Decision of the Century: General Assembly’s Budget Approach Will Set State’s Trajectory for Decades to Come

The problems we face did not come down from the heavens; they were government-made and they can be reversed. Lawmakers should not feel helpless, nor do we have to be reliant of the federal government. Many states are taking proactive steps to prepare their state economies for rapid recovery... and we must do the same. Lawmakers have to understand that they can no longer hide from the responsibilities and difficult decisions they were elected take on: the status quo budget approach - tax, spend, and borrow - can not work in response to this pandemic crisis.

With a one-billion dollar anticipated revenue shortfall, and with recent statements from leading Rhode Island lawmakers indicating a general feeling of helplessness, the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity today published a report with proven budget strategies that can help put the state on a long-term positive trajectory.  Virtually all recent comments from public officials appear to place an undue reliance on federal bailout funds in the hope that status quo spending levels might be maintained. This is not a budget strategy.

Compiled after numerous discussions with colleagues in other states as well as with state budget experts with national organizations, the Center’s report, Decision of the Century, is premised on the understanding that the decisions that will soon be made by lawmakers in dealing with the pandemic-caused revenue losses, will set the near and long term trajectory for the Rhode Island economy.

2015 Legislator Scorecard – Now Live!

HOW DOES YOUR REPRESENTATIVE OR SENATOR RANK? Preliminary ratings show RI General Assembly turns state in the wrong direction once again! [button url=”https://rifreedom.org/rifreedomindex/” target=”_self” size=”medium” style=”royalblue” ] Interactive Scorecard Here […]

Statement: Open And Contentious Debate Being Stifled By The Status Quo

STATEMENT June 17, 2015 Open And Contentious Debate Being Stifled By the Status Quo Budget The Culmination Of Months Of Back-Room Negotiations And Special Deals The floor session addressing the […]

STATEMENT: General Assembly Budget – More of the Same

STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 10, 2015 2016 Budget Has No Broad-based Reforms No Game Changing Economic Ideas Continued Special-Interest Spending Providence, RI — The General Assembly’s proposed FY-2016 budget […]

To GOVERNOR’S MEDICAID WORKING GROUP: A Proven Policy Idea to Save Money

A proven and bi-partisan cost saving measure that has produced significant savings in other states has been recommended to state officials by the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity and its […]