RIGOP Response to State of the State Address

RIGOP RESPONDS TO STATE OF THE STATE

Governor Chafee gives us more of the same.

“I think the governor missed an opportunity tonight by delivering a political speech aimed only at those in the chamber when he could have really connected with the real men and women of Rhode Island who are having increasing trouble paying the taxes Gov. Chafee relies on to fund all the spending he proposed” said Mark Zaccaria, Chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party.

“I am highly suspicious that the Governor’s Cabinet on Jobs, as proposed in last night’s speech, is to be headed by Director Fogerty. Why call it the Governor’s Cabinet if the governor, himself, is to have nothing to do with it?”

Zaccaria noted that the budget, as proposed, summarily attaches cost burdens – through new taxes – to the overhead calculations of every business in The Ocean State. “Unfortunately, not one word of cost justification is offered, The Governor simply needs the money to fund the spending growth he wants so he’s jacking up fees and taxes to do it. I foresee substantial unintended consequences. This budget only proposes more short and long term spending without any suggestion that expenses must be cut. I count that as living in a dream World” Zaccaria exclaimed.

“The Bad News is that this proposed budget is ample proof that our Governor just doesn’t understand the problem. The Good News, sadly, is that this proposal will be Dead on Arrival when it gets to the House and Senate. Yet isn’t it a shame that we go through all this Kabuki theater with no thought to what’s best for the real working taxpayers of our state?” said Zaccaria.

“The Governor spent more than half his speech citing Assets available to make Rhode Island better, but these all turned out to be just his senior staffers getting a shout out from their boss. That’s politics, not substance. When the Governor got to C for Corruption he spent barely one minute saying it’s bad and we should do something about it. In neither of these cases did Gov. Chafee make a case for how he was going to exploit the assets or resolve the corruption. Again Politics not Substance” continued Zaccaria.

“The only way we can get Rhode Island back on track is to elect more fiscally conservative Republicans. While the Governor is looking to spend more of your money, we are the only ones looking out for your pocketbooks” ended Zaccaria.

Press Release: Rhode Island Republican Party