Guest MINDSETTER™ Rep. Morgan: Rhode Islanders Deserve Better
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Once a year, the General Assembly has the opportunity to set Rhode Island's financial course. We pass a budget. That budget indicates the priorities of those in power. Unfortunately, this year, despite all the self-praise and pacifying words from the majority about 'laser focus on jobs and the economy', the priority seems to be protecting the status quo and using your tax dollars to do it.
Average Rhode Islanders have to ask themselves, is the status quo really serving their best interests? Without including the $45million toll tax, the budget increased $275 million over the past year’s enacted budget. That budgetary increase did not help our job climate as the state lost 3,900 jobs in the past two months.
The Budget Debate
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTDuring the course of the budget debate, Republicans proposed many amendments that would have helped reignite our sluggish economy. We proposed middle class tax relief in the form of phasing out the car tax. That money in the hands of Rhode Islanders would be spent here and fuel economic activity.
We proposed income tax relief for all retirees. It is unfortunate that the high tax burden has cost some grandparents the opportunity to stay and live near their children and grandchildren.
We fought for other proposals. The common thread is that they will make state government more effective and efficient. If the legislation had been passed, we would be on the way to making government a help, instead of a hindrance to economic activity. And instead of increasing spending and taxes ever year, our political class might actually give average taxpayers some relief. Here are a few of the changes we wanted.
We fought once again for the RI Convention Center Authority to be brought under control. In the last two years, their spending has increased 20%. Despite our study and recommendations, the Authority has not ignited the engine of efficiency, but continues to burn taxpayer money at a unquenchable pace. Republicans tried to obtain answers for taxpayers by proposing an independent investigation of 38 Studios. We tried to strengthen transparency and accountability for community service grants and to abolish legislative grants.
Our leaders failed to fund the lean government initiative that works to make government more effective, more efficient and less costly. Very little is more important to our jobs climate than effective government that works well and interacts with the public in a timely, professional and cost efficient manner. We sought to not only to keep the initiative, but increase the funding to $300,000.
For all the words about helping our children maximize their learning and increase our workforce skillscapacity, a 'funding formula' was included the budget that will strangle public charter schools. These innovative schools are able to fill the unique learning needs of students from very poor neighborhoods and help those children thrive and break the cycle of poverty. Within a $9 billion budget, the question isn't whether to raise taxes or sacrifice some children at the expense of others. The answer is to put real effort into finding a solution that is best for all. Their futures, our futures, our economy, depend on finding a path to success.
Sadly, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle defeated our proposals.
This Year's Budget
This year our budget will spend $8.9 billion. That's 3.2% over last year’s enacted budget and a bigger increase than most of us have seen in our household budgets. Many will defend the few tax cuts and business subsidies as good measures. And they are good small steps, but here's the problem. Our state has had a sluggish economy for almost 8 years. Family income is down about 12% and the cost-of-living continues to climb. Rhode Islanders aged 25 to 45 are the largest group leaving the state. Recently, we heard the state has shed 3,900 jobs in the last two months. With these troubling statistics on the table, we need to do better than a mediocre budget that pacifies people with cheaper beach fees.
The budget tells us what our leaders priorities are and what they are not. We rejected the budget because it is a document that preserves a status quo that is failing hardworking Rhode Islanders. You deserve better.
Related Slideshow: FY17 House Budget—Winners and Losers
The House Budget is passed and there were some last minute and controversial surprises.
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