Chafee: Tax Our Food and Medicine, Spend It On Fat Pensions

“THE OPPOSITE OF RIGHT PART IV”
CHAFEE’S NEW WAY FORWARD

Within hours of the Mr. Chafee’s campaign announcement earlier this week, the Rhode Island Republican Party made it clear that Chafee’s ‘New Way Forward’ was really just his old three step plan as Mayor:

1. Give the public sector unions what they want;

2. Get the unions to support you; and

3. Raise taxes to pay for those sweetheart deals.

With each passing day, it is becoming clearer that Chafee is ready to raise taxes on anything, including basic necessities, in order to maintain the current generous benefits enjoyed by public sector union employees and win “the endorsement of organized public sector unions” (Warwick Beacon 1/5/10). Said RIGOP Chairman, Giovanni Cicione: “Our seniors and taxpayers don’t need the “Chafee Three Step.”

Mr. Chafee has unequivocally put the generous pensions of “current public employees” off limits to any reform efforts even if it would reduce the cost to taxpayers (ProJo 1/7/10). This makes it clear that Mr. Chafee is more willing to play ball with the public sector labor bosses than even the R.I. House Democratic leadership. Even though the House Democratic leadership has unfortunately put 401k plans for government employees off the table (ProJo 1/4/10), they at least supported some of the Governor’s pension reform efforts which affected current public employees and saved taxpayers millions. (09-H5983Aaa Article 7 House Journal 6/24/09, and 05-H5270Aaa Article 7 House Journal 6/27/05).

“It appears Mr. Chafee thought that these pension reforms went too far since they affected current public employees,” said Cicione. “As a former mayor, Chafee should really have a better handle on the impact of pension handouts and long term municipal budgeting.” “Without reasonable concessions from all state and municipal employees on pensions, cities and towns across the state will face bankruptcy or higher taxes.”

“It appears that Mr. Chafee is not at all serious about reducing government spending,” concluded Cicione. “Simply put, under Chafee’s “New Way Forward”, a 70 year old on a fixed income would have to pay higher taxes on their home, their medicine, and their food in order to subsidize the lifestyle of a 40 year old retired city worker – that’s just wrong.”

News Release: Rhode Island Republican Party