Providence, RI – As America prepares to celebrate its independence, and in order to preserve the rights, freedoms, and incomes of Ocean State families and businesses, the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity recommends Rhode Island remain independent from further legislative tyranny. The Center today urges the state’s ruling class to officially close the General Assembly’s 2017 legislative session, keeping Representatives and Senators away from the State House so that they cannot inflict more damage this year.

Recent history clearly shows that the people of RI lose when the General Assembly is in session. Once again this year, the preliminary General Assembly Freedom Index shows that the vast majority of bills rated by the Center serve to decrease freedoms and limit the opportunity for prosperity for the majority, non-special-interest faction, of our state’s population.

Rhode Islanders need a credible alternative to the status quo and its destructive progressive ideas. You can help.

Evidenced by the 50th rank in business climate, 48th rank in Jobs & Opportunity, and 45th rank in Family Prosperity, the continual creep of progressive policies has wrought continued wreckage throughout the state.

Unfortunately, it appears the only way to stop the union-progressive policy tide from further drowning families, businesses, and taxpayers is for Washington, D.C. style drama to create legislative paralysis in our Ocean State: in-party fighting, distrust and lack of communication among the Chambers, along with insider leaks.

“This Democrat power struggle demonstrates the utter lack of leadership and strategic thinking of our state’s political class. There was no rational rhyme or reason to the advancement of the many progressive bills that were about to become law, but that now have fortunately been put in limbo,” said the Center’s CEO, Mike Stenhouse. “Further, this bad-government tradition of a final-days cattle-call of legislative votes, against a summer deadline, leaves zero room for negotiation or compromise. This is a clear case of self-inflicted, administrative malfeasance. Our legislative process is clearly in dire need of reform.”

A quote from a prominent Rhode Island progressive proves the Center’s philosophical assertions:  “This session had the potential to be the most successful year for the passage of significant progressive policy of any I can remember,” said Representative Regunberg, as he begged the General Assembly to return this year to pass his movement’s anti-family, anti-jobs agenda.

If the General Assembly would have gone home a few days earlier, local taxpayers would have been spared from legislation that imposed new burdens to pay for common illnesses and perpetual contracts for government workers. If lawmakers remain home this summer and fall, Rhode Islanders would benefit from continued independence from the actions of their elected officials in a number of additional ways: