Religious, Advocacy Groups Call for General Assembly to go Back in Session
Saturday, July 22, 2017
More than 20 religious and advocacy groups sent a letter to the Rhode Island General Assembly calling for them to get back into session to completed the business left unfinished, including the 2018 budget.
“Every day that goes by without a budget makes it harder to have a good revenue and spending plan for 2018. We’re glad to hear there is movement toward coming back into session and urge leaders to keep those conversations going,” said Rachel Flum, Executive Director of the Economic Progress Institute.
In the letter, the groups call the delay in passing a budget has “real and mounting human costs” and that it will become increasingly difficult for local governments to make up lost revenue and implement savings, particularly in funding educational programs.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe organizations also urge reconciliation and passage of bills to disarm domestic abusers, guarantee earned sick days, adopt proven reforms to criminal justice, allow workers to form co-ops, reduce toxic substances, and protect healthcare.
“Despite popular support among lawmakers for legislation that affects hundreds of thousands of state residents, change is stalled until the General Assembly can come back together to complete their work. Based on what we have been hearing in the news, we’re hopeful the House and Senate will come back soon. Rhode Islanders really want that to happen,” said Georgia Hollister Isman, director of Rhode Island Working Families.
The groups also urge the House and Senate to reconcile differences and pass bills that were left in limbo at the end of the session.
The letter is signed by:
- The American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island
- Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights
- Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE)
- Economic Progress Institute
- Fuerza Laboral
- Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
- Mental Health Association of RI
- Ministers Alliance of Rhode Island
- Planned Parenthood of Southern New England
- Progreso Latino
- Religious Coalition for a Violence-Free Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- RI Community Action Association
- RI Council of Churches
- RI Jobs with Justice
- RI NOW
- RI Racial Justice Coalition
- RI Regional Adult Learning (RIRAL)
- RI Working Families
- Sierra Club, Rhode Island Chapter
- Step Up Center International
- United Nurses and Allied Professionals (UNAP)
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