NEW: RISC Unveils Taxpayers’ Issues Platform
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
The Rhode Island Statewide Coalition (RISC) is unveiling a 3-piece voter information package for the 2012 campaigns for General Assembly that is designed to identify pro-taxpayer issue positions as well as candidates who RISC views as working for—or against—the best interests of the state’s taxpayers. The RISC Taxpayers’ Issues Platform will take the place of conventional candidate endorsements in races for the state Legislature this year.
“Voters need to have a clear snapshot of which candidates are working in the best interests of the taxpayers, and which are working against them and their community at the statehouse, and we believe this Platform can help do that,” said RISC Executive Director Donna Perry. “Those who are standing in the way of reducing the pension debt burden, are trying to go backwards on tax rates, and work to undermine needed reforms to the school systems are working against the taxpayers and against the best interests of the state. The voter needs to understand that.”
Perry said the Platform is the central tool RISC is providing this fall to educate voters as to whether their hometown rep or senator is representing the best interests of their community, local taxpayers, and hometown businesses.
The Issue Index and Position Statements of the Platform
The Platform represents a compiling of broader topic areas which impact taxpayers, local budgets, and the state’s broader jobs creation/economic development strategy. It looks partly at specific votes, and partly at broader legislative activity that could include sponsorship of bills, committee work, or alignment with other special interest/advocacy efforts.
Though there are thousands of individual pieces of legislation that can have implications for the taxpayer, the purpose of the platform is to offer voters a simplified snapshot of the taxpayers’ perspective against which to measure candidates, whether they are incumbents or new challengers.
The Platform is made up of two key components: an Issues Index, and a RISC Position Statement that reflects the broader RISC perspective on the issue. The Platform covers issues that fall under the broader umbrella categories of: pension reform; municipal spending; tax rate reform; education reform; economic development loan programs and practices; illegal immigration laws; and issues related to transparency and practices of the General Assembly.
Campaign Trail Palm Card & Voter Question Guide
RISC is also producing a “Palm Card” version of the Platform, similar to the door to door campaign card candidates distribute, by which voters can have a handy, easy to absorb brochure to better understand the issues. RISC will also unveil an on-line “Voter Question Guide” this fall that will aim to help voters pose relevant questions to candidates along the campaign trail. It’s aimed at helping voters assess a candidates’ viewpoint on issues RISC views as most relevant to the best interests of taxpayers and their local communities.
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Comments:
Captain Blacksocks
2:29pm on Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Here is what's on the opposition's Palm Card:
1. Discount RI college tuition for illegal aliens.
2. Tax Increases.
3. Run-away spending.
4. Minimal public pension reform; favors for all unions.
5. Keep RI ranked as USA worst state for business.
6. Scandals, corruption, more of the same.
Kerry Lassiter
9:22am on Wednesday, September 05, 2012
The haters and dividers and those who represent everything that is wrong with RI's Republican Party have issued their taxpayers' platform.
Wow, cut taxes! What brilliant mind wrote that?
Does the coalition stand for anything other than the message: "I'm a privileged white person; I want to hire cheap labor; I want to pay them minimum wage; I want to divide them and sow divisions among their ranks; and now I'd like to go to the country club and kvetch about my Mexican lawn attendants. Muffy, pass the grey poupon please?"
Chris MacWilliams
9:40am on Wednesday, September 05, 2012
@ Kerry- Your shallow partisan comment shows off your brilliant mind
Joseph Reynolds
10:03am on Wednesday, September 05, 2012
One of the "sub-issues" under tax reform should be the repeal of
RI General Law 44-30-2.6 enacted in 2010 eliminating itemized deductions among other things. It was a sucker punch to the middle
class and made no sense whatsoever.
Art West
12:21pm on Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Kerry,
If you want to pay more property taxes, income taxes, sales taxes, car taxes, fees, etc., etc. -- then please step up and do so. Write a check, make a credit card payment, but please just pay more of your income to the State, if that's what you advocate.
And, also please let us know if you're getting paid to agitate by any union organizations. I've noticed a theme in posts like yours lately along the "rich white persons want to lower taxes and hire illegal immigrants" lines and think maybe the union folks are out greasing some palms...
Captain Blacksocks
12:27pm on Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Taxes don't need to be raised in by one penny in RI until it can be proven that most of the state government's wasteful spending has ended. We are years from seeing end to that. Better get to work on it. I suggest we start this project in the voting booth.
Art West
12:50pm on Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Well said, Captain. And there are a surprising number of reform-minded people running this year. They can always be supported with dollars even if they're outside a voter's district.