Raimondo's Reply

Last week, I wrote in this space about a letter a coalition of seven liberal advocacy groups wrote to Treasurer Gina Raimondo, asking her to return an award she recently accepted from the right-leaning Manhattan Institute for shepherding pension reform through the General Assembly.

The letter cited Manhattan Institute-sponsored writings attacking gay marriage and feminism and suggesting claims about racial profiling are "promoting racial paranoia."

Raimondo's office pledged a response this week. And in a letter to Kate Brock, executive director of the liberal umbrella group Ocean State Action, she acknowledges the advocates' concerns but says "other leaders, mayors, governors," Democrat and Republican alike, have accepted awards from the Institute.

She also says "accepting an award from any organization is never an accross-the-board endorsement of its leanings, agenda or goals."

Unlikely to satisy the left. We'll see if the issue has any sticking power - or if progressives have anywhere else to turn when she runs for re-election, or seeks another office.