Media Release: Center to Host Online Forum, A Petition for Covid Data Transparency
Public Forum on Covid-19 Cycle-Threshold Data
Public and Press Invited to Pose Questions
Providence, RI – Even though some local media are reporting that Rhode Island has recently become one of the world’s most extreme hot-spots when it comes to spread of the Covid-19 virus, the release and analysis of detailed testing data, currently being withheld from the public, could be vital in shaping more focused and less intrusive public policy as well as in determining individual quarantine and medical treatment regimens.
Today at 4:00 PM EST, the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity will host a special-edition of its popular In The Dugout online video-talk show, a public forum to discuss the importance of “cycle threshold” (Ct) testing data and the State of Rhode Island’s efforts to block repeated requests for access to this information.
NOT ALL POSITIVE TESTS ARE THE SAME: The New York Times and Dr. Anthony Fauci have previously determined that many who test positive for the coronavirus have such miniscule levels of the virus that they pose no community or individual risk. Within the past week, Florida became the first state to mandate collection of Ct data, the basis for which more effective data-driven public policy can be formulated.
The forum, entitled A Petition for Covid Transparency, will include an epidemiologist and clinician, a RI State Representative, and a state worker who will discuss his persistent efforts to obtain his own personal medical data.
The public is invited to watch the 4pm live broadcast at www.RIFreedom.org/Live or on the Center’s YouTube channel, where comments and questions can be posted for discussion in the second half of the forum.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: The media is invited to request special access to make inquiries of the panelists and to receive a digital press-kit (details forthcoming in a separate media advisory).
The forum will feature:
- Announcement of a statewide petition campaign demanding collection and release of this Ct data
- Dr. Andrew Bostom, Rhode Islander, academic internist, clinical trialist, and Brown University degreed epidemiologist
- State Representative Patricia Morgan, whose related APRA requests are being stonewalled
- State worker, Jay, who has had both success and failure in obtaining his personal Ct medical information
- A Judicial Watch statement on their APRA efforts to obtain related information
- Mike Stenhouse, CEO for the Center and host of the forum
In The Dugout: Steve Erickson & Mayor Joe Paolino
On this episode of In The Dugout with Mike Stenhouse, outspoken former Board of Elections member, Steve Erickson discusses the RI mail ballot process and then former Mayor Joe Paolino (& future gubernatorial candidate?) on his prescriptions for the Ocean State.
In The Dugout: Will Pennsylvania Flip Its Electoral Votes To Trump Or Keep With Biden?
What Our Local Media Won’t Discuss: Will Pennsylvania flip its electoral votes to Trump or keep with Biden? Find out from a PA state lawmaker Rep. Frank Ryan, who is fighting for election integrity.
Elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2016, Frank Ryan is a certified public accountant (CPA) and a graduate of Mt. St. Mary’s College in nearby Emmittsburg, MD. Frank graduated summa cum laude in 1973, and received his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Maryland in 1977. He is a retired Marine Reserve colonel, and served active duty with the Multi-National Force in Iraq.
The Gettysburg Address, Rhode Island Redux
(This commentary originally appeared in the Providence Journal on November 19, 2020)
Democrats seized control of Rhode Island’s General Assembly in the 1930s. Since then, the left has systematically drained wealth and industry from our once prosperous state. Ever-increasing taxes and regulations, combined with overt special-interest favoritism, have driven countless fellow Ocean Staters from our shores.
And now, still reeling from a pandemic, they seek to worsen matters by imposing massive new taxes and debt obligations to salvage the state’s budget, at the expense of families and small-businesses.
This Gettsyburg redux remembers those who Rhode Island has lost to other states:
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
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Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.
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We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground.
The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.
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It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
— Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 19, 1863
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this state, a new political majority, conceived in patronage, and dedicated to the proposition that all special interests are created more equal.
Now, we are engaged in a great war of cronyism, testing whether that state, or any state so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.
We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to execrate a portion of that field, a final resting place for the taxes of those here who were forced to give their hard-earned treasure that that state’s insiders might thrive. It is altogether unfitting and improper that we should accept this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not tolerate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow this corrupt sufferance.
The industrious men and women, living and dead, who emigrated from here, have disavowed it, far above our poor power to retain them in our state.
This state will little note, nor long remember when they lived here, but it can never forget why they left here.
It is for us, the remaining, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought for their happiness here have so nobly reminded us.
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these departed patriots we take increased derision to that ignoble cause for which they were taxed the last affordable measure of income — that we here highly resolve that these emigrants shall not have fled in vain — that this state, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the state.
— Mike Stenhouse, Nov. 19, 2020
Media Release: Center Launches Statewide Petition to Restore Election Integrity
Petition to Restore Public Trust in Ocean State Elections
It’s Time to Unite Behind an Election Process Everyone Has Faith In
Providence, RI – Just one week after chaotic national and local elections, the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity announced today that it has launched a statewide petition drive to compel lawmakers to restore public trust in public elections.
With the goal to make it easy to vote but hard to cheat, it is vital to restore trust among the people of Rhode Island when it comes to the integrity of our elections.
The election uncertainty in our state, caused by a voting process that was unilaterally and arbitrarily imposed by bureaucrats – outside of the legislative process – has divided Rhode Islanders and has led to mass distrust, accusations of fraud, lack of transparency, hyper-partisanship, and costly recounts. The irregular and late reporting of mail ballot tabulations also caused mass confusion, as many races were flipped in the wee hours of the morning, even after some had been called in favor of the eventual losing candidate.
“Free and fair elections are under assault in our state,” warned the Center’s CEO, Mike Stenhouse. “Signers of our petition can make their voices heard in demanding a return to a secure and trustworthy voting process.”
Among the reforms called for in the petition:
- End mass distribution of unsolicited mail ballot applications
- End the unregulated practice ballot harvesting
- Restore 3rd party mail/absentee ballot validation requirements
Individuals interested in restoring election integrity can view more details and can sign-on to the petition on the Center’s website at www.RIFreedom.org/ElectionIntegrity .
5 Tips to Protect Your Vote
Your vote is vital to preserving our constitutional democracy. With all of the controversies about the security of mail and absentee ballot voting, this election will be like no other.
It should be the goal of election officials to make it easy to vote, but hard to cheat. However, without obtaining legislative authority, and in trying to make it so easy to vote, state election officials have compromised the integrity of Rhode Island’s voting process, making it more likely that you could be cheated.
If you want to ensure that your vote is protected and that you are not cheated … and that your vote actually gets counted … our Center urges you to VOTE IN PERSON!
Personally insert your own ballot – and see your ballot go – into the tabulating machine yourself at your designated voting locations.
Every time a 3rd-party handles your mail ballot, something could go wrong. Whether by mishap, via malfeasance, or by an unscrupulous worker or partisan hack; as unlikely as it might seem – your constitutionally guaranteed right to vote could be cheated. Think of what could happen … once your ballot is out of your hands; it could be:
- Delayed or lost in the mail or not properly retrieved from a special “ballot drop box”
- Purposefully put aside or destroyed by an unscrupulous worker or volunteer
- Accidentally lost
- Rejected for a perceived signature-comparison mis-match
- You could incorrectly fill out the ballot or envelope, triggering a rejection
Additionally, someone else might complete and send in your designated absentee ballot application – or your actual mail ballot – if you don’t receive it or guard its safety.
OUR 5 TIPS:
1. Register to vote by October 3 … your family and friends, too!
Go to: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Home/RegistertoVote
You can double-check your registration status, here: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Home/UpdateVoterRecord
2. DO NOT DISCARD & HOLD ON to the absentee-ballot application that was delivered to your home in mid-September.
- Bring your absentee ballot application with you when you’re voting in person, just in case they try to tell you that you already voted by absentee ballot. Providing proof that you did not submit an absentee ballot application – then casting a provisional ballot – could save your vote!
3. Vote early IN-PERSON at your locality’s board of canvassers, beginning October 14, showing your ID and inserting your ballot, yourself, into the tabulating machine.
4. Vote on election day IN-PERSON on November 3, at your designated polling precinct, showing ID and inserting your ballot, yourself, into the tabulating machine.
5. If you do choose to complete the absentee ballot application to request a vote-by-mail ballot … you are advised to complete the mail ballot process. While there is a provisional ballot process whereby you could instead, in the end, opt to vote in person … it is a fairly complicated process to prove to election officials that you had not voted both by mail and in person.
NEVER hand over your completed mail-ballot to any 3rd party person! Either post it in the US Postal Service mail or place it in an authorized drop-box.
If you did submit a ballot by mail, you can track the status of your mail ballot here: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Home/UpdateVoterRecord
NOTE: If the State’s website is not able to verify receipt of your mail ballot, you should go IN-PERSON to your polling place (on election day or during the early voting process) and ask to submit a provisional ballot.
For more information on official state procedures, visit: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/
Our Center encourages you vote and to follow an IN PERSON process that best guarantees that your vote will actually be counted. Remember, your vote is crucial to preserving our democracy.
Center Launches Anti-Tax Campaign
Center Opposes Tax Increases Proposed by Progressive and Union Groups
Providence, RI – Already hemorrhaging people and wealth because of its existing harsh business climate, Rhode Islanders cannot afford additional taxes of any kind to try to plug massive projected budget deficits. As the state’s premiere advocacy organization for pro-growth economic policies, the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity today launched a counter-campaign to the government-union led effort to raise taxes in the state.
The campaign, #RaiseSailsNotTaxes, reminds lawmakers that raising taxes during an economic crisis will lead to even more job losses, more business closings, more out-migration, a slower and longer economic recovery … and more poverty.
Conversely, Rhode Islanders can look to a more prosperous future if lawmakers instead take the wiser path of reducing spending, as most families and businesses have been forced to do due to the government-mandated shuttering of our economy.
Only with more and better jobs created by more and better companies can more Ocean Staters can enjoy a better quality of life, perhaps even able to own a sail-boat. Rhode Islanders can learn more about the benefits of a free-market economy and can take action at the website: www.RaiseSailsNotTaxes.com .
With the worst business climate in America, pre-pandemic Rhode Island was already suffering a chronic relative loss of population, below average jobs recovery, and stagnant economic growth due to excessively high taxes and regulations. Our state is now among the hardest-hit states when it comes to unemployment and GDP loss, post-pandemic.
“How tone-deaf can the political class be? We have been crushed by this pandemic in so many ways, and now they want to stomp government’s boot even harder upon our backs,” questioned Mike Stenhouse, the Center’s CEO. “It’s time for government to live within its means, just like we all had to.”
Facing a near-billion dollar revenue shortfall for 2020 and 2021, government unions along with left-wing advocacy groups and progressive lawmakers, have put forth a bevy of proposals to increase debt and to impose new or higher taxes and fees on a dizzying array of products and services, including:
- The re-imposition of sales taxes on wine and liquor
- A carbon tax that would raise the price of gasoline, home heating fuel, and propane products
- A TCI Gas Tax that would add a further 17-24 cents per gallon
- Close to one BILLION dollars in new bonded debt, that will force general tax hikes upon all of us today, and also upon our children and grandchildren in the future
- A new tax on high-income earners, which will reduce business investment and drive more people out of our state
- A halt to the car-tax phase-out
- New taxes on deliveries
- Increased building and permit fees
- New taxes on hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting
Two of the Center’s coalition partners, The Gaspee Project and the Gaspee Business Network are offering action items for lawmakers and voters. Gaspee is tracking all 2020 General Assembly and federal candidates who promise not to support tax hikes by taking the Taxpayer PROTECTION Pledge. GBN is hosting the Taxpayer ELECTION Pledge, where voters promise to support candidates who oppose tax increases. All citizens are encouraged to take the pledge.
“Political leaders have made no signal that they are preparing to face reality, instead they hope and pray that the federal government will bail them out. Worse, unless citizens and employers step up and take action … in addition to tax and fee increases, these politicians, unbelievably, are suggesting massive new bonds to keep status quo spending levels and to fund special new projects that will dive our state into even deeper debt,” warned Stenhouse.
If your association, chamber, or business group would like to be listed as a coalition partner, please send an email from your org’s email address to: info@rifreedom.org or call 401-429-6115.
