Letter: The Reform Caucus can embrace democracy

Posted 1/10/19

To the editor:

The 19 or 20 Democrats who opposed Speaker Nicholas Mattiello’s election would be wise to follow the principles outlined in George Kassis’ Jan. 3 letter to the editor (“An open …

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Letter: The Reform Caucus can embrace democracy

Posted

To the editor:

The 19 or 20 Democrats who opposed Speaker Nicholas Mattiello’s election would be wise to follow the principles outlined in George Kassis’ Jan. 3 letter to the editor (“An open letter to Speaker Mattiello — You can embrace democracy”).

The Reform Caucus (aka Progressive Caucus) could enter into a constructive dialogue listening to Speaker Mattiello’s concerns and the concerns of the 47 legislators who voted for him. The Reform Caucus could find ground with the speaker and his majority and work toward improving Rhode Island
Or the Caucus could continue to consider him and 47 other representatives to be the enemy and have both sides spending time fighting one another to the detriment of the citizens of Rhode Island.  The terms democracy and autocracy are useful terms, but so is the term compromise.

It would appear that your Reform Caucus is unwilling to compromise, given their stand to oppose Mr. Mattiello’s election knowing full that he would be reelected. The Caucus’ stand does not bode well for any type of constructive dialogue.

Mike Byrnes
Bristol

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