And So It Begins! Bill For 'Public-Private' Funding Sent to Finance Committee

Representatives Stephen M. Casey, K. Joseph Shekarchi, Michael Morin, Mia A. Ackerman, and Cale P. Keable sent a bill to the Finance Committee on May 27, 2015, H 6250, that would allow for what they call 'public-private' partnership funding of facilities and infrastructure.  While the PawSox are not mentioned in the text, the fact is that Michael G. Riley, sometimes Republican political candidate, has called the term 'public-private financing' a lot of "gobbledygook".  This move is not out of step considering the unpopularity of the proposal, with public protests that have attracted the support of the Rhode Island Green Party, Tea Party, Progressive Democrats, and Republicans alike, something that almost never happens in this state.  Larry Lucchino, remaining majority owner of the PawSox after the death of James Skeffington earlier this month, published a multi-column appeal to the masses in the Providence Journal on May 27 with timing that could not be more perfect, titled DOWNTOWN PARK WIL BE RI GEM, closing with the line "We invite you to join us on this journey. We believe your children and your grandchildren will thank you."  Some may beg to differ, including economists Robert Baade and Victor Matheson, who have aired their opinions and written papers on how these sorts of funding proposals rarely have long-term benefits for the taxpayers.