The Janus case could provide right-to-work protection for all public employees in the country. Right-to-work means a union cannot get a worker fired for not paying dues or fees.

STATEMENT: Center Applauds SCOTUS Ruling on Janus case; Public Education to Benefit

More Worker Freedom From Janus Case Will Lead to Reduction in Union Power

Public Education Should be Greatest Beneficiary of Janus Case

Providence, RI — According to the Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity, today’s landmark decision in the Janus case, which grants workplace freedom to public employees, means that public unions will have significantly less power and money to block legislation and influence elections. “The greatest public benefit will be improvement in public education,” said Mike Stenhouse, the Center’s CEO. “Many education reforms that would improve schools in disadvantaged communities are prevented by union collective bargaining agreements. If unions are no longer able to force teachers who disagree with them to fund their bargaining positions, unions will have less power to impose ineffective policies into contracts.”

#WorkerFreedom

Rhode Island's already dismal business climate will take yet another hit if progressive-extremists are once again successful in advancing anti-employer equal pay legislation based on a false narrative.

MEDIA RELEASE: Modified “Equal Pay” Legislation Still Harmful and Unnecessary

Practice of Watering Down Bad Bills Must End

False progressive narrative once again drives legislative agenda with new #Unfair2Employers mandates.

Providence, RI– Rhode Island’s already dismal business climate will take yet another hit if progressive-extremists are once again successful in advancing anti-employer legislation based on a false narrative.

Dubbed earlier this year by the Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity as its Bad Bill of the Week, the Center maintains the equal pay legislation is unfair to small businesses.

Without providing any evidence that Rhode Island employers are systematically discriminatory and bigoted in their compensatory practices, and without presenting any argument why existing state and federal equal opportunity and anti-discrimination laws are not sufficient, the House will, nonetheless, vote tonight on a watered-down version of equal pay legislation that has already passed the Senate.

“It is alarming that lawmakers will change state law based on a myth; that a politically-correct narrative derived from fake news can rule the day; and that business associations are complicit in passing legislation that will be harmful to their own members,” exclaimed Mike Stenhouse, the Center’s CEO. “This practice of passing watered-down versions of bad bills, just to appease the progressive-left, must end.”

Almost exactly similar to the process that saw the anti-business ‘paid time off’ legislation passed last year, the House worked with business groups such as the Providence Chamber of Commerce, the RI Hospitality Association, and RIPEC to produce a watered-down version (H7427-subA) that removes some of the especially hostile provisions of earlier House and Senate versions. However, the Center maintains that no version of this legislation is actually needed; and that any version of this legislation will lead to new legal dangers for job-producers by creating vague and unfair new mandates for how employers should determine wages for workers.

“Businesses are at the tipping point – and jobs are at stake – if our state imposes more burdens and legal peril on the private sector. This progressive vision of equal outcomes for everyone could actually backfire, as businesses may end up hiring fewer women and minorities to avoid legal action,” said Stenhouse earlier this year. “Incredibly, this legislation assumes the guilt of hard-working employers in our state; it is a dream-come-true for law-suit minded lawyers, but will be a nightmare for the business community.”

The Center’s prior post on the legislation includes a video commentary from Stenhouse on the equal pay legislation as well as a link to a Prager U. video that discusses U.S. Department of Labor data, which debunks the 77 cents on the dollar gender-wage-gap myth.

Other Bad Bills: An interactive table of other progressive bad bill candidates, as well as posts and video commentary on previously tabbed “progressive bad bills of the week” can be found at RIFreedom.org/Bills.

The Center opposes legislation that would lead to the unionization of the home care industry. If enacted, the safety of patients would be put at risk, while Rhode Island families and businesses would be forced to pay higher taxes to support exorbitant union demands.

Center Opposes Legislation to Force Unionization of Home Care Professionals

Political Money & Power Grab by Unions Would Threaten Patient Safety

Citizens concerned about the care of their loved ones can contact their lawmakers online

Forced SEIU unionization would fly in the face of expected U.S. Supreme Court ruling

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 19, 2018

Providence, RI – The Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity opposes legislation that would lead to the unionization of the home care industry, against the will of the nurse assistants and other professionals currently providing services to home-based patients. If enacted, the safety of patients would be put at risk, while Rhode Island families and businesses would be forced to pay higher taxes to support exorbitant union demands.

Outrageously, some of these higher taxes, intended for home care services, would be siphoned-off by unions, and will end-up in the political campaign coffers of SEIU.

According to the Center’s sources, H7803 may soon be resurrected from its “held for further study” status and will be re-considered following a major push by SEIU and other progressive activists who are seeking to give government control over the home care services industry. S2734 Sub-A was passed by the entire Senate in late May.

The legislation would force all home care workers, most of whom are employed under a successfully operating private ‘agency’ system, to register with the government, becoming quasi-public employees, with their names and other personal information then to be turned over to SEIU labor bosses for the purposes of unionization efforts. A very similar approach was taken in 2013 to unionize the home child care industry; since then, union negotiated – and taxpayer funded – costs to support this industry have risen dramatically.

Concerned citizens are requested to support an online ‘contact your lawmaker’ drive against the legislation, spurred by the Rhode Island Partnership for Home Care, which believes that government-run home care would destabilize the industry.

“This is a blatant money and power grab by unions that would crush a smoothly performing private agency system that is providing high quality home care to elderly, Medicaid, and other patients; and essentially turn over control of this industry to overly politicized and incompetent government bureaucrats,” said Mike Stenhouse, the Center’s CEO. “The training standards and strict oversight now required of nursing and other home care professionals would be greatly diminished. Why would we want to put government in between patients and their home care service providers?”

The Center also points out the incongruity of this legislation and the direction that the nation may soon be taking, following next week’s expected U.S. Supreme Court decision in the landmark Janus case, which would end the forced unionization and fee payments of public employees. “Once again, while America is moving towards more freedom and less governmental control over our lives, Rhode Island wants to move in the opposite direction, consolidating centralized-control and planning under the political elite and their special-interest allies,” warned Stenhouse.

Jobs & Opportunity Index (JOI), May 2018: What There Is Is Positive

Although Rhode Island remained in 47th place on the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity’s Jobs & Opportunity Index (JOI), the four (of 12) datapoints that were updated for the May report were positive. Unfortunately, one datapoint was not updated for Rhode Island even though it was updated for every other state. The latest SNAP (foodstamp) table from the federal Food and Nutrition Service added a new footnote highlighting that “system reporting issues” have meant no new RI numbers since January 2017.

Turning to the numbers that are available: Employment was up from the first-reported number for April, by 1,489, while labor force was up 1,117. RI-based jobs increased, as well, by 1,000. Medicaid enrollment improved from the previously reported number, with a decrease of 1,281.

The first chart right shows RI still in the last position in New England, 47th in the country. Regional leader New Hampshire is still in 2nd place, nationally, behind Wyoming. Maine made progress toward the nation’s top 10, up two steps to 15th, while Vermont remained in 21st place. Massachusetts managed to return to the 34th slot that it had lost last month. Meanwhile, Connecticut held on to 37th.

Rhode Island remained in 47th place on the Jobs & Opportunity Index May 2018. Unfortunately, one datapoint was not updated for Rhode Island even though it was updated for every other state. The latest SNAP (foodstamp) table added a new footnote highlighting that “system reporting issues” have meant no new RI numbers.

The second chart shows the gap between RI and New England and the United States on Jobs & Opportunity Index May 2018. In both cases, the Ocean State gained a little ground. The same was true of the official unemployment rate, shown in the third chart.

Rhode Island remained in 47th place on the Jobs & Opportunity Index May 2018. Unfortunately, one datapoint was not updated for Rhode Island even though it was updated for every other state. The latest SNAP (foodstamp) table added a new footnote highlighting that “system reporting issues” have meant no new RI numbers.

Rhode Island remained in 47th place on the Jobs & Opportunity Index May 2018. Unfortunately, one datapoint was not updated for Rhode Island even though it was updated for every other state. The latest SNAP (foodstamp) table added a new footnote highlighting that “system reporting issues” have meant no new RI numbers.

Results for the three underlying Jobs & Opportunity Index May 2018 factors were:

  • Job Outlook Factor (optimism that adequate work is available): RI improved one place, to 22nd.
  • Freedom Factor (the level of work against reliance on welfare programs): RI remained 42nd.
  • Prosperity Factor (the financial motivation of income versus taxes): RI remained 47th.

Click here for the corresponding employment post on the Ocean State Current.

Rhode Island lawmakers - female and male - experienced first-hand the safety and fun of natural hair braiding at a cultural exhibition yesterday at the State House.

Center Calls on Senate to Act after House Unanimously Passes Hair-Braider Freedom Bill

Will Senate Continue to Block This No-Brainer Legislation?

Second year in-a-row Legislation receives unanimous House vote!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 15, 2018

Providence, RI – For the second straight year, the Senate is on the spot to act on hair-braider freedom legislation passed unanimously by the House. In 2017, they failed. The Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity calls on the Senate to remove the unfair regulations that prevent low-income families from legally earning additional income – or a living – through the practice of the safe craft of natural hair-braiding.

In a 69-0 vote yesterday, H7565 was passed in the House. An identical bill appears again to be stalled in the Senate. The legislation would exempt natural hair-braiders from the onerous cosmetology licensing mandates that demand thousands of hours of unrelated training and tens of thousands of dollars worth of irrelevant classes.

It is unknown why the Senate is blocking such common-sense legislation, especially given that many other states have recently removed similar protectionist and burdensome measures.

Unlike in 2017, however, there is a Senate companion bill this year, S2323, sponsored by Senator Dawn Euer, who is actively working to overcome the inexplicable hold-up in her chamber. In May, many Senators enjoyed a free and fun natural hair-braid outside their chamber on RI Freedom Braiders Lobbying Day.

“We thank the House for recognizing the obvious and we appreciate the work that Senator Euer continues to invest in attempting to move this no-brainer legislation in the Senate,” said Mike Stenhouse, CEO for the Center. “The March Senate Commerce Committee hearing produced no credible opposition to the legislation, but did bring out many current cosmetologists who want to selfishly protect their industry from new competition.”

Despite a large and unexpected revenue windfall and clear policy lesson, resulting from the recent federal tax and regulatory cuts, Rhode Island's political leaders appear to have wasted an opportunity for reform and, instead, are seeking to maintain the status quo in the FY2019 Budget.

FY2019 Budget Graded a “D-” by the Center; a “Wasted Opportunity”

Federal Tax Cut Windfall “Wasted” in Maintaining Status Quo

Lack of job-producing reforms demonstrates lack of vision for a better future for Rhode Islanders!

Providence, RI – Despite a large and unexpected revenue windfall and clear policy lesson, resulting from the recent federal tax and regulatory cuts, Rhode Island’s political leaders appear to have wasted an opportunity for reform and, instead, are seeking to maintain the status quo in the FY2019 Budget.

In lieu of returning tens of millions of windfall revenues to tax-paying families and businesses, the General Assembly’s proposed FY-2019 budget, released late Friday, actually increases spending and does nothing to improve the Ocean State’s dismal business climate. Given that even recent years’ budgets have attempted some minor tax relief, the Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity has graded the budget as a ‘D-minus’, the same grade it issued last year.

“The lack of vision, in failing to recognize this opportunity to improve our state’s competitive landscape, is disappointing,” exclaimed the Center’s CEO, Mike Stenhouse. “The money to cut taxes was there. Unfortunately, it will be wasted and spent, rather than reinvested in the people of Rhode Island so they can achieve a brighter future.”

Currently, Rhode Island ranks in the bottom-10 on three broad national indexes; overall business climate, the Family Prosperity Index (FPI), and the Jobs & Opportunity Index (JOI).

No pro-growth programs. According to the Center’s analysis there are no new, meaningful job-producing or pro-family tax reforms in the proposed budget.

Some transfer or neutral items. The continued phase-out of the hated car-tax for local taxpayers leads directly to offsetting higher tax burdens for families and businesses statewide. The elimination of the governor’s proposed cigarette tax hike, as well as most of her proposed agency “scoops”, are welcomed, but do not lead to any net economic benefit.

Multiple economy-busting items dominate the budget. While there are no major leaps backward, such as single-payer health insurance or a statewide carbon tax, the few positive or neutral items in the budget are more than offset by the many and more substantially negative items, including:

  • Increased budget spending rate of 3.8% ($317 million) is far greater than the rate of inflation and population growth would otherwise suggest.
  • Broadening of the sales tax into new business sectors. Last year it was Amazon and other Internet providers; this year it’s software as a service (SAS) and armored car services – each worsens RI’s overall business climate.
  • $250 million school infrastructure bond – another bailout for municipalities. Once again the state will increase its already high debt burden to provide money to municipal school districts, which themselves have been negligent in managing the already high tax revenues they collect from local taxpayers, by failing to have adequately maintained school buildings.
  • Corporate welfare spending is maintained. Money spent on corporate tax-credit incentives could be re-purposed to reduce corporate taxes, creating a more level playing field.
  • Raises to state government workers, politically motivated in an election year, far exceeds inflation trend (7.5% compensation increase over next 3 years vs 3.5% inflation over past 3 years).
  • Sin taxes becoming more prevalent. Projected sports gambling revenues, as well as dramatically increased medical marijuana dispensary fees, will make it more difficult in the future for the state to reverse policies that incentivize potentially unhealthy social behaviors.
Civil forfeiture laws represent one of the most serious assaults on cars, cash, and other private property by government today.  According to the Institute for Justice, the Ocean State received a D- for its asset forfeiture laws. Please watch the new asset forfeiture video from the Center now.

Why Rhode Island Needs Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform

“It is absolutely mind-boggling… that people that feed you, in one of the most historical oldest industries in this country, can’t go to sea and land that fish that feeds you without being treated like criminals,” said Richard Fuka, President of RI Fishermen’s Alliance

Civil forfeiture laws represent one of the most serious assaults on cars, cash, and other private property by government today.  According to the Institute for Justice, which produces a state-by-state report card, the Ocean State received a D- for its asset forfeiture laws. Please watch the new asset forfeiture video from the Center now.