieutenant Governor. RIRA’s stance is that this office should be combined with the office of the Governor.

2) PASSED – Opposing binding arbitration / perpetual contracts. RIRA opposes any effort by the General Assembly to pass laws which would create unending contracts or require state and local governments and school committees to be subjected to binding arbitration.

3) PASSED – Urging Governor Carcieri to veto the FY 2011 state budget. RIRA’s stance is that the General Assembly has ignored its duty and responsibilities by putting forth a budget that is not balanced, relies on Federal Funds that have not been appropriated yet, and that said Federal Funds would be coming from an unbalanced Federal Budget with a $14 Trillion deficit.

4) PASSED – Opposing efforts to change the name of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The Rhode Island Republican Assembly believes that the State of Rhode Island’s historic, formal name should not be changed.

5) PASSED – Support of Arizona illegal immigration law. The Rhode Island Republican Assembly supports Arizona’s use of the 10th amendment to protect the American Citizens and require all people who are in the United States of America to adhere to the laws of this sovereign nation and supports the efforts to enforce Federal Laws that have been written years prior to the Arizona law.

6) PASSED – Opposing Deepwater wind project. The Rhode Island Republican Assembly, while supporting green initiatives and technology to make our environment better and to create jobs in Rhode Island, opposes the effort by the General Assembly to intervene in the free market system on behalf of one company or any companies. If the Wind Project is valid and cost justifiable through private market investments and calculated Return on Investments, then it should go forward on its own merits without State guarantees or creating laws that allow for by-passing the due process that has been established over the years.

The fifth Biennial Endorsement Convention of the Rhode Island Republican Assembly will be held on Saturday, June 12th, 2010, from 12 Noon to 4:00 PM. The Convention will be held in the Rotunda of the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Crossings, at 801 Greenwich Avenue, in Warwick, RI 02886.

The theme for the Convention will be “2010: The Conservative Comeback.”

Working towards that goal, federal and state Republican candidates have been invited to address the RIRA delegates and guests. Speakers to include:

John Loughlin, Candidate for Congress (First District)
Mark Zaccaria, Candidate for Congress (Second District)
William Clegg, Candidate for Congress (Second District)
John Robitaille, Candidate for Governor
Victor Moffitt, Candidate for Governor
Erik Wallin, Candidate for Attorney General
Kernan ‘Kerry’ King, Candidate for General Treasurer

Following those and other speeches, RIRA Delegates will be able vote on endorsements for each office. Endorsements may be made in any Federal, Statewide, as well as in R.I. House and Senate races. RIRA endorsements require a 2/3rds affirmative vote of those delegates present.

All Republicans and Conservatives in Rhode Island are welcome to attend. The precise agenda is still being worked out. However, the event will start with a great fundraiser for our state Political Action Committee, with speeches by various Republican officeholders and candidates. Live Musical Entertainment will be provided by the band “Wing-It”. Hors d’Oeuvres will be served, and there will be a Cash Bar available.

RSVP in advance by Facebook, e-mail, or phone would be greatly appreciated for food planning purposes. However, it is not required to attend. Tickets may be paid for in advance or at the door. Personal checks should be payable to “RIRA-PAC.”

Suggested minimum contribution for the PAC fundraiser is $25.00 per person or $15.00 for R.I. Young Republicans (of course, individuals may donate more!). Tables of Six are available for $150.00 each. Funds generated in excess of our costs will be used to support RIRA endorsed candidates. Please note: RIRA members who are currently “in good standing” are not required to pay an additional amount as a condition of voting on endorsements. However, annual dues must be paid up to date in order to vote. Of course, RIRA members are always encouraged to contribute towards our PAC.

To reserve your tickets, please mail your request and personal check to: RIRA-PAC, 19 Bakers Creek Road, Warwick, RI 02886. For any inquiries, please contact RIRA President Raymond T. McKay at (401) 487-2514 or by e-mail at: president [at] ri-ra [dot] org .

Note: State of Rhode Island campaign finance law requires us to record the Name, Address, Employer, and Occupation of contributors. Corporate and business checks cannot be accepted. Individual contributors are limited to contributing no more than $1000.00 per calendar year. Political contributions are not tax deductible.