Third Worst

First off, Nick got in safe. He's on a three-city internship interview tour. Providence today, Boston on Wednesday, NYC on Friday. We drank a PBR and talked some about how his other interviews went, his planning with Nicole, where'd they'd be living in each city, where Nicole would be working, all the usual stuff that matters to near-PhDs in psychology.

He's off to his slate of meetings at 7:30ish, then after his trip to two hospitals and a couple other places, he's taking the rental car north. Reminds us both what Sue was doing this time last year. (What's a word for nostalgia that makes you giggle and cry at the same time?)

The electrician's coming today. This is the junction box that sparked and smelled. We thought it might be blackened inside, or we'd see something melted, but nothing.



In other news, the continuing saga of Rhode Island's budget deficit endures. I found this report from December from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which is written very well in plain-speak. According to Table 3, Rhode Island's projected deficits make it the third worst managed in the country, as a function of general fund (which amounts to, I think, budgeted spending), behind CA and AZ. Only six states have no currently known budget deficit: AK, MT, ND, TX, WV, WY.

Last Wednesday, Governor Carcieri made a speech covering the steps he'd take to close the budget gap here in Rhode Island. Lots of the natives I've spoken with made time to watch it. To say the least, the speech laid out severe cuts. The state's budget called for $55M in support to localities, but under the Governor's plan, that allotment would be reduced to zero. About $50M in aid to RI schools would be cut. Medicaid would face major cuts that would impact hospitals here.

The public and political response has been mixed. Some say it's necessary, and we should support the Governor. Others say it didn't have to come to this, pointing to the fact that things like boats in the Ocean State are not taxed, and inefficiency and waste are rampant - for example, the school system in Rhode Island is divided up into 36 jurisdictions, meaning, there are 35 extra sets of administrators, contracts, budget management offices, etc.


Tough times.