HEREEEEEEEEEEEEEES…..STEVIE!

Jim Taricani

Captiol TV, at the State House, has got a new $65,000 a year host. Former WPRO talk show host, Dave Barber will be “ questioning” legislators during 5-minute segments that will air on the taxpayer- financed $1.3 million Capitol TV operation.
But when pressed on the need for Barber and his salary, given the state’s current budget crunch by reporters from the Providence Journal, Larry Berman, press secretary for Speaker William Murphy, said Barber’s duties have been expanded to include being an emcee for committee meetings.
Huh?
Why in the world would a legislative body need an emcee to introduce committee meetings? The real work on bills takes place in these committees. The public is often times in attendance, along with lobbyists, special interest groups and the media. The audacity of House Speaker William Murphy to hire Barber and have him as a “ host “ of these meetings is ridiculous.
What’s he going to say?
‘ And now, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome with a round of applause, Chairman Steven Costantino of the House Finance Committee!’
Next thing you know Barber will be doing a comedy warm-up act before the meetings start, just to set the proper tone.
With the Governor and just about every legislator crying about the half-billion dollar budget deficit the state is facing, the last thing the legislature should be spending money on is a television host who doubles as an emcee for committee meetings.
It’s an insult to taxpayers, who, sadly, are numb to the insults they suffer at the hands of our General Assembly each year.