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Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
R.I. Governor McKee's uphill battle criticizing the Assembly's $14.3b budget
My colleagues Ed Fitzpatrick and Steph Machado did a great job It's a reasonable gripe from McKee, and it's probably shared by a lot of Rhode Islanders. McKee wrote in a letter that if he had a line-item veto, he'd have reversed increases in the gas tax and the real estate conveyance tax, along with a new sales tax on parking and increases in traffic fines. He also fears that a new fee on health insurers will be passed on to families. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up The trouble is that McKee isn't offering a real solution. Advertisement Not signing the budget but letting it pass is the political equivalent of calling into talk radio to rant about taxes: loud, cathartic, and ultimately powerless. It comes across more like a campaign stunt than a credible complaint, especially since House Speaker Joe Shekarchi continues to Then again, McKee had few options in this fight. If he vetoed the budget, there were more than enough votes in the General Assembly to override the veto – which would have reinforced the idea that McKee isn't the one running the show when it comes to the budget. Advertisement If Shekarchi called his bluff and allowed the veto to stand, McKee would have faced criticism from many labor unions he still needs to support him in his reelection bid next year, and he'd be blamed for causing further stress to Rhode Island's fragile health care system. The bigger picture: McKee has a broader problem as he heads into his reelection year in a field that will definitely include Helena Foulkes, and possibly Shekarchi: He can't win a jump ball with anyone on almost any issue. He's had a poor relationship with most of the media since taking office, Mike Raia, who was communications director under former governor Gina Raimondo and now runs the public relations firm Half Street Group, said the key for any governor in managing a fight with the speaker is to 'focus on running government and leveraging the power of having a statewide constituency and a 12-month-a-year job.' Raia has been a vocal critic of McKee, but he helped craft Raimondo's communications strategy when she was butting heads with former speaker Nicholas Mattiello. 'Governors can win public battles with the General Assembly by presenting themselves as an outsider and building a calendar of public events that extends beyond the State House, RIDOT, and Patrick's Pub triangle,' Raia said. Advertisement This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Dan McGowan can be reached at
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
R.I. Governor McKee won't sign the $14.3b state budget, citing tax hikes. But he won't veto it, either.
He noted the budget includes a 2-cent increase in the gas tax, an increase in the real estate conveyance tax beyond what he had proposed, and new sales tax on parking. 'We could have done things that would've been better for the taxpayers and the people who live in the state of Rhode Island without raising that cost,' he said. Advertisement McKee's press conference came four days after the General Assembly wrapped up the 2025 Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up And it came as McKee is gearing up for Related : In a letter Wednesday, McKee wrote to Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat, saying, 'I cannot support the budget act because the proposed tax and fee increases would make it even harder for Rhode Island families to afford everyday life — at a time when inflation is still top of mind and affordability remains their top concern." Advertisement McKee said that if he had line-item veto authority, he would have eliminated taxes and fee hikes in the budget. 'Lacking that authority, I am allowing this bill to become law without my signature as a clear and deliberate statement of my strong opposition to the cost increases it imposes on Rhode Islanders,' he wrote. Speaking to reporters, McKee acknowledged his veto would likely have been overridden if he had sent the budget back to the Democratic-controlled Assembly, which passed the budget with veto-proof majorities. Shekarchi has said McKee's proposed budget left big holes to fill because some ideas were unlikely to generate savings or produce immediate revenue. For example, McKee proposed closing the state's minimum security prison, but his administration later scrapped that idea. And Shekarchi said McKee's proposed 10 percent tax on digital advertising revenues was too speculative, noting only Maryland has tried that and it's facing lawsuits. But McKee said the May revenue estimating conference showed the state had $67 million more than expected, and he said the Assembly could have used that money to close any budget gaps without raising more taxes. He objected to the 2-cent increase on the gas tax, saying Rhode Islanders already pay more at the pump than drivers in Massachusetts and Connecticut. He objected to a new $48 annual fee on health insurers for every person they cover, saying that would mean $200 more each year for a family of four. And he objected to increasing the real estate conveyance tax on sales under $800,000, saying that would add more than $1,300 in fees on the sale of a median-price home. During the legislative session, advocates had called for Rhode Island to Advertisement When asked about taxing the rich, McKee said, " There may come a time when there's a reason to to support tax increases, but this is not the time." He said, 'Let's see what happens in Washington. Let's see what comes our way. And there may be a time that you need to discuss that.' While the governor said the Legislature could have passed a balanced budget without raising taxes, he did not lay out exactly which spending items he would have cut. 'Budgets are about choices,' said Brian Daniels, McKee's state budget director. 'We're not going to go line-by-line ... because the ship has sailed.' Daniels did point to an increase in funding for the Typically, the budget is negotiated behind closed doors between the House speaker, Senate president and governor before the amended version comes out of the House Finance Committee. But McKee suggested he was cut out of those budget talks at a certain point, telling reporters he did not find out about changes – including the gas tax increase – until the amended budget was made public by House leaders on June 10. 'The issues I'm talking about today were not privy to me until they were privy to you,' McKee said. Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
CNBC
21-06-2025
- Politics
- CNBC
Rhode Island lawmakers pass bill to ban sales of assault weapons
Rhode Island's Democratic-controlled state House on Friday approved legislation that would ban the sale and manufacturing of many semiautomatic rifles commonly referred to as assault weapons. The proposal now heads to the desk of Democratic Gov. Dan McKee, who has said he supports assault weapons bans. If the bill is signed into law, Rhode Island will join 10 states that have some sort of prohibition on high-powered firearms that were once banned nationwide and are now largely the weapon of choice among those responsible for most of the country's devastating mass shootings. Gun control advocates have been pushing for an assault weapons ban in Rhode Island for more than a decade. However, despite being a Democratic stronghold, lawmakers throughout the country's smallest state have long quibbled over the necessity and legality of such proposals. The bill only applies to the sale and manufacturing of assault weapons and not possession. Only Washington state has a similar law. Residents looking to purchase an assault weapon from nearby New Hampshire or elsewhere will also be blocked. Federal law prohibits people from traveling to a different state to purchase a gun and returning it to a state where that particular of weapon is banned. Nine states and the District of Columbia have bans on the possession of assault weapons, covering major cities like New York and Los Angeles. Hawaii bans assault pistols. Democratic Rep. Rebecca Kislak described the bill during floor debates Friday as an incremental move that brings Rhode Island in line with neighboring states. "I am gravely disappointed we are not doing more, and we should do more," she said. "And given the opportunity to do this or nothing, I am voting to do something." Critics of Rhode Island's proposed law argued that assault weapons bans do little to curb mass shootings and only punish people with such rifles. "This bill doesn't go after criminals, it just puts the burden on law-abiding citizens," said Republican Sen. Thomas Paolino. Republican Rep. Michael Chippendale, House minority leader, predicted that if the legislation were to become law, the U.S. Supreme Court would eventually deem it unconstitutional. "We are throwing away money on this," he said. It wasn't just Republicans who opposed the legislation. David Hogg — a gun control advocate who survived the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida — and the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence described the proposed ban as the "weakest assault weapons ban in the country." "I know that Rhode Islanders deserve a strong bill that not only bans the sale, but also the possession of assault weapons. It is this combination that equals public safety," Hogg said in a statement. Elisabeth Ryan, policy counsel at Everytown for Gun Safety, rejected claims that the proposed law is weak. "The weakest law is what Rhode Island has now, no ban on assault weapons," Ryan said. "This would create a real, enforceable ban on the sale and manufacture of assault weapons, just like the law already working in Washington state, getting them off the shelves of Rhode Island gun stores once and for all." Nationally, assault weapons bans have been challenged in court by gun rights groups that argue the bans violate the Second Amendment. AR-15-style firearms are among the best-selling rifles in the country. The conservative-majority Supreme Court may soon take up the issue. The justices declined to hear a challenge to Maryland's assault weapons ban in early June, but three conservative justices — Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas — publicly noted their disagreement. A fourth, Brett Kavanaugh, indicated he was skeptical that the bans are constitutional and predicted the court would hear a case "in the next term or two."
NBC News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Rhode Island lawmakers pass bill to ban sales of assault weapons
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island's Democratic-controlled state House on Friday approved legislation that would ban the sale and manufacturing of many semiautomatic rifles commonly referred to as assault weapons. The proposal now heads to the desk of Democratic Gov. Dan McKee, who said in a post on the social platform X on Friday evening that he plans to sign the bill into law. If that happens, Rhode Island will join 10 states that have some sort of prohibition on high-powered firearms that were once banned nationwide and are now largely the weapon of choice among those responsible for most of the country's devastating mass shootings. Gun control advocates have been pushing for an assault weapons ban in Rhode Island for more than a decade. However, despite being a Democratic stronghold, lawmakers throughout the country's smallest state have long quibbled over the necessity and legality of such proposals. The bill only applies to the sale and manufacturing of assault weapons and not possession. Only Washington state has a similar law. Residents looking to purchase an assault weapon from nearby New Hampshire or elsewhere will also be blocked. Federal law prohibits people from traveling to a different state to purchase a gun and returning it to a state where that particular of weapon is banned. Nine states and the District of Columbia have bans on the possession of assault weapons, covering major cities like New York and Los Angeles. Hawaii bans assault pistols. Democratic Rep. Rebecca Kislak described the bill during floor debates Friday as an incremental move that brings Rhode Island in line with neighboring states. 'I am gravely disappointed we are not doing more, and we should do more,' she said. 'And given the opportunity to do this or nothing, I am voting to do something.' Critics of Rhode Island's proposed law argued that assault weapons bans do little to curb mass shootings and only punish people with such rifles. 'This bill doesn't go after criminals, it just puts the burden on law-abiding citizens,' said Republican Sen. Thomas Paolino. Republican Rep. Michael Chippendale, House minority leader, predicted that if the legislation were to become law, the U.S. Supreme Court would eventually deem it unconstitutional. 'We are throwing away money on this,' he said. It wasn't just Republicans who opposed the legislation. David Hogg — a gun control advocate who survived the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida — and the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence described the proposed ban as the 'weakest assault weapons ban in the country.' 'I know that Rhode Islanders deserve a strong bill that not only bans the sale, but also the possession of assault weapons. It is this combination that equals public safety,' Hogg said in a statement. Elisabeth Ryan, policy counsel at Everytown for Gun Safety, rejected claims that the proposed law is weak. 'The weakest law is what Rhode Island has now, no ban on assault weapons,' Ryan said. 'This would create a real, enforceable ban on the sale and manufacture of assault weapons, just like the law already working in Washington state, getting them off the shelves of Rhode Island gun stores once and for all.' Nationally, assault weapons bans have been challenged in court by gun rights groups that argue the bans violate the Second Amendment. AR-15-style firearms are among the best-selling rifles in the country. The conservative-majority Supreme Court may soon take up the issue. The justices declined to hear a challenge to Maryland's assault weapons ban in early June, but three conservative justices — Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas — publicly noted their disagreement. A fourth, Brett Kavanaugh, indicated he was skeptical that the bans are constitutional and predicted the court would hear a case 'in the next term or two.'
21-06-2025
- Politics
Rhode Island lawmakers pass bill to ban sales of assault weapons
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Rhode Island's Democratic-controlled state House on Friday approved legislation that would ban the sale and manufacturing of many semiautomatic rifles commonly referred to as assault weapons. The proposal now heads to the desk of Democratic Gov. Dan McKee, who has said he supports assault weapons bans. If the bill is signed into law, Rhode Island will join 10 states that have some sort of prohibition on high-powered firearms that were once banned nationwide and are now largely the weapon of choice among those responsible for most of the country's devastating mass shootings. Gun control advocates have been pushing for an assault weapons ban in Rhode Island for more than a decade. However, despite being a Democratic stronghold, lawmakers throughout the country's smallest state have long quibbled over the necessity and legality of such proposals. The bill only applies to the sale and manufacturing of assault weapons and not possession. Only Washington state has a similar law. Residents looking to purchase an assault weapon from nearby New Hampshire or elsewhere will also be blocked. Federal law prohibits people from traveling to a different state to purchase a gun and returning it to a state where that particular of weapon is banned. Nine states and the District of Columbia have bans on the possession of assault weapons, covering major cities like New York and Los Angeles. Hawaii bans assault pistols. Democratic Rep. Rebecca Kislak described the bill during floor debates Friday as an incremental move that brings Rhode Island in line with neighboring states. 'I am gravely disappointed we are not doing more, and we should do more," she said. "And given the opportunity to do this or nothing, I am voting to do something.' Critics of Rhode Island's proposed law argued that assault weapons bans do little to curb mass shootings and only punish people with such rifles. 'This bill doesn't go after criminals, it just puts the burden on law-abiding citizens,' said Republican Sen. Thomas Paolino. Republican Rep. Michael Chippendale, House minority leader, predicted that if the legislation were to become law, the U.S. Supreme Court would eventually deem it unconstitutional. 'We are throwing away money on this," he said. It wasn't just Republicans who opposed the legislation. David Hogg — a gun control advocate who survived the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida — and the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence described the proposed ban as the 'weakest assault weapons ban in the country.' 'I know that Rhode Islanders deserve a strong bill that not only bans the sale, but also the possession of assault weapons. It is this combination that equals public safety,' Hogg said in a statement. Elisabeth Ryan, policy counsel at Everytown for Gun Safety, rejected claims that the proposed law is weak. 'The weakest law is what Rhode Island has now, no ban on assault weapons,' Ryan said. 'This would create a real, enforceable ban on the sale and manufacture of assault weapons, just like the law already working in Washington state, getting them off the shelves of Rhode Island gun stores once and for all.' Nationally, assault weapons bans have been challenged in court by gun rights groups that argue the bans violate the Second Amendment. AR-15-style firearms are among the best-selling rifles in the country. The conservative-majority Supreme Court may soon take up the issue. The justices declined to hear a challenge to Maryland's assault weapons ban in early June, but three conservative justices — Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas — publicly noted their disagreement. A fourth, Brett Kavanaugh, indicated he was skeptical that the bans are constitutional and predicted the court would hear a case 'in the next term or two.'
