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Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Where Does All The Money Go?

"Taxpayer-funded political spin does not come cheap. Some 53 “public relations professionals” are on the public payroll in Rhode Island this year, earning salaries totaling $4.3 million, according to an investigation by Providence Journal Staff Writer Katherine Gregg (Political Scene, Nov. 22). "

Providence Journal Editorial Nov. 30, 2015
http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20151130/OPINION/151139984/2011)

Did you see the Editorial in Monday's Pro Jo? Have you read the paper's "Political Scene" column these past two weeks? Katherine Gregg did an excellent two-part series on how much is spent by RI state government and agencies on public relations? According to Gregg
"Rhode Island taxpayers paid upward of $6,234,093 last year to private companies that do 'communications and marketing' for state government in Rhode Island. The 'quasi-public(s)' paid another $617,555 to consultants, and expect to pay $987,216 for salaries for their in-house public-relations staff."

If you haven't read the two articles, here are the links to "Political Scene" http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20151122/NEWS/151129764
http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20151129/NEWS/151129324

Gregg reporting was possible because , according to the ProJo, "On a positive note, public officials were helpful recently in getting information to Ms. Gregg about the cost [of public relations] to taxpayers of P.R. flacks."

Where does all the money go in Rhode Island? Read Gregg's articles and you will learn where more than $6 million goes.