New Rhode Island party facing one of the largest fines in a campaign-finance dispute...

A new Rhode Island political party may face one of the largest fines in a campaign-finance dispute. Steve Peoples writes on ProJo.com, “The state Board of Elections has quietly offered to settle a campaign-finance dispute with the newly established Moderate Party of Rhode Island for what may be the largest fine in the board’s history.”

The report says the state is asking three-month-old party to forfeit a $10,000 donation and its chairman to pay another $10,000 from his own pocket. If they did not agree to the terms, officials threatened to have the attorney general’s office launch civil or criminal investigations into party officials for violating Rhode Island’s finance laws.

The article quotes party chairman Kenneth J. Block, “That was a rotten deal any which way you sliced it. And frankly, a deal designed to be rejected… I’m ready to go to war on this… [the investigation is] 100-percent politically motivated… We are threats to the establishment.”

ProJo.com says the battle comes from these moves, “On Sept. 21, Block donated $10,000 to his organization’s state committee, the annual individual maximum allowed by state law for party building, which covers expenses related to staffing, rent and utilities, but not specific elections. On Sept. 26, Block, a Barrington software engineer, wrote another $10,000 check to the Barrington Moderate Party Town Committee, which had been formed just two days before. And on Sept. 28, the Barrington committee sent $10,000 –– all but $100 in its bank account –– to the state committee.”

SOURCE:

http://www.projo.com/news/politics/content/MODERATE_DONATION_FIGHT_11-24-09_I5GHJBP_v18.3a643ac.html

Rhode Island third party growing its grassroots…

A Rhode Island third party growing its grassroots. Ian Donnis writes on WRNI.com, “The Moderate Party of Rhode Island… (formed) 17 Moderate Party Town Committees.” Donnis explains the party focus on, “the Four E's- Economy, Education, Ethics, and Environment.”

The article quoted the Executive Director of the Moderate Party of Rhode Island Christine Hunsinger, "We're excited to have these committees up and running… (they are) an essential part of our organization when it comes to fundraising and getting our message out.”

Even more committees are expected to be announced by the end of November.

SOURCE:

http://www.wrni.org/blog/ian-donnis/moderate-party-announces-17-town-committees

Big name, small bank account for Rhode Island independent Gubernatorial candidate…

Big name, small bank account for Rhode Island independent Gubernatorial Lincoln Chafee. While Chafee has not officially announced his run, he is likely running unless something strange happens.

Steve Peoples on ProJo.com writes that former Republican Senator turned independent Lincoln Chafee has only “$180,000 in his account, which includes a personal loan of $60,000.” That is compared with two democratic candidates that have significantly more money.

Pollster Victor Profughi told Peoples it is too early to name a frontrunner, “Lincoln Chafee has muddied the waters considerably. But at this point, his fundraising has been excruciatingly slow. He hasn’t taken off the way I thought and other people thought he might.”

But Chafee may not be the only major independent candidate. The article says, “Moderate Party Chairwoman Christine Hunsinger confirmed last week that her organization was courting a ‘prominent former public official’” for her party.

SOURCE:

http://www.projo.com/news/content/GOVERNORS_RACE_10-14-09_UHG11C9_v27.3985e7f.html

Thirds party says it can rescue the worst state in the nation...

Thirds party says it can rescue the worst state in the nation for business. The Moderate Party of Rhode Island say the Forbes magazine’s rank of best and worse states for business is proof there needs to be a change in the state. Rhode Island came in last for states to conduct business.

The Moderate Party’s news release wrapped-up by saying, “Rhode Island can prosper and convert our current economic downward spiral into strong growth, an increasing tax base and a more educated work force. All we need to do is fix our current political dysfunction.”

Moderates say Rhode Island difficult for business for a number of reasons including,“burdens (that) run the gamut from outrageous licensing fees to byzantine rules for tradesmen working in industries with a large unionized work force.”

SOURCE:

http://www.moderate-ri.org/news/worstinthenation.htm

http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/23/best-states-for-business-beltway-best-states_table.html

A new party is close to getting on the ballot…

A new party is close to getting on the ballot in Rhode Island. WPRI.com is reporting, “The Moderate Party of Rhode Island says it has enough signatures to get on the ballot.”

The report says officials with the Rhode Island Board of Elections are certifying the signatures. Party officials claimed to have just under 34,000 signatures, more than the 23,500 needed to place its candidates on the ballot.

SOURCE:

http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_wpri_providence_board_of_elections_certifying_moderate_party_signatures_20090804_nek

Executive Director is named for new political party...

Executive Director is named for new political party, the “Moderate Party of Rhode Island”.

According to the post on projo.com, Christine Hunsinger is taking the job. Hunsinger briefly served as press secretary for Democratic Congressional hopeful Elizabeth Dennigan in the summer of 2009. The article continues to say, “(Hunsinger) was a registered Democrat until last week”

She was quoted saying they have about two dozen candidates considering running for the state legislature.

SOURCE:

http://www.projo.com/news/politics/content/MODERATE_PARTY_09-22-09_62FQ3ST_v10.37ce7d5.html