Friday, March 30, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Statement from Governor Chafee Regarding National Guard Spc. Dennis P. Weichel
Specialist Dennis Weichel’s life was marked by bravery, selflessness, and commitment to others – and unfortunately it was in demonstrating these remarkable characteristics that it was lost. Specialist Weichel will be remembered by his fellow soldiers and commanding officers as a dedicated member of the Rhode Island National Guard. He will be remembered by friends and family as a devoted father to Nicholas, Hope, and Madison and a beloved son to Linda and Dennis. And he will be remembered, and mourned, by people across our state as a great Rhode Islander. Specialist Weichel will be deeply missed, and his loved ones are in my thoughts during this difficult time. I hope that they are able to find some comfort in their many fine memories of him.
Read the Press Release
Read the Press Release
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Support for Governor's Municipal Reform and Relief Package Mounts Across State
Governor Chafee’s municipal reform and relief package, announced last week, has garnered support from organizations and media outlets across the state.
“Chafee’s legislative package represents a comprehensive attempt to curb the soaring costs of local retirees as well as help communities get control of the runaway contract costs built into their school budgets,” said Harriet Lloyd, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Statewide Coalition. “Budget problems and pension debt vary from town to town so we believe the Governor had no choice but to take this multi-tiered approach in trying to prescribe reforms that could provide relief to communities.”
“We applaud Governor Chafee for much of his administration's big legislative package aimed at giving the state’s fiscally distressed communities more power over their finances,” stated a Providence Journal editorial on March 20.
The editorial went on to discuss the difficulties facing cities and towns across Rhode Island, and the ways in which the Governor’s municipal package addresses those issues in a proactive manner.
“The Chafee administration should be praised for bravely coming forth with a remarkably broad initiative to address these issues,” the editorial says.
The Westerly Sun also published an editorial assessing the Governor’s proposal. “Chafee is recommending tough medicine as a way to continue treating the epidemic of unfunded pension plans,” the editorial states. “The lack of funds is a sad reality, but it is the reality. We don’t take lightly the thought of backing a plan that reneges on promises. But the reality is current governors and mayors and town councils and legislators are stuck dealing with the games their predecessors played,” asserts the editorial.
The Governor unveiled his proposal in Pawtucket last week alongside mayors and officials from cities and towns across Rhode Island.
“Chafee’s legislative package represents a comprehensive attempt to curb the soaring costs of local retirees as well as help communities get control of the runaway contract costs built into their school budgets,” said Harriet Lloyd, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Statewide Coalition. “Budget problems and pension debt vary from town to town so we believe the Governor had no choice but to take this multi-tiered approach in trying to prescribe reforms that could provide relief to communities.”
“We applaud Governor Chafee for much of his administration's big legislative package aimed at giving the state’s fiscally distressed communities more power over their finances,” stated a Providence Journal editorial on March 20.
The editorial went on to discuss the difficulties facing cities and towns across Rhode Island, and the ways in which the Governor’s municipal package addresses those issues in a proactive manner.
“The Chafee administration should be praised for bravely coming forth with a remarkably broad initiative to address these issues,” the editorial says.
The Westerly Sun also published an editorial assessing the Governor’s proposal. “Chafee is recommending tough medicine as a way to continue treating the epidemic of unfunded pension plans,” the editorial states. “The lack of funds is a sad reality, but it is the reality. We don’t take lightly the thought of backing a plan that reneges on promises. But the reality is current governors and mayors and town councils and legislators are stuck dealing with the games their predecessors played,” asserts the editorial.
The Governor unveiled his proposal in Pawtucket last week alongside mayors and officials from cities and towns across Rhode Island.
Community Forums Highlight Resources for Rhode Island Small Businesses
In recent weeks, Governor Chafee has continued his outreach to Rhode Island small business owners, hosting four additional community business forums in cities and towns across the state. The forums were most recently held in Woonsocket, Newport, South Kingstown, and Hopkinton.
The events provided local business owners with the opportunity to learn more about available services to help them succeed and grow, including the resources available at the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center, and the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. In particular, businesses received information about financing and energy programs as well as the Small Business Ombudsperson.
Governor Chafee is committed to making it easier to do business in Rhode Island. The community forums also give businesses a chance to voice their own concerns and share their own experiences with the Governor and other state officials.
“We hope to go all over the state making sure everybody knows about the good programs we have at EDC to help your businesses grow,” Governor Chafee emphasized at the Hopkinton forum.
The events provided local business owners with the opportunity to learn more about available services to help them succeed and grow, including the resources available at the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center, and the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. In particular, businesses received information about financing and energy programs as well as the Small Business Ombudsperson.
Governor Chafee is committed to making it easier to do business in Rhode Island. The community forums also give businesses a chance to voice their own concerns and share their own experiences with the Governor and other state officials.
“We hope to go all over the state making sure everybody knows about the good programs we have at EDC to help your businesses grow,” Governor Chafee emphasized at the Hopkinton forum.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Governor Unveils Bold Reform and Relief Package for Rhode Island Cities and Towns
Legislation Empowers Municipal Leaders to Make Necessary Reforms, Achieve Savings, Relieve Communities of Costly Mandates
Delivering on his promise to aid struggling cities and towns, Governor Chafee joined with municipal leaders from across Rhode Island on March 15 in Pawtucket to unveil a legislative package of reform and relief measures that will empower local officials to take the needed steps to achieve fiscal health for their communities. Pointing to news of Woonsocket considering closing schools early and Providence’s bond rating being downgraded, Governor Chafee called the municipal fiscal crisis a critical economic development issue and said in no uncertain terms that the time to act – the “time of urgency” – has arrived.
“We are facing three choices in Rhode Island: let our communities go bankrupt, watch property taxes continue to skyrocket, or give our municipal leaders the tools and relief they need to achieve fiscal stability for their communities. Today, I propose that we choose the latter,” Governor Chafee said.
“This legislation will empower municipal officials – many of whom I am pleased to join with today – to address the structural problems that threaten our cities and towns and hold hostage the very future of our state. Only when we have fixed the structure and workings of state and municipal governments in Rhode Island will we revitalize our economy and create the jobs and opportunities we need. I call on the House and Senate to move quickly to pass these bills and provide much-needed relief to our struggling communities and the property taxpayer,” Governor Chafee continued.
“Governor Chafee’s municipal legislative package is a way forward for cities and towns that need the necessary tools to make structural reform. I support and applaud the Governor’s efforts and believe that cities and towns must make tough, structural changes to strengthen our entire state,” said Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. “I will continue to work with Governor Chafee to get Providence on firm financial ground, and I appreciate his determined efforts to strengthen Rhode Island.”
“In proposing this new legislation, Governor Chafee clearly recognizes the need for the state to better support its cities and towns. He understands that for the State of Rhode Island to survive and prosper, its cities and towns must survive and prosper,” said Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien.
The Governor’s municipal reform and relief legislative package includes seven bills:
(read the full summaries)
Delivering on his promise to aid struggling cities and towns, Governor Chafee joined with municipal leaders from across Rhode Island on March 15 in Pawtucket to unveil a legislative package of reform and relief measures that will empower local officials to take the needed steps to achieve fiscal health for their communities. Pointing to news of Woonsocket considering closing schools early and Providence’s bond rating being downgraded, Governor Chafee called the municipal fiscal crisis a critical economic development issue and said in no uncertain terms that the time to act – the “time of urgency” – has arrived.
“We are facing three choices in Rhode Island: let our communities go bankrupt, watch property taxes continue to skyrocket, or give our municipal leaders the tools and relief they need to achieve fiscal stability for their communities. Today, I propose that we choose the latter,” Governor Chafee said.
“This legislation will empower municipal officials – many of whom I am pleased to join with today – to address the structural problems that threaten our cities and towns and hold hostage the very future of our state. Only when we have fixed the structure and workings of state and municipal governments in Rhode Island will we revitalize our economy and create the jobs and opportunities we need. I call on the House and Senate to move quickly to pass these bills and provide much-needed relief to our struggling communities and the property taxpayer,” Governor Chafee continued.
“Governor Chafee’s municipal legislative package is a way forward for cities and towns that need the necessary tools to make structural reform. I support and applaud the Governor’s efforts and believe that cities and towns must make tough, structural changes to strengthen our entire state,” said Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. “I will continue to work with Governor Chafee to get Providence on firm financial ground, and I appreciate his determined efforts to strengthen Rhode Island.”
“In proposing this new legislation, Governor Chafee clearly recognizes the need for the state to better support its cities and towns. He understands that for the State of Rhode Island to survive and prosper, its cities and towns must survive and prosper,” said Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien.
The Governor’s municipal reform and relief legislative package includes seven bills:
(read the full summaries)
- Municipal Pensions:
- Allowing municipalities with poorly funded pension plans to suspend annual cost of living adjustments until the plans are better funded – just as the state did as part of its pension reform.
- Requiring communities with overly generous pension benefits to bring pensions in line with the state system.
- Reducing disability pension benefits for employees that can perform other jobs.
- Highly Distressed Communities:
- Offering mandate relief and binding arbitration reform for four highly distressed communities – Providence, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, and West Warwick. These communities were hit hardest by the loss of state aid to municipalities in recent years. The state cut $220 million in municipal aid between FY 2008 and FY 2011, but did not repeal costly mandates, forcing cities and towns to raise property taxes and slash services. This legislation provides mandate relief to control costs and reduce the need for additional property tax increases. It also limits the scope of binding arbitration in highly distressed communities to only salary-related issues and places primary emphasis on a community’s ability to pay when deciding awards.
- Education:
- Instituting new budget accountability measures for school spending following numerous cases of significant deficits and fiscal mismanagement by school committees. The state will have greater oversight of school budgets and have an early warning system if schools are spending above their budgets.
- Providing certain exemptions for school maintenance of effort requirements.
- Cash Flow:
- Advancing municipal aid to avoid cash flow problems.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Growing Rhode Island’s Economy: Governor Hosts Venture Development Luncheon, Panel Discussion
As part of his ongoing efforts to foster job creation in Rhode Island’s knowledge economy, Governor Chafee last week led a panel discussion with experts from venture development organizations that assist companies in entrepreneurial and innovative ventures. Panel participants included Chris Coburn, executive director of Innovations at Cleveland Clinic, Richard Lunak, president and CEO of Innovation Works in Pittsburgh, and Providence native Jeanne Mell, vice president of marketing and communications at the University City Science Center in Philadelphia.
Since taking office, the Governor has visited several cities, including Pittsburgh, to understand how they are capitalizing on assets such as medical and education centers to grow their local economies.
During the discussion, Governor Chafee emphasized the job-creating potential of “meds and eds,” and highlighted the important role they will play in the development of Providence’s Knowledge District.
The Governor moderated the interview-style panel discussion, through which the audience learned more about the strategies these experts have used to help diversify their region’s economy, the challenges they had to overcome, and the level of government involvement in entrepreneurial ventures.
Over fifty leaders from the Rhode Island business community, state and local governments, academic institutions, venture organizations, and the medical and research fields attended the luncheon and panel.
Since taking office, the Governor has visited several cities, including Pittsburgh, to understand how they are capitalizing on assets such as medical and education centers to grow their local economies.
During the discussion, Governor Chafee emphasized the job-creating potential of “meds and eds,” and highlighted the important role they will play in the development of Providence’s Knowledge District.
The Governor moderated the interview-style panel discussion, through which the audience learned more about the strategies these experts have used to help diversify their region’s economy, the challenges they had to overcome, and the level of government involvement in entrepreneurial ventures.
Over fifty leaders from the Rhode Island business community, state and local governments, academic institutions, venture organizations, and the medical and research fields attended the luncheon and panel.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Promoting Rhode Island’s Economic Assets: Media Tours Key Components of Marine Trade Industry
Governor Highlights Importance of Industry for Rhode Island’s Economy
Last week, Rhode Island businesses in the marine trade industry opened their doors to national trade media, showcasing the important work being done here in the ocean state. Electric Boat, the URI Graduate School of Oceanography, ASA Science, Blount Boats, Rite Solutions, and NUWC all hosted media outlets to familiarize them with their operations.
The marine trade industry will play an important role in the Governor’s efforts to revitalize Rhode Island’s struggling economy. As plans to develop Providence’s Knowledge District move forward, the Governor has stated that he believes these industries, which carry great potential for high-skilled manufacturing, will be crucial, just as they have been throughout the state’s history.
Rhode Island’s marine trade industry encompasses a combination of the state’s key assets. Together, the strong existing defense industry, the academic excellence of ocean technology and research and development at local universities, and the private investment of companies such as Electric Boat can help foster continued economic growth for the state.
Last week, Rhode Island businesses in the marine trade industry opened their doors to national trade media, showcasing the important work being done here in the ocean state. Electric Boat, the URI Graduate School of Oceanography, ASA Science, Blount Boats, Rite Solutions, and NUWC all hosted media outlets to familiarize them with their operations.
The marine trade industry will play an important role in the Governor’s efforts to revitalize Rhode Island’s struggling economy. As plans to develop Providence’s Knowledge District move forward, the Governor has stated that he believes these industries, which carry great potential for high-skilled manufacturing, will be crucial, just as they have been throughout the state’s history.
Rhode Island’s marine trade industry encompasses a combination of the state’s key assets. Together, the strong existing defense industry, the academic excellence of ocean technology and research and development at local universities, and the private investment of companies such as Electric Boat can help foster continued economic growth for the state.
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