Seems the distinction between journalism and blogging is not as clear-cut as Raimondo would have the public believe.
In Rhode Island, the Arnolds were impressed by state Treasurer Gina Raimondo, a Democrat, who spearheaded the pension changes.
The public so overwhelmingly supported the reforms that Ms. Raimondo warned lawmakers who opposed them that they wouldn't be re-elected.
WSJ: The Weekend Interview with Gina Raimondo: The Democrat Who Took on the Unions
Raimondo is active in the National Association of Manufacturers, an industry group generally in line with Republicans on economic issues.
Ms. Raimondo has said the retirement system was woefully underfunded and pension costs threatened to crowd out spending for state services.
The officials said Raimondo acted on his own to withdraw his name, and attributed it to tension over the fact that Sen.
While the Kerry campaign was harshly critical of the possible selection of Raimondo, a Senate Democratic colleague of Kerry's offered high praise.
Afscme officials say Ms. Raimondo's alliance with the Arnolds shows she is out of step with the interests of working-class Rhode Islanders.
While we all hope not to hit that kind of economic turbulence again, Treasurer Raimondo seized on the need to be better prepared.
FORBES: Educating Gina Raimondo, Rhode Island's Wall Street-Friendly State Treasurer
Ten percent of tax revenue now goes to retired public workers, which Raimondo projects will grow to 20 percent in the next decade.
In June, Ms. Raimondo formed a 12-member commission to study potential solutions, which included four union representatives as well as several accountants and consultants.
WSJ: The Weekend Interview with Gina Raimondo: The Democrat Who Took on the Unions
In their version, the legislation was a done deal in the spring when Ms. Raimondo cut the discount rate and first floated the reforms.
WSJ: The Weekend Interview with Gina Raimondo: The Democrat Who Took on the Unions
Over the next three months the group met periodically, culminating in the pension-reform legislation that Ms. Raimondo and Gov. Lincoln Chafee introduced in October.
WSJ: The Weekend Interview with Gina Raimondo: The Democrat Who Took on the Unions
Chuck Hagel, R-Nebraska, had not been consulted about Raimondo's possible appointment.
Ms. Raimondo downplays the opposition from her former union allies.
WSJ: The Weekend Interview with Gina Raimondo: The Democrat Who Took on the Unions
Raimondo is chairman and CEO of the Behlen Manufacturing Group.
One of the officials acknowledged that Raimondo "certainly was well aware of the dust-up" the planned appointment had caused in the presidential campaign and in the broader debate with Democrats over Bush's economic policies.
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