Check out the Moderate Party and Moderate Party Candidates in the news.
July 28, 2010
Ken Block on Helen Glover Tune in to hear Ken Block on the Helen Glover show on 920 WHJJ at 8:00am today.
http://www.920whjj.com/main.html July 28, 2010
Block Opposes 38 Studios Deal The Ken Block Campaign issued the following press release:
Yesterday, the Rhode Island Economic Development Council voted to guarantee $75 million in loans to Curt Shillings, 38 Studios. The $75 million dollars represents over 60% of the $125 million dollars set aside for the new Job Creation Guaranty Program created by the legislature last month.
"The 38 Studios deal is seriously misguided. Once again, Rhode Island decision makers are looking for silver bullet solutions to solve our employment problems by focusing on all the wrong things. This is one more example of Rhode Island trying to have a "big business" mentality as opposed to being smart and getting behind small business development. Rhode Island has tried the big business route before and it hasn^t exactly worked out the way we hoped," said Ken Block, Moderate Party for Governor.
Ken Block is a software engineer who has created two successful small businesses in Rhode Island, a software company, Simpatico Software, and Cross Alert, a traffic signal manufacturing business. Block has publicly stated that he carries a mortgage on his home to ensure that his businesses have access to the credit they need.
"So many small businesses here in Rhode Island can not grow because they do not have access to sufficient credit. The banks simply aren^t lending. This money could have been used to invest in businesses, with a proven track record, to help them expand, grow and create jobs," said Block.
Block also cites, the fact that the deal was fast tracked for Studio 38 as a problem. The EDC^s Board of Directors has not approved the rules and regulations that will govern the new program as of yet but has already entered into an agreement with Studio 38.
"If we^ve learned anything over the last 15 to twenty years it is that decisions made in hast are never the best decisions," said Block.
"The 38 Studios deal promises to create 450 jobs by 2013. There are 70,000 Rhode Islanders out of work-what does the EDC intend to do for the other 69,550," said Christine Hunsinger, Campaign Director of the Block Campaign. "The $125 million dollars set aside to create jobs could have and should have gone a lot further in helping hundreds of struggling Rhode Island small businesses. Rhode Island needs thousands of thriving small businesses to truly address our high unemployment problem and to get the economy back on track. As Governor, Ken will reconstitute the EDC board to ensure a balance of large and small business interests and task the board with the goal of growing our small business backbone."
July 28, 2010
Block Balks at $75 Million for Curt Schilling Several candidates for governor yesterday balked at a $75 million loan guarantee the Economic Development Corporation has given to former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling so he will move his video gaming company, 38 Studios, from Massachusetts to Rhode Island.
Moderate Party candidate Ken Block came out in opposition to the deal.
“The 38 Studios decision is a mistake,” Block said. “This is typical recycled politician thinking focused on short term planning, and it doesn^t work. You can’t fix the economy with silver-bullet solutions. $75 million could go a long way to help many small businesses here in Rhode Island, and we can^t afford to set aside such a large sum of money for specific inducements to special companies. Instead of putting our eggs all in one basket, our priorities should be on real, long term solutions.”
Read more here:
http://www.golocalprov.com/politics/candidates-dont-want-to-play-ball-with-schilling/ July 27, 2010
Ken Block Releases Statement about 38 Studios Deal Moderate Party Gubernatorial Candidate, Ken Block, released the following statement:
"The 38 Studios decision is a mistake. This is typical recycled politician thinking focused on short term planning, and it does not work. You can^t fix the economy with silver-bullet solutions. $75 million could go a long way to help many small businesses here in Rhode Island, and we cannot afford to set aside such a large sum of money for specific inducements to special companies. Instead of putting our eggs all in one basket, our priorities should be on real, long term solutions."
July 27, 2010
Moderate Party head looks to make his mark Listen here for a profile piece on Ken Block and his campaign by Flo Jonic of WRNI.
http://www.wrni.org/ July 25, 2010
Block Thinks 38 Studios Plan is Horrible Idea Moderate Ken Block has concerns about a proposal from the state Economic Development Corporation to offer a $75 million loan guarantee to a game development company founded by former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling.
Block said during a candidates forum last week that he thought deals like the one being offered to 38 Studios were horrible economic development policies. He called them “specific inducements to special companies.”
“We can’t afford them. They’re putting all your eggs in one basket,” he said. “It’s the magic, big picture, silver-bullet approach to economic development, and it doesn’t work. We can’t afford it.”
Read more here:
http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/providence/providence-edc-likely-to-vote-on-38-studios-monday July 24, 2010
Moderate Party Draws First Slot on Ballot PROVIDENCE — The jockeying for party endorsements and the hunting for signatures is over.
On Friday, the candidates in this busy election year learned something that could be just important as endorsements or claims for most signatures — where they will be on the ballot.
The ballot lottery in the State Room of the State House determined candidate placements for the Sept. 14 primary ballot, as well as party and independent candidate placements for the Nov. 2 general election ballot.
The Moderate Party candidates will go first in any race in which the party has a candidate, based on the final drawing of the day, which determined party placement on the November ballot.
Democrats will go second, followed by Republicans.
That means the gubernatorial list, in order, will be Moderate Party candidate Kenneth J. Block; Democrat Frank T. Caprio; the Republican candidate (either John F. Robitaille or Victor G. Moffitt, depending on who wins that primary); Chafee; independent Joseph M. Lusi; independent Ronald Algieri; and independent Todd J. Giroux.
http://www.projo.com/news/content/BALLOT_PLACEMENT_07-24-10_65JAFA8_v21.3a69f8d.html July 23, 2010
Moderate candidate for Governor Raps Teachers’ Union PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Lest there be any doubt that union backing is still much-valued in the political sphere, Moderate Party candidate Ken Block on Thursday voiced dismay that he was not given a chance to compete for the backing of a major teachers^ union that gave its endorsement a day earlier to former U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee^s bid for governor.
On Wednesday, the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals endorsed the Republican-turned-independent Chafee over a crowded field of competitors for the top state job. The otehr candidates include the only remaining Democrat in the race, state Treasurer Frank T. Caprio, Republican primary contenders Victor Moffitt and John Robitaille, and Block.
RIFTHP president Marcia Reback said Caprio did not ask to be interviewed.
Block issued a statement that said: "My wife is a teacher, my father is a lifelong professor, and I talk to teachers everyday about my plans for education reform in this state. I understand that teachers do not need to be micromanaged, and should instead be paid and treated as white-collar professionals. I believe that if given the chance, the members of the AFT [American Federation of Teachers] would have been receptive to my message.
"It^s unfortunate that in this case, leadership chose to protect its political position and power rather than allow an open and free exchange of ideas and ultimately prevented its membership from making an informed decision,^^ said Block, reiterating his campaign theme: "We need to stop reinforcing the status quo by blindly supporting recycled politicians.^^
http://politicsblog.projo.com/2010/07/candidate-for-g.html July 23, 2010
Block Says Endorsement of Chafee is "Uninformed" GoLocalProv featured the following article:
Moderate Party candidate for governor Ken Block today criticized the American Federation of Teachers for endorsing independent Lincoln Chafee before meeting with the all the candidates.
“The American Federation of Teachers’ choice to endorse before meeting with all of the candidates was uniformed and demonstrates that union leadership is out of step with its membership,” Block said. “The fact that they never even took the opportunity to meet with me and hear my stance on the issues is just another example of preserving the status quo.”
Block, whose wife is a teacher and whose father is a life-long professor, said he talks to teachers everyday about his plans for education reform. He said teachers don’t need to be “micromanaged” and instead should be “paid and treated as white-collar professionals.”
“I believe that if given the chance, the members of the AFT would have been receptive to my message,” Block said. “It’s unfortunate that in this case, leadership chose to protect its political position and power rather than allow an open and free exchange of ideas and ultimately prevented its membership from making an informed decision.”
http://www.golocalprov.com/politics/breaking-news-block-says-teachers-endorsement-of-chafee-uninformed/ July 23, 2010
Secretary of State Announces Block is Qualified Candidate The Rhode Island Secretary of State^s Office on Friday released its list of candidates who have qualified for the ballot for the September primary and the November general election.
The office said eight candidates qualified to run for governor, including Ken Block as the only Moderate Party candidate.
http://www2.turnto10.com/news/2010/jul/23/secretary-state-announces-qualified-candidates-ar-162512/ July 22, 2010
Block Releases Statement in Response to AFT Endorsement Moderate Party Gubernatorial Candidate, Ken Block, released the following statement in reaction to the American Federation of Teachers^ endorsement of Lincoln Chafee:
"The American Federation of Teachers^ choice to endorse before meeting with all of the candidates was uniformed and demonstrates that union leadership is out of step with its membership. The fact that they never even took the opportunity to meet with me and hear my stance on the issues is just another example of preserving the status quo.
We^ve seen this same disconnect before in the case of Central Falls, where the focus was on the power struggle rather than the needs of the teachers and students.
My wife is a teacher, my father is a life-long professor, and I talk to teachers everyday about my plans for education reform in this state. I understand that teachers do not need to be micromanaged, and should instead be paid and treated as white collar professionals. I believe that if given the chance, the members of the AFT would have been receptive to my message.
It^s unfortunate that in this case, leadership chose to protect its political position and power rather than allow an open and free exchange of ideas and ultimately prevented its membership from making an informed decision.
I urge that all bodies endorsing candidates this election year to fully hear what the candidates have to say in order to choose the best candidate capable of addressing their needs. We need to stop reinforcing the status quo by blindly supporting recycled politicians.
We should expect more."
July 22, 2010
Campaign Director, Christine Hunsinger to Appear on Buddy Cianci Show Campaign Director, Christine Hunsinger, will appear on the Buddy Cianci show at 3:30pm.
Tune in to listen:
http://www.630wpro.com/ July 22, 2010
Ken Block to Attend Environmental Gubernatorial Debate Register today to attend a gubernatorial debate hosted by the Environment Council of Rhode Island (ECRI)on Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 7:00 P.M.
Seats are limited, so reserve your spot now to hear Ken Block^s plans for invigorating and protecting the environment.
To read more information about the event and registration, click here:
http://providentialgardener.typepad.com/whatgrowsonri/2010/07/register-now-for-ri-gubernatorial-debate-september-28-2010.html July 21, 2010
Block Gives Input on Role of Lt. Governor on WPRO Ken Block calls in to the Dan Yorke show on WPRO to discuss his opinion on the role of the Lt. Governor^s office.
Click here to listen:
http://www.630wpro.com/Article.asp?id=1884762&spid= July 21, 2010
Ken Block Discusses Budget Woes PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A narrowed gubernatorial field has touched on taxes, budget deficits and immigration in a candidates forum at a Providence retirement community.
General Treasurer Frank Caprio is the only Democrat left since Attorney General Patrick Lynch quit the race last week. During Wednesday^s forum, Moderate Party candidate Ken Block said Caprio would be a "machine-anointed" governor if he were elected.
Block also went after the other front-runner, independent Lincoln Chafee, who has proposed a 1% sales tax for all items that are currently exempt. Block says the proposal would raise the burden on people without closing the budget deficit.
Chafee says the sales tax is less regressive than property and income taxes, and the state must do something to close budget deficits or businesses won^t want to move to Rhode Island.
http://ww.abc6.com/Global/story.asp?S=12847358 July 21, 2010
Block Stands Out From the Crowd at Laurelmead Today Block attended a gubernatorial forum at the Laurelmead Assisted Living Facility in Providence. Candidates gathered for a meet-and-greet and then switched gears to take part in a forum based on questions provided by the Laurelmead residents and staff.
A recent article in the Providence Journal recaps some of the action that took place during the forum in which Block stood apart from the opposing candidates with his sensible, long-term plans for revitalizing the state.
In addition to discussing his vision for Rhode Island, Block also challenged his opponents. He passionately disputed Lincoln Chafee^s plan to issue a 1% tax on currently exempted areas such as the nursing home his mother resides in and the Laurelmead facility itself. This argument resonated with the audience who understand the struggles necessary facilities face on a regular basis.
Block also confronted Frank Caprio by saying, "The last thing in the world this state needs is a machine-anointed Democratic governor working in tandem with a machine dominated Democratic General Assembly.^^ He spoke about needing new blood in office and about bringing a new, more relevant perspective to the Governor^s seat.
In his answers, Block made it clear that he stands ahead from the other recycled politicians running for Governor. After answering the questions of the residents and staff, it was clear that they internalized Block^s message and are ready for change.
Read more here:
http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/07/candidates-for-governro-spar-a.html July 21, 2010
Block Responds to Clinton Visit to Rhode Island Ken Block expresses his respect for former President Bill Clinton, but adds that he thinks he "picked the wrong horse in this race."
Watch the video clip here:
http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/providence/providence-candidates-react-to-clinton-endorsement July 21, 2010
IUD Scandal After IUD scandal, Little targets cost drivers
as endangering health-care system
http://www.chrislittleforag.com/uploads/IUD-Scandal-news-release.doc July 19, 2010
Block to Appear on Buddy Cianci Show Ken Block will be a guest on Buddy Cianici^s show on WPRO. The live taping will be held at Ballards Inn on Block Island at 4:00pm.
July 19, 2010
Block Has a Plan for Curing Budget Woes Projo columnist, Edward Fitzpatrick, wrote an article describing Ken Block^s plan to fix the budget deficit. The article was written in response to a comment Independent Candidate Chafee made recently in support of his plan to raise the sales tax to 1% on exempted items: “Give me a better idea.”
"When I reached Moderate Party candidate Kenneth J. Block on Monday, he was campaigning on Block Island, or as he jokingly called it, “my island.” (For the record, the island was named for Dutch navigator Adrian Block, not Barrington software engineer Ken Block).
Block said he wants to use technology to eliminate fraud in government programs such as Medicaid. “We can instantly recover significant dollars in our budget by stopping people from stealing from us,” he said. His company, Simpatico Software Systems, helped Texas detect more than $1 billion in fraud in food stamp and cash-assistance programs over 15 years, he said."
http://www.projo.com/news/efitzpatrick/edward_fitzpatrick_20_07-20-10_PBJ7BTO_v19.13f07ff.html July 18, 2010
The Moderate Candidate Eric Tucker, from the Associated Press, wrote a profile piece on Ken and his campaign:
PROVIDENCE, RI (AP) - The temperature is quickly approaching triple digits, but gubernatorial candidate Ken Block is starting his morning hustling from one prospective voter to the next at the city’s downtown bus terminal.
One teenager says she’s too young to vote; a man says he’s not interested in politics. A third person asks Block what his fledgling Moderate Party is all about, prompting him to ease into a familiar refrain: “It’s not Republican. It’s not Democrat. It’s a centrist party, so it’s in the middle.”
After challenging the state’s ballot access laws in court, Block now faces an arguably tougher fight as a first-time candidate with limited name recognition, backed by a nascent party and part of a four-way race including Lincoln Chafee, a former Republican senator turned independent who is competing for the same centrist voters.
Block is positioned as a possible spoiler in the race this November, but he says he’s running to do more than just advance his party agenda.
“We really don’t have people with the right qualifications necessary to get in there, and for non-self-interested reasons, fix what’s broken in this state,” he told The Associated Press in an interview.
Block will face Chafee, Democrat Frank Caprio and the winner of the Republican primary—either John Robitaille or Victor Moffitt— in the November general election. They’re vying to succeed Republican Gov. Don Carcieri, who is term-limited.
An entrepreneur dissatisfied with the political establishment, Block founded the Moderate Party in 2008 on a platform of four e’s -- environment, ethics, education and economy.
Last year, he successfully sued the state over a law he said requires new political parties to collect too many signatures in too short a time to place candidates on the ballot.
He initially wasn’t sure his party would field a candidate for governor—let alone that it would be him. He first focused on finding legislative candidates before deciding he needed someone to run for governor to build the party from the top down. After courting several public figures—including Chafee and former U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente, who agreed to become chairman of the party—Block entered the race himself.
His platform centers on the economy, an obvious campaign issue in a state with a double-digit unemployment rate. He says he would ultimately like to lower the top-level marginal income tax rate— 5.99 percent—to make Rhode Island more competitive. He wants to see the state offer incentives for technology-minded small businesses. And he proposes rooting out waste and fraud in the distribution of Medicaid payments and food stamps.
Though he says social issues aren’t a priority, the pro-choice Block would sign a bill legalizing gay marriage if it reached his desk. He said he would revise, but not rescind, an executive order on illegal immigration by Gov. Don Carcieri that, among other things, required state agencies to use a federal database to verify the employment eligibility of new hires.
“I am not a social conservative. No one can tag me with that statement,” Block said, “just as they can’t tag me with being a bleeding-heart liberal.”
Block is still working on name recognition: This is his—and his party’s—first campaign, and a June 1 Rasmussen poll didn’t even include him. Yet he’s already released two TV ads, including one depicting cardboard cutouts of his opponents dumped in a recycling bin.
Block could siphon votes from each of his opponents, but the one he may need to most differentiate himself from is Chafee.
That became clear during a recent visit to Blue State Coffee, a Brown University hangout, where co-owner Alex Payson listened to Block’s sales pitch before asking why he should vote for him over Chafee.
Block replied that the only proposal Chafee had offered for improving the economy was to broaden the state sales tax.
Told of that remark, Chafee campaign manager J.R. Pagliarini shot back, “We’re asking him to become governor, become the chief executive officer of the state of Rhode Island, with no experience at the local level or in any other elected capacity.”
After meeting Block, Payson, 29, said he liked his message but remains undecided.
“I feel like what he’s saying is great. It’s hard to know whether what one is saying can actually be implemented, that’s the skeptic in me,” he said.
Wendy Schiller, who teaches political science at Brown, said Block probably won’t win but should still draw attention to issues ignored by the major parties. She said his lack of establishment experience was both a liability and an asset.
“As much as voters say they want fresh faces, they are also reluctant to turn the reins of power over to people who lack a strong background or who do not have a well-known reputation,” she said in an e-mail interview.
Block says he’s already spent $350,000 of his own money on the race and is prepared to spend more.
“I wouldn’t have entered this race if I didn’t think I could win it. I wouldn’t have entered this race if I didn’t think I had the ability to fund it the way it needed to be funded,” he said.
http://www.wpri.com/dpp/elections/candidates/providence,-ri--the-moderate-candidate July 15, 2010
Ken Block Promises Modern Leadership for RI The Rainbow Times has published an article featuring Ken Block.
Ken Block is hoping to make history, as the first Moderate Party candidate to be elected governor of Rhode Island.
He is one of seven candidates vying for the chance to succeed Republican Gov. Don Carcieri, whose term ends in January.
Block, who lives in Barrington, found himself becoming increasingly frustrated with what he refers to as “irresponsible” leadership from both mainstream political parties.
In 2009, Block co-founded the Moderate Party so that voters would have an alternative to the other political parties.
“I have lived (in Rhode Island) for 20 years,” Block said. “We have had chronic budget deficits every year I’ve been here. We have had a class of elected officials on both the legislative and the executive side who have not been able to deal with the problems that we have.”
The state has also been stuck with the fourth highest unemployment rate in the country. Block wants to create a more business-friendly environment, in order to motivate more companies to settle in the state.
“We have had an extraordinarily non-competitive economy,” explained Block. “I know 25 fellow entrepreneurs who have picked up their businesses and left for Massachusetts and
they took hundreds of millions of dollars in payroll with them.”
Block believes that lowering taxes, as well as more effectively routing out waste and fraud, will benefit the state’s economy.
“I do not want to cut existing social safety net programs,” Block said. “I think they’re all important. I think they’re all there for a reason but we have to make sure that the people who are supposed to be getting it, get it and those people who are gaming the system and stealing, stop.”
Block is the president of Simpatico Software Systems, a software engineering firm, and Cross Alert Systems, a manufacturer of specialized traffic signals for recreational trail/ public road intersections.
The Connecticut native graduated from Dartmouth College, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in computer science. After graduating, Block wrote software for Wall Street trading desks in New York City. Block later took a one-year consulting job with GTECH Corporation before coming to Rhode Island in 1991.
On social issues, Block is much more moderate than Carcieri, who has displayed animosity toward the LGBT community by supporting the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and vetoing a bill granting death benefits to domestic partners.
Block, who supports same-sex marriage, promises to be a much more inclusive leader.
“It’s a question of basic civil rights,” Block said of allowing gays and lesbians to be wed. “A heterosexual couple can be married and as a result obtain specific rights from the state. I don’t think the state has any business to deny those same rights to homosexual couples.”
Block believes the governor needs to maintain an open line of communication with the General Assembly to get things done. The governor needs to be involved with the legislative process, Block noted.
Block’s skills as a software engineer will also be invaluable, he explained: “We need a governor who’s modern. We need somebody who understands technology. We haven’t had that.”
The response to his candidacy has been positive, and Block is pleased to put to rest the public’s preconceived notions about his upstart political party.
“It’s been fun to watch because people had no expectations for me at all,” Block said, explaining his fellow Moderate Party candidates were not “crazy.”
“These are reasonable, rational people who have gotten involved in politics because they are realizing the problems are not getting fixed,” noted Block. “We need non-conflicted, open people running for office.”
http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/ July 15, 2010
Vote for Ken in Projo Poll The Providence Journal is conducting an online poll asking the question: With Patrick Lynch out of the R.I. governor’s race, which candidate has the edge?
Vote for Ken, and show Rhode Islanders that the Moderate Party Candidate is in it to win this race!
Click here to vote:
http://www.projo.com/perl/common/surveys/display_full.pl?poll_id=25502&site=projo&vaction=voting&thi July 15, 2010
Ken Block is On the Ballot! As of 2:30pm this afternoon, Moderate Party Gubernatorial Candidate, Ken Block, has confirmed that he will appear on the ballot this November. The Block campaign spoke with the Secretary of State^s office who confirmed the count of 1,046 certified signatures from the cities and towns.
Although the law only requires gubernatorial candidates to collect 1,000 verified signatures in order to appear on the ballot, Block has collected over 2,500 in one week. The campaign believes this shows an increased amount of support.
"Rhode Islanders are ready for change," said Hunsinger. "Ken was able to collect more than double the amount of required signatures in just a few days. The response from voters has been amazing. People are excited about this race, and are looking forward to getting some new blood in office."
Block is no stranger to collecting signatures, as he collected 34,000 signatures last year to form the Moderate Party.
"I know I said I would be willing to chew my own arm off if I ever had to collect signatures again," said Block. "But thanks to some dedicated volunteers I made it through this week unscathed."
Block^s campaign has been gaining momentum since the release of two unique commercials discussing the "kick-the-can" behaviors of recycled politicians. He has participated in two debates with other gubernatorial candidates, as well as several forums.
Block formed the Moderate Party in response to his frustration with two-party politics and Rhode Island^s current government. The party became officially recognized after filing a lawsuit against the state and collecting thousands of signatures. Block announced his candidacy for Governor in February of 2010.
July 8, 2010
Staff Members Announcement Chris Little campaign for Attorney General
names 2 key new staff members
http://www.chrislittleforag.com/uploads/Staff-members-press-release.doc July 7, 2010
Block Urges Legislators to Return to Work "The legislature should come back into session and when they do, they should figure out how they are going to close the 100-million dollar budget deficit, they should pass the Ethics bill restoring Ethics Commission oversight over the RI Legislature and they should bring E-verify to the floor for a vote," Block said Wednesday in a news release.
"This legislative session is remarkable not for what was accomplished but for what was not accomplished," he said.
"Our elected officials owe the citizens of Rhode Island better."
Read More Here:
http://politicsblog.projo.com/2010/07/moderate-partys-3.html July 7, 2010
RI Moderate Party Asks to Block Public Dollars The party is asking U.S. District Judge William Smith to block the distribution of any public funding, which it says could be distributed at any time between now and Sept. 1.
The party, which sued last month in federal court, argued in a request for an injunction filed by the American Civil Liberties Union that the formula used to divide the money up among parties is inherently unfair and set up to benefit Republicans and Democrats.
Read more here:
https://secure.samobile.net/content/offsite2498331.html June 28, 2010
Block Leads in WPRO Poll WPRO asked the question, "Who will you vote for in the Rhode Island race for Governor?"
Moderate Party Gubernatorial candidate, Ken Block, took an incredible lead with 65% of the votes.
http://www.630wpro.com/article.asp?id=1856605 June 24, 2010
Block Participates in Debate Centered on Immigration Ken Block participated in a debate sponsored by the Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund on June 23.
One of seven candidates who attended, Block shared his plans for revitalizing Rhode Island.
In this article from the Projo, Block^s stance on Illegal Immigration is discussed. He states that he opposes an Arizona style law and even called it "asinine." He does support E-Verify and says that it is the best way to crack down on “unscrupulous employers who take advantage of people who work here illegally.”
http://www.projo.com/news/content/RI_DEBATE_MINORITY_ISSUES_06-24-10_I4IVLQS_v23.1ad1abb.html June 21, 2010
Moderate Party Files Second Federal Lawsuit The Moderate Party of Rhode Island filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Providence challenging the manner in which taxpayer dollars are collected and distributed to political parties as part of public financing of the electoral process.
http://www.moderate-ri.org/checkoff-complaint /MPRI-ACLU-tax-checkoff-complaint.pdf June 11, 2010
Ken Block Shares Views on the Arts and the Economy Ken Block voiced his opinions and demonstrated his knowledge about the arts as a business segment of the economy. Hear his views and learn about his vision.
The Arts & Business Council and RI Citizens for the Arts sponsored the candidates interviews in conjunction with GoLocalProv.com.
http://www.golocalprov.com/politics/gubernatorial-candidates-share-their-views-on-the-arts-and-the-economy/ June 10, 2010
Block Sets Himself Apart in First Debate Block participated in the first televised gubernatorial debate today, and set himself apart from his opponents. His centrist views and long term plans for the state resonated with the audience in studio and at home.
http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/rhode-island-gubernatorial-candidates-hold-first-televised-debate June 10, 2010
WPRI Channel 12 Debate Hosted at the URI Campus. To join our welcome party and post debate celebration, email info@kenblockforgovernor.com
401-681-4174
June 8, 2010
Rally to restore jurisdiction to the Ethics Commission State House Rotunda
3pm
June 3, 2010
Phone Bank at Block Headquarters 5:30-7:30 pm
June 2, 2010
Response to the Polls Christine Hunsinger, the Ken Block for Governor campaign director responds to the recent gubernatorial poll.
“All those guys are politicians and have been and have been part of the organization that made these problems. Ken’s the only person out there who is different,“ said Chris Hunsinger, a Moderate Party spokeswoman. “I think right this minute, those numbers show you that nobody’s excited by the choices that they know about.“
If you would like to see Ken Block included in future polls, email info@rasmussenreports.com and tell them!
http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/news/local/local_govtpolitics/article/chafee_caprio_poll_ahead_of_pack/37459/#comments June 1, 2010
Block Says: EXPECT MORE Ken Block, Moderate Party candidate for Governor, releases first commercial
Warwick, RI-May 27th, 2010-In anticipation of the first televised Gubernatorial debate, the Ken Block for Governor campaign is releasing its first television commercial. The commercial^s theme of "Expect More," is one that has been resonating with voters. Block has been making his way through the state, speaking at events and meeting voters and the idea that we need new people in government has created great enthusiasm at every stop.
"We keep electing the same old professional politicians who protect themselves and leave us behind. When three members of the North Providence City Council were arrested for extortion, no one in Rhode Island was surprised. Heck! We almost expect that kind of thing. We need to expect more," said Ken Block.
The commercial ends with Block saying, "Let^s clean up and fix Rhode Island."
"There is such a difference between Ken Block and the other candidates running for Governor, we thought the best way to introduce Ken was to contrast him with Rhode Island^s ^typical^ professional politician," said Campaign Director, Christine Hunsinger. "We think this commercial accomplishes that."
Block recently released an economic plan, "Charting a Course for Rhode Island^s New Economy." The plan lays out the steps a Block administration will take to revitalize Rhode Island and is a foundation for transforming the state into an innovative, successful, and thriving economic hub that provides opportunity and a better life for the people who live, work and raise a family here.
On top of the normal schedule of campaign events and fundraisers, during the month of June the Block campaign will launch its door-to-door campaign in Johnston, East Providence, North Providence, South Kingstown, Smithfield and Providence. The campaign also has four scheduled "Block Parties," events where Ken and campaign volunteers perform community service projects, in Exeter, Narragansett, Warwick and Providence.
Scheduled to begin running June 1st, the six-figure media buy, will run through the month on network and cable television. The ad was created and produced by Jamestown Associates. Jamestown Associates is one of the nation^s most successful political and public affairs consulting firms.
Check out Ken^s commercial on the website^s main page!
June 1, 2010
Channel 10, 6pm News Campaign Director, Christine Hunsinger will appear on Channel 10 for the 6pm News to discuss Ken Block^s new commercial campaign.
Tune in to see what sets Block apart from the other candidates.
May 27, 2010
Providence Journal on the First Commercial of Ken Block
http://politicsblog.projo.com/2010/05/moderate-partys.html
May 20, 2010
Providence Journal Campaign Digest Christopher H. Little, Moderate Party candidate for attorney general, said Wednesday that if he is elected, he will implement a strict recusal policy that will apply to all the lawyers who work in his office.
He said he would also appoint one senior lawyer — someone who has served through the terms of at least two attorneys general — to act as the chief ethics officer for the department.
“Public confidence in the integrity of the office of the attorney general is indispensable to the ability of the attorney general and his or her staff to be effective law enforcement officers and advocates for the citizens of Rhode Island,” Little said in a news release issued by his campaign.
http://www.projo.com/news/politics/content/CAMPAIGN_DIGEST_20_05-20-10_6TIICQE_v9.88ca8ac.html May 20, 2010
Block goes the extra mile Today is Bike to Work Day and Moderate gubernatorial candidate Ken Block is going the extra mile—at least 10 of them, to be exact—to show his support for the cause. Block, who used to ride his bike to his business in Warwick every day, will be making the trek from his home in Barrington to downtown Providence, where the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition, or RIBC, is holding an event.
http://www.golocalprov.com/index.php/news/candidates-activists-go-the-extra-mile-for-health-environment/ May 17, 2010
Little Recusal Plan Recusal Policy for the Rhode Island Attorney General
Public confidence in the integrity of the office of the Attorney General is indispensable to the ability of the Attorney General and his or her staff to be effective law enforcement officers and advocates for the citizens of Rhode Island. High standards of conduct must be established, maintained and enforced. For ease of understanding, the term “Attorney” in this Recusal Policy will be used to refer to the Attorney General and his or her staff.
In addition to adhering to the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Rhode Island Supreme Court and the Rhode Island Code of Ethics in Government, the Attorney must be particularly sensitive to appearances of impropriety which could undermine public confidence. Accordingly, the Attorney should be recused from all involvement in any matter, criminal or civil, where the Attorney has a direct conflict of interest, as well as under any of the following circumstances:
1. the adverse party is a person or entity that made a campaign contribution of any kind to the Attorney during the preceding four years;
2. the adverse party is an employer from whom the Attorney, or his or her spouse and/or dependent child, received any income during the preceding four years;
3. the adverse party is any business, profit or non-profit, in which the Attorney, his or her spouse and/or dependent child, holds or has held during the current or the prior calendar year, a position as a director, officer, partner, trustee or manager;
4. the adverse party is a person, business entity or other organization that made gifts or contributions in excess of $25 in cash or property to Attorney during the current or prior calendar year;
5. the adverse party is a business in which the Attorney, or his or her spouse and/or dependent child, holds any ownership or investment interest (excepting any publicly traded company in which the interest held is valued at less than $5,000);
6. the Attorney, or his or her spouse and/or dependent child, is indebted to the adverse party in any amount; and
7. the Attorney and the adverse party have a personal relationship which would reasonably raise a question concerning propriety of the Attorney’s involvement in the matter in question.
The Attorney General shall designate one of the Department’s most senior assistants (who has served at least through the term of two or more Attorneys General) to act as Chief Ethics Officer for the Department. All issues and actions pertaining to implementation of this policy, including issues as to whether the Attorney should or should not recuse from involvement in a proceeding will be referred to the Chief Ethics Officer for his or her advisory determination. Records shall be maintained by the Chief Ethics Officer and, except as otherwise provided by the Rhode Island Public Access to Records Act, shall be available for review and inspection by the public.
In addition, the Attorney General will request the Supreme Court to designate a senior member of the Rhode Island Bar, which may include a retired judge, to serve in an advisory capacity to the Chief Ethics Officer. The impartial advisor may be requested to provide interpretations and guidance as to when the Attorney must recuse him or herself from involvement in a proceeding consistent with the overall policies and guidelines that this Code is intended to fulfill.
To the extent any provision of this Recusal Policy is inconsistent with the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Rhode Island Supreme Court or with the Rhode Island Code of Ethics in Government, the conflicting provisions of the Rules or the Code of Ethics, as the case may be, will take precedence.
May 12, 2010
ABC 6- Block^s Plan for Rhode Island
http://ww.abc6.com/Global/story.asp?S=12464997
May 8, 2010
AG should fight for health care reform Chris Little was featured in the Providence Journal with his plan to be an advocate for Rhode Islanders in the health care insurance industry.
http://www.chrislittleforag.com/PROJO-2010-05-08.pdf May 7, 2010
Block calls for Commission for Woonsocket
http://www.golocalprov.com/index.php/news/moderate-party-candidate-calls-for-state-commission-for-woonsocket/
May 6, 2010
The Best Idea Our Guy Didn’t Have Which candidate for governor has the best idea for economic development?
We asked the campaigns to name their favorite - other than their own.
At a gubernatorial forum at Business Expo 2010 yesterday, the ideas were flying.
One stood out from the rest: a plan to build the world’s biggest aquarium in the smallest state in the nation. Victor Moffitt, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, says it is just what the Ocean State needs to beat the recession.
But others were skeptical.
“If it works, it works,” said Nick Hemond, spokesman for Democratic candidate Frank Caprio.
“Listen, I like a good aquarium as much as the next guy but the fact is that an aquarium and the other ideas that were voiced today at the forum are ‘Silver Bullet’ solutions. They are one shot deals,” added Christine Hunsinger, campaign director for the Moderate Party’s Ken Block.
http://www.golocalprov.com/index.php/politics/the-best-idea-our-guy-didnt-have/ May 6, 2010
Parents tell of need for autism coverage She and her friend, Jean Ann Guliano, chairwoman of the East Greenwich School Committee and the mother of a 13-year-old son on the autism spectrum, set up a therapy room in Guliano’s basement and hired speech and occupational therapists to work with the boys for $100 a week when they were younger and couldn’t get services any other way.
In addition to requiring insurance coverage for autism therapies with proven effectiveness, the bill would extend early intervention services to children up to the age of 5.
http://www.projo.com/news/content/AUTISM_BILL_GETS_HEARING_05-06-10_9SICL7O_v12.42908c5.html April 26, 2010
PREPARING FOR THE LONG RACE TO VICTORY, KEN BLOCK FIRMS UP HIS CAMPAIGN TEAM Legendary Political Advisors Arthur J. Finkelstein and Jamestown Associates join the campaign; Moderate Party Executive Director Hunsinger named Block Campaign Director
Warwick, RI-Working to help rebuild the promise of Rhode Island, Ken Block^s campaign for Governor announced today that legendary political consultant Arthur J. Finkelstein and the media advisors of Jamestown Associates will help lead the Block team to victory.
Finklestein will provide the Block campaign with advice and polling, while Jamestown will lead advertising and strategy. Also, founding Moderate Party Executive Director Christine Hunsinger was named Campaign Director by Block.
"Even in the short time since our announcement we are attracting the country^s brightest talent from across the political spectrum to our cause," said candidate Ken Block. "People hear our message and are signing on to help bring this state back to economic success. Whether they are volunteers or donors from communities across the state signing up, people can see we are already bringing fresh voices to help guide Rhode Island.
Finklestien, Jamestown and Hunsinger are a strong part of what^s needed to guide this campaign to victory."
Arthur J. Finkelstein has produced victories for clients around the world, including in the United States, Canada, Israel and Eastern Europe. Finkelstein has masterminded successful campaigns for countless candidates, including Rhode Island^s own Governor Lincoln Almond, Governor George Pataki, Senator Alfonse D^Amato, Senator Connie Mack, Congressman Connie Mack, Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu.
For more than 20 years, Jamestown has earned a reputation for excellence in producing outstanding television, radio and direct mail campaigns throughout the country. Jamestown^s list of clients includes campaigns by Governor Chris Christie, Governor Jodi Rell, Governor George Pataki, Senator Al D^Amato, Congressmen Mike Ferguson, Leonard Lance, Connie Mack, Christopher Shays, Lee Terry, Tim Walberg, Sam Johnson and Congresswomen Mary Bono, as well as persuasive, award-winning advertising efforts on behalf of the Republican Jewish Coalition, Freedom^s Watch and the Chamber of Commerce.
"I am honored to take the reins of Ken^s campaign. He has energized people throughout this state," said Hunsinger, a graduate of Brown University who takes over as Campaign Director after a successful seven-month tenure as Moderate Party ED and has worked extensively in campaigns. "The addition of these high-level political professional just supports what we^ve known all along, that Ken Block and the Moderate Party message is what the people of Rhode Island have been looking for."
Kahlil Byrd, a graduate of Morehouse College and Harvard University who joined the campaign in February, will act as the teams Political Strategist. Byrd is former Communications Director for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick^s winning campaign and Communications Director for the campaign of Republican Senate candidate Jeff Beatty. He runs Sung Media Ventures, a Boston political consulting firm.
The campaign has also brought on a number of recent college graduates with a variety of skills, degrees and backgrounds to support the communications, field efforts, volunteer recruitment and to plan for GOTV (Get Out The Vote). Ken Block^s political journey began with the fighting and winning of a federal lawsuit to and gathering 34,000 signatures to form the Moderate Party Since the announcement of his candidacy Rhode Islanders have provided support, donations and signed up to volunteer. Ken Block has an aggressive schedule of campaigning and community work planned throughout Rhode Island^s thirty-nine cities and towns.
April 20, 2010
Herald News: Hess LNG cannot be allowed to own the bay Approximately 125 years ago, the state of Illinois attempted to give a big piece Chicago’s lake shore to a private railroad. In return, the railroad promised development and jobs.
The United States Supreme Court firmly rejected that effort, ruling that Illinois was required to exercise its powers consistent with the public trust, and could not accede to the demands of private interests over the state’s responsibility to its citizens.
Much more recently, in Palazzolo V. Rhode Island, the Supreme Court stated again, “lands below the high water mark are not to be appropriated by or conferred upon private individuals for purely private benefit.”
The legal principle from both cases is known as the Public Trust Doctrine.
The Public Trust Doctrine must be applied to the Hess LNG proposal. Narragansett and Mount Hope bays are treasured Rhode Island and Massachusetts natural resources. They are part of our way of life.
For years, commerce of all types has utilized our bays for a variety of shipping. Businesses have developed that are dependent upon waterfront commerce, be it tourism, manufacturing, recreation, fishing or other activities that have long been part of Rhode Island’s and Massachusetts’ culture and economy.
Parents and grandparents use our bays to take their children or grandchildren fishing. Community groups might organize groups of children, students or adults to explore the bay, fish on the bay, swim in the bay or sail on the bay.
Our bays have been highly productive fisheries for years, and although Mount Hope Bay has been significantly stressed in recent years because of the discharge of heated water from the Brayton Point power plant, that plant is now in the process of spending $500 million to remedy that problem so the fishery, particularly the winter flounder fishery, can thrive.
And no one looking down at the sparkling bay water while driving over one of our bridges on a beautiful sunny day can help from feeling better for having that connection to these public assets.
But now, Hess LNG is demanding the right to our property for its benefit. They want to restrict our use of these extraordinarily valuable resources.
Hess has advanced essentially three different proposals, which each involve the operation of a LNG terminal in Fall River on the Taunton River north of the Brightman Street Bridge.
Under its initial proposal, Hess sought to bring approximately 60 to 70 950-foot LNG tankers per year through Narragansett Bay and Mount Hope Bay to offload at the terminal.
When opposition to that proposal arose, Hess suggested using smaller LNG tankers to bring fuel to the terminal, although, because of size differences, that would require approximately 200 ships per year traversing Narragansett Bay and Mount Hope Bay to the terminal.
The most egregious alternative, proposed last year, involves the construction of an off-shore berth to be located in Mount Hope Bay approximately 1 mile from Brayton Point. Hess would transport fuel to that terminal using 60-70 950-foot LNG tankers per year. The liquefied natural gas would then be piped to the Fall River terminal.
Each proposal will require extensive dredging of Mount Hope Bay. The proposals requiring the largest LNG tankers involve dredging a channel approximately 600 feet wide and 45 feet deep. The offshore berth project would involve dredging an additional turning basin and would involve dedication of an additional two acres of Mount Hope Bay to be permanently set aside for the berth.
Hess wants to own a piece of Mount Hope Bay, with no compensation or any offset for the loss of this property, not to mention the loss of recreation opportunities, the loss of a fishery and the loss of commerce and businesses.
That’s not right.
Hess acknowledges that its tankers, either 60 or 200, will be entering Narragansett Bay unannounced and, while present, each tanker will have a moving safety exclusion zone, which will obviously interfere with boating and other commerce, and will also require the closure of Mount Hope and Pell bridges.
If Hess has its way, the lack of predictability and advance notice of the ships entering the bay will interfere with recreational and commercial uses of the bay.
If you want to schedule a community fishing trip, or have a group of children plan a day for fishing off Common Fence Point, for example, you or your group may be confronted with a 950-foot tanker, forcing you aside.
And, if you happen to be driving across one of the bridges, you likely will not enjoy that unanticipated wait whenever one of those vessels is coming or going.
As for fishing, this project would result in the permanent loss of winter flounder spawning habitats. What about the interests of our fishing community, which, in years past, has thrived from bountiful catches of flounder?
A significant part of the economy of each of Rhode Island’s and Massachusetts’ coastal communities is based upon Narragansett Bay and Mount Hope Bay. Why should this be harmed?
When you want to fish or boat off of Prudence Island or Hog Island, shouldn’t this be allowed?
Why should a tanker take precedence?
Hess does not even pretend to provide a public benefit to offset the clear and obvious losses that will be sustained by all of us.
Hess LNG is not good for Rhode Island or Massachusetts. Our bays are our public property, and must remain that way.
Chris Little is former president of Save the Bay and a candidate for Rhode Island attorney general.
April 1, 2010
Ed Fitzpatrick: Attorney general hopefuls weigh in on health-care bill The health-care legislation is already having an impact here in Rhode Island, if only by increasing awareness of the 10th Amendment and telling us a bit about our attorney general candidates.
http://www.projo.com/news/efitzpatrick/edward_fitzpatrick_1_04-01-10_IIHUL0T_v24.36e7941.html March 30, 2010
Block focuses on business friendly climate for state SOUTH KINGSTOWN - A self-proclaimed “detail-oriented” person, candidate for Rhode Island governor Ken Block sat with a panel last Wednesday at the South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce to discuss charter schools, wind energy and his plan to turn around the business climate in the state.
http://www.ricentral.com/content/view/217631/236/ March 29, 2010
Little aims to open communication Attorney General hopeful addresses fishing regulations, corruption in the state
By HANNAH CONNORTON
http://www.ricentral.com/content/view/217475/236/ March 23, 2010
Thomas Friedman: A Tea Party without Nuts
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/opinion/24friedman.html?th&emc=th
Please look through our archive collection of news.
|
