Cicilline Urges Carcieri to Reconsider Budget Deficit Plan
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Congressional candidate David Cicilline is urging Gov. Don Carcieri to reconsider a plan to use $32.9 million in federal education funds to plug the state budget deficit.
“There are few responsibilities as important for our government as providing a quality public education for our young people. I am disappointed to learn today that the Governor is proposing to use money specifically designated for improving public education for any other purpose than that,” Cicilline said in a campaign statement.
“Governor Carcieri should allow the funds Congress approved to be used for their intended purpose of restoring school programs and protecting education jobs, especially considering that he signed a state budget that cuts state education aid by $29 million for the current fiscal year. Further, with our state expected to face a deficit as large as $320 million in FY2012, the Governor should take the lead in proposing innovative ideas that will revitalize our state's long-term fiscal future.”