RI GOP: "This Budget is a Joke," Urges Senate to Vote No or Boycott

"Any Senator who does not want to look like a clown should vote against this budget or just boycott the vote," Rhode Island Republican Party Chairman, Brandon S. Bell proclaimed in a statement ahead of the Rhode Island Senate's state budget vote scheduled for Thursday. 

For the budget to be adopted in its entirety, it must be passed by a two-thirds vote of the entire Senate. Although the public has not been informed of the deals that were made at a series of secret summits, the Rhode Island Republican Party believes that in return for the Senate caving into House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, the Department of Revenue will issue annual reports starting in 2021 on the car tax phase out. Meanwhile, even if the Senate votes for this budget today, it is adopting a budget which is unbalanced by at least $2.5 million since the new taxes and fees in the budget did not go into effect in July as planned, claims the Rhode island Republican Party.

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“This was a bloated and bogus budget in June with its reliance on millions in one-time scoops from utility customers, and unspecified spending cuts," said  Rhode Island Republican Party Chairman Brandon S. Bell. "Now it is unbalanced by at least $2.5 million and Governor Raimondo has yet to reveal any details of her plan to cut $25 million in spending. The Senate should not adopt a budget it knows is unbalanced.”

“This budget is a joke, and for the Senate to return after all this and vote for it will make the Senate a joke," continued Bell. "The Senate could conduct a feasibility of the car tax phase-out at any time on its own or request the Department of Revenue to do so. It does not need Speaker Mattiello’s permission. If the Senate votes for this budget, it will not be taken seriously again. Any Senator who does not want to look like a clown should vote against this budget or just boycott the vote.”

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