Editorial

Atmosphere of unity offers opportunity for action

Posted 1/13/15

Gov. Gina Raimondo’s inauguration last week left many with a sense of hopefulness for the future.

That trend continued as Nicholas Mattiello won a full two-year term as speaker of the House of …

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Editorial

Atmosphere of unity offers opportunity for action

Posted

Gov. Gina Raimondo’s inauguration last week left many with a sense of hopefulness for the future.

That trend continued as Nicholas Mattiello won a full two-year term as speaker of the House of Representatives on a 73-0 vote, which solidifies the Cranston Democrat’s position as perhaps the most influential figure in state government.

Mattiello first won the top spot in the House in March, emerging victorious from a brief leadership contest after the unprecedented law enforcement raids that led former speaker Gordon Fox to step down. Since then, he has firmly taken the legislative reins.

Following the unanimous vote last week, Mattiello broadly set forth his vision for the new term and made clear that he has not wavered in what has been his mantra from Day One.

“The focus of this chamber will be on jobs and the economy,” the speaker told his colleagues.

Having already successfully targeted a cut in the corporate tax rate and an increase in the estate tax threshold, Mattiello has set his sights on exempting Social Security benefits from the state’s income tax. He also spoke of his support for plans to foster small business growth and expedited the permitting process in targeted development areas.

Mattiello tied into his pro-growth agenda a comprehensive review of state spending, saying a stable long-term fiscal outlook is vital to drawing investment. He spoke of “tough choices” that will have to be made in light of significant projected budget shortfalls and stated definitively that one of his goals will be addressing the state’s structural deficit.

“We have much to do to make sure that government is not standing in the way of economic growth…we must continue to show that Rhode Island is open for business.”

Raimondo addressed the House after Mattiello and while adding her own rhetorical touch seemed supportive of the speaker’s focus.

“It struck me that we are aligned in our goals and our objectives…because at the end of the day, together, we have to create middle-class jobs,” she said.

The ability of the governor and speaker – along with returning Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed and the rest of the state’s elected and appointed leaders – to realize their talk of economic revival and rebirth remains to be seen and certainly faces significant obstacles. The coming fiscal year’s project’s budget shortfall of nearly $200 million must be addressed. A looming court date in the legal challenges to pension reform legislation threatens to overshadow other discussions, particularly given the massive stakes involved.

And the harmonious atmosphere currently hanging over Smith Hill will naturally dissipate, at least to some degree. Raimondo, having won office by a plurality, will need to continue working to marshal public support. Mattiello will at some point along the way likely face renewed challenges from the left, particularly given his fiscal conservatism and pro-business policy bent.

For now, though, the apparent spirit of unity and common purpose at the State House provides a unique opportunity for truly meaningful action. We urge our leaders to seize this moment.

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  • ronruggieri

    I did not vote for Gina Raimondo- the best of three pro-capitalist candidates. I wrote in MOTHER TERESA, inspired by my own social conscience, not that registered Republican ( and I hope not an Ayn Rand fan ) Bishop Thomas Tobin. But your first sentence here rings true: Her inauguration last week " left many with a sense of hopefulness for the future ".

    Providence Journal front page yesterday: " Nobody should be homeless". The governor, and other state officers, took a tour of Harrington Hall, R.I. 's largest shelter.In the photo Gina Raimondo has a softer than usual facial expression. No, she is NOT a Planned Parenthood battle ax.

    Last year I wrote a letter of complaint to the Rhode Island Public Health Department about conditions at Howard Ave. shelter in Cranston. A homeless friend of mine, described as " Ragged Dave " in a letter to the Providence Journal, had spent a nightmarish night there. Dave was tired of sleeping in his broken down Lincoln Town Car. Oddly enough he was once a millionaire, related to the Alpert family .Brown University Medical School is named after this family. His aunt's name was Gracie Alpert. She is survived by her husband, West.

    The R.I. Health Dept. says it will quickly respond to complaints via e-mail. But I never heard from them.I will blog this post.

    ( http://radicalrons.blogspot.com )

    Thursday, January 15, 2015 Report this