December 19, 2003
GPRI COUNCILMAN SEGAL LEADS PROVIDENCE TO REJECT PATRIOT ACT

November 16, 2003
MAKING HISTORY IN RI: COBB AND MESPLAY VIE FOR FIRST GPRI PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY

September 22, 2003:
GREEN PARTY RI WELCOMES PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DAVID COBB

Aug. 5, 2003:
STATE WORKER BENEFITS ARGUMENT IS BACKWARDS

July 25, 2003:
GERRITT ELECTED SECRETARY OF THE GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES

July 2, 2003:
GTECH DEAL DEMONSTRATES NEED FOR NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

April 23, 2003:
GPRI: VIOLATING UN CHARTER AND RESOLUTIONS BY BUSH IS A WAR CRIME

March 13, 2003:
JUSTICE NOT WAR: PUT SADDAM ON TRIAL

February 20, 2003:
GPRI CO-CHAIR SERVES ON ELECTIONS REFORM PANEL: FOCUS ON INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING (IRV)

February 7, 2003:
GPRI CELEBRATES CITY COUNCIL VOTE OPPOSING WAR

January 17, 2003:
GPRI OFFERS ALTERNATIVE PLAN OF ACTION TO WAR

GPRI
Green Party of Rhode Island

MAKING HISTORY IN RI: COBB AND MESPLAY VIE FOR FIRST GPRI PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2003

Contact:
Greg Gerritt - Secretary, GPRI (401) 331-0529
Jeff Toste - Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-5596


(Providence) The Green Party of RI is making history--David Cobb and Kent Mesplay will vie for GPRI delegates to the National Nominating Convention for the first Green Party presidential primary.

The Green Party of Rhode Island received notice that two candidates for the Green Party nomination for President, David Cobb and Kent Mesplay, will be filing Statements of Intent with the Secretary of State on November 17th. Both candidates have been working with the Green Party of Rhode Island to place their names on the Green Party March 2, 2004 primary ballot. This will be the first time in the history of the Green Party of the United States that a state party has petitioned to place candidates in a Green Party Presidential Primary.

Welcoming the historic role accorded to the Green Party of Rhode Island as it mobilizes for the 2004 election cycle, Linde Rachel, party spokeswoman, noted, "We have already started training petitioners and have a number of people excited about getting out on the streets and collecting the 1,000 signatures needed to get both candidates on the RI presidential primary ballot."

National Green Party Co-chair Jo Chamberlin stated that this is a great way to build on the Green Party successes in the recent November election. "Greens ran very well this year, including two dozen victories for assorted PA elected posts, and Matt Gonzalez's strong showing for Mayor of San Francisco. Finishing second in a crowded field, Gonzalez now faces a runoff election next month. All totaled, 56 greens were elected in 2003. The Rhode Island race will help us get the 2004 Presidential season off to a very good start."

Tony Affigne, Green Party of RI delegate to the national Coordinating Committee, commented on the Green Party's importance. "More and more Americans are showing that they are tired of the non-choices that the Democrat and Republican parties offer. Take health care. While the two parties dicker over how to include a drug benefit to Medicare, the number of Americans without any health care insurance has risen to 44 million. Green Party candidates will make sure there is debate on this and other issues."

Greg Gerritt, presidential campaign coordinator for the Green Party of RI has been in touch with both candidates recently. "Each candidate is very excited about getting on the ballot in Rhode Island. David Cobb received an enthusiastic welcome when he came through RI on a New England campaign swing late in September, and Kent Mesplay promises to appear in Rhode Island during the petitioning period," Gerritt said.

Petitioning begins three days after filing Statements of Intent to the RI Secretary of States office, and any candidate wishing to be placed on the primary ballot must turn in 1,000 verified signatures of RI registered voters by December 19th. Ralph Nader, Green Party candidate for President in 2000, polled 6.12% of the vote in Rhode Island. In 2002, David Segal became the first Green elected in Rhode Island, winning the Ward 1 City Council seat in Providence.

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GPRI
Green Party of Rhode Island

GREEN PARTY RI WELCOMES PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
DAVID COBB

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2003

Contact:
Jeff Toste - Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-5596
Greg Gerritt - Secretary, GPRI (401) 490-7602


(Providence, R.I.) - David Cobb, who hopes to secure the Green Party’s nomination to run for the presidency, will be speaking in Rhode Island at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Warwick on Saturday Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. Cobb, who is beginning a New England campaign swing, will be talking about his vision for the country and developing his Green Party campaign for the nomination.

Cobb, formerly Green Party candidate for Attorney General in Texas, is well known as a down home orator, recently thrilling the Campus Greens meeting in Austin, Texas. Green Party Secretary Greg Gerritt noted "Cobb has a powerful understanding of the issues that face the American public and knows how to communicate. The Greens have a number of potential candidates, and Cobb is clearly among the front runners."

Event organizer Jeff Michaud is truly excited about this campaign stop. "When the public gets to hear Cobb, what they think of the Green Party is going to change. The GPRI encourages anyone interested meeting a Presidential candidate and hearing what he has to say first hand to come hear Cobb and discuss the issues with him."

The event will begin with a discussion of the role of the Green Party in the 2004 presidential campaign and attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the campaign and the issues with Cobb following his speech.

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GPRI
Green Party of Rhode Island

STATE WORKER BENEFITS ARGUMENT IS BACKWARDS

For Immediate Release
Aug. 5, 2003

Contact:
Jeff Toste - Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-5596
Linde Rachel- Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-2919


Providence - Responding to Governor Carcieri's concern regarding the difference between state and private workers healthcare plans, the Green Party of Rhode Island (GPRI) believes the issue is why private sector workers do not have the same healthcare benefits as state workers, instead of the other way around.

The GPRI is a long-time advocate of universal health care, under a "Single Payer" health care system, as the solution to inequities between state and private sector worker health insurance benefits in RI. Many state advocacy groups, including Single Payer Rhode Island (SPRI), have already conducted the necessary research to demonstrate the benefits of such a system.

According to its website, SPRI released the final report of the "Universal Health Coverage Study" for Rhode Island on November 20, 2002. The report, commissioned by the RI General Assembly and conducted by Alan Sager and Deborah Socolar of the Boston University School of Public Health, shows that Rhode Island can afford to cover comprehensive health care for all RI residents for the same amount of money the people of RI currently spend on their health care needs.

Universal healthcare coverage is healthcare that will provide comprehensive, affordable and maximum provider choice for ALL Rhode Islanders. A universal healthcare "Single Payer" system has a "single" trust fund, which collects and pays out all healthcare costs, thus saving millions in expenses otherwise passed on to consumers.

"More than one in seven Americans, an estimated 43 million, are uninsured and millions more are underinsured while healthcare costs continue to spiral out of control," said Jeff Toste, Co-Chair of the GPRI. "Thankfully, many states including California, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Delaware, Maine and Rhode Island have advocacy groups that continue the fight to address this national crisis."

The GPRI urges Governor Carcieri to stop blaming state workers and address the need for affordable healthcare for all Rhode Islanders. Governor Carcieri, by establishing a Single Payer Universal healthcare system in Rhode Island, will make RI the leader in healthcare reform and put an end to any and all future healthcare debates.

"We need to motivate our current leadership, as well as elect new leadership to demand the implementation of this long overdue right of Rhode Island residents, and residents the of United States," said Nick Sofios, member of the GPRI and Single Payer Rhode Island. "The Governor's argument questioning RI state workers' healthcare benefits is backwards. We should all have the same high quality benefits that state workers have, instead of making do with the low quality plans that so many private sector workers are forced to accept."



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GPRI
Green Party of Rhode Island

GERRITT ELECTED SECRETARY OF THE GREEN PARTY OF THE
UNITED STATES



For Immediate Release
July 25, 2003

Contact:
Jeff Toste - Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-5596
Linde Rachel- Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-2919


Providence-- At the 2003 annual meeting of the Green Party of the United States (GPUS) in Washington DC, Green Party of Rhode Island (GPRI) activist Greg Gerritt was elected to be the Secretary of the Green Party for a 2 year term. Gerritt, a long time green activist was formerly co-chair of the GPRI and in 2002 ran for the position of Mayor of Providence as the Green Party candidate.

Gerritt noted "I am honored to be placed in a position of such importance at this crucial time in the development of the Green Party. The Green Party is poised for tremendous membership growth in the next few years and the continuing expansion of candidates at local and state levels. At the presidential level, there is a good chance that we_ll be running the only Peace candidate in 2004. It is going to be a very exciting time and I am glad to be able to play an important role in our continuing growth and development"

GPRI delegate to the Green Party National Committee, Tony Affigne, noted "Greg had a tremendous amount of support from the delegates. His track record over the years, as a candidate, spokesperson, and behind the scenes worker for the Green Party is well respected. He has the skills to really help the party grow." Added newly elected Co-chair Marnie Glickman, on behalf of the GPUS, "Greg knows our history, our networks, and how to get people involved. I really look forward to serving with him in his new role as Secretary"

In Rhode Island, Gerritt has been a driving force of the party for many years. Says Co-chair Jeff Toste, "Without his expertise, savvy and dedication, the GPRI would not be where it is today. He’s been a real model for us. We are happy to share him with Greens around the country even though we shall no longer have the benefit of his undivided attention. The things he brings to the national party will help us continue our growth here in Rhode Island".


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GPRI
Green Party of Rhode Island

GTECH DEAL DEMONSTRATES NEED FOR NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES



For Immediate Release
July 2, 2003

Contact:
Jeff Toste - Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-5596
Linde Rachel- Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-2919


Providence-- As large multinational corporations like GTECH pit state-against-state to compete for creating jobs, the results are subsidies and tax breaks that come at the expense of city coffers.

"Rhode Island's business and political leadership were essentially forced to negotiate an excessively generous deal with GTECH." said Jeff Toste Co-Chair of the Green Party of Rhode Island (GPRI). "In the long run, property taxpayers will make up the difference of the 'true value' of the city's property that is not being paid by companies like GTECH. We need to reverse this national trend of tax stabilization to successful companies. We are playing follow the leader, and unfortunately the leader in this game is the race to the bottom."

GTECH was founded in the early 1980s and has won the contracts to manage 29 of the 38 lotteries that run nationally and receives approximately five percent of every dollar ticket sold depending on income and specifics of each contract. GTECH prints the tickets for state lotteries, provides the software for the gambling devices, organizes the drawings, and trains convenience-store owners on how to run their computers. With approximately 300,000 lottery machines around the world the company has annual revenues of just under $1 billion.

Howard Cohen is President and CEO of GTECH Holdings Corp. In 2002, Cohen earned $6,621,798 in total compensation including stock option grants from GTECH Holdings Corp in addition Mr. Cohen has another $4,630,000 in unexercised stock options from previous years.

The GPRI acknowledges the fact that encouraging larger industries to do business in RI is part of an overall economic development strategy. Tapping potential revenue sources, such as development of vacant lots owned by the City of Providence, is generally a wise option. However, subsidies should be focused on the companies that truly need them; small local businesses that in addition to creating jobs provide other services that revitalize communities such as a reduction in fossil fuel use, cleaner water, and social responsibility in the community as a whole.

"GTECH has a lottery deal with RI that will generate approximately $700 million for the company over the next 20 years." notes Riana Good, former Co-chair of the GPRI. "For it to receive an additional 25% break on property taxes, a reduction from $31.9 million to $23.9 million over the next 20 years --is unnecessary."

"'In addition, there are no means to enforce local hiring, local buying or similar provisions in the GTECH agreement." Adds Linde Rachel Co-Chair of the GPRI. "More and more states and municipalities have started to institute what are called in the trade 'claw-backs'. In other words if GTECH does not create the jobs its promises, if it does not buy locally, or if it violates any of the other provisions in the contract, it should pay more "Rachael stated. "This is a practical aspect of sustainable and responsible economic development that is missing from the current agreement with GTECH."

According to both RI General Law (R.I.G.L.) Chapter 44-3-9 (f) and Providence Code Of Ordinances Sec. 21-197, it is illegal to permit tax exemption or stabilization for any manufacturing, office concern or commercial concern relocating from one city or town within the state of Rhode Island to another. However, by classifying the deal as an 'expansion,' GTECH avoids these laws. In addition, according to R.I.G.L. Chapter 42-64-1, any 'project' of the RI Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) is in effect exempt from RI law.

"Without a new economic development vision that addresses the larger systemic issues, we have few options but to accept such deals," said Robert Hanson of the GPRI Coordinating Committee. " Rhode Island tax stabilization laws are in place to protect property taxpayers, and the federal government should make and enforce similar laws state-to-state. We need more leadership with a 'bottom up' approach to economic development that only subsidizes the businesses that truly need it. If not, states forced to follow this trend will, in the long run, give away more than they get."



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GPRI
Green Party of Rhode Island


GPRI: VIOLATING UN CHARTER AND RESOLUTIONS BY BUSH IS A WAR CRIME



For Immediate Release
April 23, 2003

Contact:
Jeff Toste - Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-5596
Riana Good - Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-5336

The Green Party of Rhode Island (GPRI) has long supported a liberated Iraq but maintains that Saddam Hussein and his regime needed to be brought to justice by trial in the International Criminal Court (ICC). It is well documented that though many Iraqis are happy to be free from Saddam's dictatorship, they question the motivation of the Bush administration's war and are wary that US occupation will bring a government that does not represent the will of the Iraqi people. Pre-emptive war is illegal in international law, has fueled anti-US sentiment, increased distrust of U.S. foreign policy and planted the seeds for future acts of terrorism.

A policy of international justice, not pre-emptive strikes, is the goal of the Green Party of the United States. "'Winning' a war against a country suffering from 12 years of economic sanctions and disarmament is not an accomplishment; it is an international crime," said Greg Gerritt, Secretary of the GPRI. "The Bush administration violated the UN charter by invading Iraq, the same institution of international justice it expected Saddam Hussein to support, and should be held accountable to the same standard of international justice."

Now with the Bush administration's talk of Syria as a threat to US interests, further international discussion of alternatives to military action are essential for world security and diplomacy to be repaired.

For this reason The Green Party of the United States and the GPRI have endorsed invoking UN Resolution 377 ['Uniting for Peace']. The Uniting for Peace resolution was introduced by the U.S. in 1950, and allows the UN General Assembly to bypass the veto of the Security Council and take action when a permanent member of the Security Council, in this case the U.S., commits an unprovoked act of military aggression.

The "Serious consequence" referred to in Resolution 1441 should have been to remove Saddam Hussein and his regime from power for international trial for human rights violations and war crimes. With this action a multi-billion dollar war would have been avoided, the destruction of Iraq's cultural heritage and infrastructure would have been avoided, the Iraqi people would still have been liberated, few troops or civilians would have been put in harms way and the US would be seen as ready to respect and work with the world community. Unfortunately, President Bush has chosen to violate international law and has now committed an international war crime despite the results of the war.

The Green Party believes a pre-emptive strike policy sets an example that encourages other nations to ignore international justice and take aggressive action as they see fit, therefore encouraging acts of terrorism. "If any other country was to claim the right of pre-emptive strikes, the Bush administration would, with good reason, reject such a claim" stated Riana Good Co-chair of the GPRI.

International institutions like the UN and International Criminal Court (ICC) set the same standard of justice for all nations. In order to gain trust and respect in the world community our government must support international institutions of justice, not commit international criminal acts.
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GPRI
Green Party of Rhode Island

JUSTICE NOT WAR:
PUT SADDAM ON TRIAL



For Immediate Release
March 13, 2003

Contact:
Jeff Toste - Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-5596
Riana Good - Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-5336


Providence - The Green Party of Rhode Island (GPRI) today put forth a sound alternative to war. As there are numerous accusations that Saddam Hussein is a war criminal and a ruthless dictator, the reasonable alternative to war is to put Saddam on trial as an international criminal in the International Criminal Court (ICC) of law.

The international community adopted a treaty creating the world's first independent and permanent International Criminal Court according to information compiled by Human Rights Watch (HRW). The Statute outlining the creation of the court was adopted at an international conference in Rome on July 17, 1998. The ICC has the power to investigate and prosecute those individuals accused of crimes against humanity, genocide, and crimes of war.

By supporting the United Nations and the ICC in the pursuit of world justice, the Bush Administration could prevent the deaths of US troops and innocent people that will result from a war with Saddam. Also, and of equal importance, is that an attack on the Iraqi people--who have suffered 12 years of sanctions and bombing with no say in diplomacy--will most certainly provoke future terrorism and anti-US sentiment.

As stated by HRW, 120 countries voted to adopt the treaty and only seven countries voted against the creation of the ICC including China, Israel, Iraq, and the United States, while 21 countries abstained. One hundred and thirty nine states signed the treaty by the December 31, 2000 deadline. Sixty-six countries -- 6 more than the threshold needed to establish the court -- ratified the treaty on April 11, 2002. The court need only elect Judges and Prosecutors in order to become fully functioning.

"Saddam Hussien could be the first individual tried by the ICC," said Tony Affigne GPRI delegate to the National Green Party "If President Bush is afraid of Saddam, why punish the people of Iraq? Saddam is just one man, and there are 22 million people in Iraq--half of them under age fifteen. By pursuing international justice we could save lives and the 60 billion to 1.6 trillion dollar estimated cost of war and the rebuilding of Iraq. "

Although the continued inspections of Iraq would prevent war indefinitely, the question of renegade individuals and their potential threat to the world community is an important issue. Multilateral inspections would address these concerns in the short term, and the ICC would address security and justice in the long term.

"While we work with the ICC for international justice," stated Karen Linquist of the GPRI Coordinating Committee, "we will have more resources available to address real 'Homeland Security' here in the United States."


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The GPRI believes that for "Homeland Security" we must audit our country's immense military budget and address the lack of proper funding for education, affordable housing, living wage jobs, and a multitude of social and economic needs here in the US.


The GPRI believes that for international security there must be a commitment to:

1) Supporting and respecting the decisions of democratic institutions throughout the world. We must then work together for security by focusing on:

A) Multilateral monitoring of potential threats to world peace
B) Commitment to world courts and international justice
C) Support for international civil rights and environmental watch groups.

2) Implementation of inspections to eliminate weapons of mass destruction, with a single standard set for the entire world.

3) Reduction of dependence on oil by the pursuit of alternative, renewable and non-polluting energy development.

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GPRI
Green Party of Rhode Island

GPRI CO-CHAIR SERVES ON ELECTIONS REFORM PANEL: FOCUS ON INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING (IRV)



For Immediate Release
February 20, 2003

Contact:
Jeff Toste - Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-5596
Riana Good - Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-5336

Providence - Secretary of State Matt Brown named GPRI Co-Chair Jeff Toste to the RI Help America Vote Act advisory Committee (HAVA), a panel that will help decide how Rhode Island will spend more than $5 million coming to the state to improve elections.

The Green Party supports improved access for all through voter education, machines accessible for people with disabilities, Election Day voter registration, and the implementation of Election Day as a national holiday. "As part of election reform," stated Toste, " We must also take a serious look at our system of voting. The GPRI believes that the implementation of Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is an integral part of electoral reform."

IRV is an electoral system that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. If a majority win is not accomplished by the first place votes, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated, and the eliminated candidate's second choice votes are added to the remaining candidates. This process of elimination continues until a majority winner is accomplished.

The GPRI endorses Instant Runoff Voting because it:
1) Guarantees majority winner in a single election
2) Gives voters a wider range of choices
3) Eliminates "the spoiler issue," allowing people to vote their conscience

According to information provided by the Midwest Democracy Center at their website www.instantrunoff.com, "IRV was invented in the United States in the 1870's by a professor at MIT. It is used in Ireland to elect their president and other officials, in Australia to elect their House of Representatives, in London, UK for Mayor and in America to elect the president of the American Political Science Association. It was also used in several U.S. states for partisan primaries in the 1910's and 1920's and in the 1970's in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is being heavily considered for use in Vermont, Alaska, New Mexico and in some local elections in Washington and California."

In 1998, Rhode Island started a 10-year program to replace all voting equipment with optical scan voting machines, which are compatible with IRV ballots. Thus, a transition to IRV would be cost-effective and efficient.

"I am truly grateful to Secretary Brown for this opportunity to serve, and I look forward to contributing to the process of election reform in RI in any way possible," said Toste.

The first meeting of the HAVA committee will take place on Monday, February 24, 2003.


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GPRI
Green Party of Rhode Island

GPRI CELEBRATES CITY COUNCIL VOTE OPPOSING WAR


For Immediate Release
February 7, 2003

Contact:
Jeff Toste - Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-5596
Riana Good - Co-Chair, GPRI - (401) 751-5336


Providence-The Green Party of Rhode Island had great cause for celebration last night after a high-energy vote by the city council to oppose military action in Iraq.

"We vote on this resolution not with the belief that we will single-handedly prevent a war", said Green Party Councilman David Segal. "but in recognition of the fact that the Bush administration is hell-bent on taking military action, and that the broad- based opposition that we see forming…is the only force capable of dissuading it from doing so."

The resolution, whose lead sponsor was Councilman Segal -- the only Green Party council member and the first Green to hold public office in Rhode Island -- passed with 10 - 1, and four members abstaining.

The council chambers and the hallway outside were filled with an estimated 250 members of the public who came to watch the vote. Many people held signs in support of the resolution, with slogans such as "Invest in Our Neighborhoods, Not in War." After the vote was taken, a roaring standing ovation for the council lasted several minutes.

"This vote was important on a local and a national level. First, it adds Providence to the list of 69 cities, counties and states that have passed similar resolutions. It sends a clear message to the President of the United States, as well as our congressional delegation that the vast majority of people in Providence and the state are opposed to war, said GPRI Co-chair Jeff Toste. "Secondly, the resolution emphasizes the financial impact of war. Providence and Rhode Island will be drained of vital resources we need for education, health services and investment in our neighborhoods. We must have discussion of alternatives to war in order to address external and internal threats to our nation and our way of life."

The resolution, which was inspired by a national movement of cities and towns throughout the country, was co-sponsored by Councilman Miguel Luna and five other city council members.

"We are excited about the passage of this resolution on many levels. It is a crucial element in preventing an unnecessary war in Iraq. But it is also a crucial step in local politics for the Green Party," stated Riana Good, Co-Chair of the Green Party of Rhode Island. "To his credit, Councilman Segal achieved a milestone in legitimizing the Green Party in Providence. He took the initiative on this resolution. He recruited six co-sponsors. And his resolution drew a high level of public participation, in part because of Green Party actions to gather signatures, lead a calling campaign, and organize turnout."

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