If you’re in Rhode Island Senate District 28, which covers parts of Cranston and Providence, independent candidate Robert Schattle is worth a look. 

Where are the members of the General Assembly?  It would be one thing if Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello (D, Cranston) and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio (D, Providence, North Providence) were actively blocking Rhode Island's representatives and senators from returning to work and doing the people's business, but almost none of the rank are asking --- much less demanding --- the ability to represent their constituents.

They are supposed to be representing all of us, not just going along with legislative leaders who were elected by people from other parts of the state.  Their complete disregard for their responsibilities to you has been disqualifying.  If by this point at the beginning of June you have seen your elected officials demanding their right to represent you actively at the State House, they ought to be Out Of Office.

Despite news reports every time it receives a hearing, nobody seems to know what the Uniform Parentage Act making its way through the Rhode Island General Assembly is really about.  Advocates say it's only about updating the state's laws governing who a child's legal parents are, but it's really about a radical, anti-science revolution in how we think of the family in the United States.

There are two ways in which the answer to the question of that title should be "No!"  First, the far-left progressive Democrat is more radical than other election results in the communities she represents.  Second, she votes nearly in complete lock-step with Senate leadership when it matters.

Do you agree with Senate leaders nearly 100% of the time?

If you listen to progressives, they'll tell you their entire philosophy is about helping the disadvantaged and downtrodden.  They claim to be the voice of the people.  The tolerant few.  The champions of your right to be who you are.

Of course, that only applies if who you are is who they want you to be.

After a great deal of fanfare and tension with the state party in early December, the Rhode Island Democratic Women's Caucus has been pretty quiet as the year turned over and the General Assembly's session got underway.  Its existence is worth remembering, however, to keep in mind the real purpose of identity-group politics.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Rhode Island’s stagnant population growth will result in the loss of a valuable U.S. Congressional seat and billions in federal aid after the 2020 national Census. Fewer people are choosing to make Rhode Island their home … why? The Democrat-dominated General Assembly has failed the people, advancing a progressive-left and special-interest agenda that benefits the insider few, while increasing taxes and the cost of living on the rest of us — the many.

The Providence Journal's Political Scene column this week reported on how much some of our state's legislators make working for special interests that lobby the government.  Keeping an eye on these conflicts is definitely important, but people often miss the more fundamental points.  The way these stories are usually framed gives the impression that more transparency and reporting can take care of problems, but that isn't the case.

The press release for new legislation in the Rhode Island House infringing on Second Amendment rights says the bills will "protect public from those who possess guns illegally."  What they mean is that they're trying to disarm the public to protect us from ourselves (because they know better).  The worst of the batch comes from Democrat Representative Patricia Serpa (West Warwick, Coventry, and Warwick).

Here's a surprising find in Rhode Island:  Since declaring for her first-ever run for office in Rhode Island, now-state Senator Bridget Valverde, a far-left progressive Democrat representing East Greenwich, North Kingstown, South Kingstown, and Narragansett, has collected a very healthy $51,661 in campaign contributions.  Not bad for a first-time candidate in relatively conservative part of the state!

The question is: Who wants her to win that badly?