NEW: GOP Candidate Block Unveils Plan to “Fix Rhode Island”
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Block today unveiled his "Block Plan" at Taco, Inc. to "rebuild our economy and create new jobs, improve government efficiencies, and rebuild fairness and trust."
Saying that Rhode Island is in the "National Hall of Shame", being number one in the nation in unemployment -- and near dead last in job creating business environment -- Block outlined the specifics to a roomful of supporters at the Cranston HVAC facility.
Block Plan Outlined
Following Taco's John Hazen White opening the event, Block addressed the "fundamental changes" he sees necessary to fix Rhode Island, which include three major overview areas.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"Rhode Island is in peril," said Block. "We have an economic crisis." The highlights of Block's plan are the following:
"Rebuild our economy and create new jobs"
- Decrease the car tax by 30%: Provide smart savings incentives for municipalities. Get money back to working families. Allocate $50 million in state aid, and provide a 2:1 match to municipalities that find cost savings through shared services or other measures. Use this combination of funding ($75 million) to increase the minimum car tax exemption in all municipalities.
- Reduce the corporate tax rate from 9% to 7%. Make Rhode Island the best place for new businesses. We can attract new businesses and create jobs with the lowest corporate tax rate in New England.
- Eliminate the $500 minimum corporate tax. Preserve capital to help new companies grow. No minimum corporate tax for new businesses in their first two years.
- Reform the death tax. Help seniors stay here and family-owned businesses stay that way. Increase the estate tax exemption to $2.5 million and reduce the top rate to 12%
- Test a reduced sales tax zone in one of Rhode Island’s border communities.
- Improve the Capital gains tax exemption. Exempt from future taxation any capital gains realized on new investments in RI-based businesses.
"Improve government efficiencies"
- Fix the temporary disability program. $200-$400 into the pockets of working Rhode Islanders annually
- Fix the unemployment insurance system. One of the worst-ranked systems in the country
- Fix DMV, and focus on all the other opportunities for savings like paper time cards.
"Rebuild Fairness & Trust"
- Establish a line-item veto for the Governor: 44 states have. We need it
- Re-empower the Ethics Commission:Oversight over the General Assembly ensures accountability.
- Abolish the master lever: Remove this obsolete and damaging mechanism from our ballots.
- Transparency in the legislative process: End the secret deals, late-night and last-minute lawmaking.
"Bold and specific plans are the foundation of positive action. Now is the time for bold action," said Block. "I'm an entrepreneur, and entrepreneurs don't accept the status quo."
Related Slideshow: 10 Questions Block Has to Answer When Running for Gov of RI
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