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Boston Globe
26-06-2025
- 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
25-06-2025
- 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
Boston Globe
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
It's decision time for Speaker Shekarchi in the Rhode Island governor's race
Advertisement It was the kind of pragmatic approach that Shekarchi prides himself on taking. He came across as one of the few adults in the State House without risking virtually any of his own political capital, and he landed on the right side of an issue that 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 Which, like it or not, is exactly the kind of governor Shekarchi would be. Now that the Advertisement During an interview with WPRO's Gene Valicenti 'Whatever decision I make will be based on what I think can be effective and good for myself and the people of Rhode Island, and it will not be not determined on who else is in the race or whatever everyone else is doing,' Shekarchi said. You have to be fluent in Shekarchi-speak to understand the message there. He no longer cares that incumbent Democratic Governor Dan McKee says he's running for reelection. He can read a poll as well as anyone in the state – a recent University of New Hampshire poll found McKee's He also doesn't care that Conventional wisdom holds that Foulkes, the former CVS executive who surged late in the 2022 primary, would benefit from a split between McKee and Shekarchi — making her the outsider versus two insiders. But Foulkes' path to victory would be made cloudier by Shekarchi entering the race, consolidating labor support, and pushing McKee out of the race. There's a reason she jokes to her supporters that she doesn't want McKee to call it quits. Advertisement That's not to say Shekarchi would be a lock to win a Democratic primary, either. He's quickly establishing himself as one of the best House speakers in generations, but he's untested when it comes to statewide elections. There are legitimate questions about whether he can take a political punch, as he can be sensitive to even mild criticism. But if you want to know how Shekarchi would lead the state, look no further than the gun issue. He's not a fan of splashy theatrics, and prefers to reach compromise rather than digging in his heels simply to make a point. He moved the ball forward without making enemies, and without having to sacrifice anything politically. Getting things done without making enemies is something Shekarchi knows how to do. The question is whether Democratic voters want a dealmaker or a fighter. Dan McGowan can be reached at
Boston Globe
17-06-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
R.I. leaders pause on bottle bill, calling for more study
But the Greater Providence of Chamber of Commerce and other business groups waged a high-profile Bottle bills have been introduced off and on in Rhode Island since the early 1980s, but they have run into stiff opposition from the national beverage companies and local retailers. 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 most recent push began in 2023 with Representative Carol Hagan McEntee, a South Kingstown Democrat, and Senator Mark P. McKenney, a Warwick Democrat, co-chairing a special legislative commission on the issue. Advertisement On Monday, Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat, and Lawson, an East Providence Democrat, issued a joint statement thanking that commission for studying the issue for a year and a half. But, they said, 'There is still a great deal of conflicting data as to the implementation of best practices to address the problems of improving and disposing of our recyclable products, as well as enhancing our anti-littering efforts.' Shekarchi and Lawson said they believe it's in the best interests of Rhode Islanders to study the issue further. Advertisement They said the amended legislation would enable the state Department of Environmental Management to 'work with an independent third-party consultant with relevant expertise to conduct an assessment with input from local key stakeholders.' A report would be due no later than December 2026. McEntee told the Globe she was disappointed. " I'm very surprised by it because we've already studied this to death," she said. 'If it is with the intent of taking step two next year and implementing the bottle bill, then I may be able to be sold on that, but I'm not sure what it is.' McEntee said the special legislative commission listened to 'all of the stakeholders' and made adjustments to their proposed legislation. For instance, she said that under the proposal it would not be mandatory for any business to take the bottles or cans back, and it would not cost the state anything because a producer responsibility organization would run the program. " I really think it's important to have a bottle bill," McEntee said. 'Without one, we're not going to be able to attack the litter situation, the situation in Narragansett Bay with all of the microplastics, and the poor recycling rate.' She said she will try to make further changes to the bill that Shekarchi and Lawson have amended. 'In its current state, I don't think it has a good chance of passing the House Environment Committee,' she said. Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
Saba Yemen
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Iranian Armed Forces spokesman: Replacement commanders will continue martyrs' path
Tehran – Saba: Iranian Armed Forces Spokesman Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said on Saturday that replacement commanders will continue the martyrs' path with vigor. Shekarchi added: "This is a miscalculation by the Zionist regime and its supporters, who believe they can weaken the armed forces by killing their commanders." Regarding the Zionist regime's claim that Iran targeted three residential areas in Operation True Promise 3, he said, according to the Iranian news agency IRNA: "The fake Zionist regime attacked our residential areas yesterday morning, Friday, killing a large number of innocent people, including women and children. Therefore, this regime is considered a criminal usurper who attacked residential areas and killed innocent people." Shekarchi added: "The Zionist regime is completely incapable of intercepting our powerful and highly accurate missiles, which are capable of penetrating various Zionist defenses, even with the assistance of the regime's allies, especially the United States. Our missiles have bypassed these defenses several times, and the "True Promise 3" missile was launched with far greater destructive power. Therefore, these claims are the result of their inability." The Iranian Armed Forces spokesman continued: "If some of our missiles hit residential areas, it is because the Zionist regime created interference to divert the missiles' path from hitting military targets. This actually prevents our missiles from hitting military centers, especially the headquarters of the Zionist Ministry of Defense. Naturally, they were unsuccessful despite all these tricks." Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
