|
|
« Update: High court allows for public review of ballots | Today | Suspect insisted he was not driver in fatal crash » December 1, 2006AG Lynch calls on Carcieri to fill PUC vacanciesPROVIDENCE -- State Attorney General Patrick Lynch called on Governor Carcieri to abide by state law and appoint two new members to the state's Public Utilities Commission. The commission, which currently has three members but is required by law to have five, sets utility rates for the state. Lynch said that the addition of two members would help control energy costs. "In these times of high energy prices, I believe an expanded membership of the PUC will help ensure that the voices and concerns of all Rhode Islander ratepayers are heard, and hopefully protected,” Lynch said. The governor's spokesman Jeff Neal said this afternoon that Carcieri doesn't agree with Lynch. "It isn’t clear to Governor Carcieri that expanding the number of PUC members is a good idea," Neal said. "The PUC has already enacted one rate reduction this year and is considering another."
In addition, Neal noted that each member of the commission makes roughly $80,000 each year with salary and benefits and the positions weren't budgeted in the state budget approved by the General Assembly. "The money’s not there to pay them now," Neal said. But isn't the governor required to fill the positions by law? "The statute has been passed, but the General Assembly has not been provided the money," Neal said. Posted by Steve Peoples CommentsPost a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
|
ADVERTISING |
|
|
|
|
| Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006