"It’s time for a tax system that’s actually fair, guaranteeing that the richest one percent will pay more to fund our public schools, colleges, roads, bridges, and public transit.”
Wins For RI Babies, Young Children & Families In Governor McKee’s Proposed FY 2027 State Budget
On January 15th, Governor Dan McKee formally introduced his FY 2027 state budget. The RIght from the Start campaign is excited to see several important wins for RI babies, young children, and families in the proposed budget:
1) New refundable, $325 per child permanent Child Tax Credit. Read our full fact sheet on the proposed Child Tax Credit here. This program, if adopted, will reduce child poverty, improve family financial stability, boost child wellbeing, stimulate RI’s economy, and help families.
2) Medicaid rate increases for Early Intervention and Family Home Visiting.
3) Stable funding to provide access to Head Start, including $1.2 million in state revenue and $3 million in federal TANF funds.
4) Bold new revenue proposal - A marginal tax increase on ultra-high earners, which is needed to invest in critical services for children and families.
5) New investments to backfill federal cuts to Medicaid, HealthSource RI (Affordable Care Act subsidies), and SNAP benefits.
Thank you, Governor McKee, for proposing these investments! We now look forward to working with the General Assembly to include these policies and investments in the final, adopted FY 2027 State budget.
Please see the Save RIPTA coalition’s statement on the Governor’s FY27 budget and RIPTA funding.
"We are grateful to see the recognition of RIPTA’s importance in Governor McKee’s FY27 budget, which allocates funds to fill the agency’s deficit. But the reality remains that the impacts of the largest bus service cuts in RIPTA’s history, enacted last fall, are devastating for riders and drivers. The cuts need to be reversed: this is not the “right size” for RIPTA.
"We are seeing the consequences of what happens when vital transportation services are taken away: thousands of RIPTA riders have lost employment and income, lost their ability to get to work and school on time, been forced to change housing, and been locked out of educational, commercial, and civic opportunities. If Governor McKee and the General Assembly truly seek greater affordability and advancement for Rhode Island, they must reverse the cuts and invest in sustainable funding that expands our only public transit system.
"We will be back at the State House to fight for real long-term investments in transportation funding every week this session!"
RIBLIA Caucus statement on Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee’s proposed FY2027 budget
The Rhode Island Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander Caucus (RIBLIA) issued the following statement concerning Governor McKee’s budget proposal and priorities:
“For the majority of Rhode Islanders, we are living in challenging and uncertain times. Affordability of homes, health care, energy, food, and daily necessities is driving our state’s residents to the brink and creating overwhelming stress for individuals and families. While we applaud the governor for including a ‘millionaires’ tax’ and other affordability measures, it is the RIBLIA Caucus’s belief that this budget proposal does not go far enough to offer Rhode Islanders the relief and support that they desperately need.
“In the face of devastating federal cuts, both implemented and threatened, we believe a more aggressive approach than what is being offered by the governor is warranted to ensure that every Rhode Islander is not left behind or forgotten. This is why we will be strongly and unapologetically advocating for the wealthy to pay their fair share of taxes above what the governor has proposed, for increased support for health care, housing assistance, free school lunch for all, and many other areas of support that Rhode Islanders require and deserve.
“Now is not the time for half measures or empty rhetoric. The struggle is all too real for so many of our residents, and they deserve tangible solutions to the challenges they face every single day. The RIBLIA Caucus firmly stands with the everyday people of Rhode Island, and rest assured, we will be fighting on their behalf for a better and more supportive Rhode Island."
In the history of the United States the data is quite clear. Higher taxes on the wealthiest people is good for the economy and the community. Higher taxes on the rich reduce inequality, which has clearly been demonstrated to be good for the economy, and provides additional revenue to invest in lower income comminities. The economic benefits of increasing monetary flows in low income communities spread through the entire state, benefitiing everyone, including the wealthiest people who are paying the higher taxes, as the additional commerce generated is disproportionally spent in the buisnesses owned by wealthier people. That the wealthiest people in the state are not supporting a higher income tax on the richest people shows that they lack not only a community spirit, but also a basic understanding of economics and the benefits of higher taxes on the rich for everyone, including themselves.
Looking much better for babies, children and families than 1/16/26! Def a win!
A good start which unfortunately is not a good enough start!
Wins For RI Babies, Young Children & Families In Governor McKee’s Proposed FY 2027 State Budget
On January 15th, Governor Dan McKee formally introduced his FY 2027 state budget. The RIght from the Start campaign is excited to see several important wins for RI babies, young children, and families in the proposed budget:
1) New refundable, $325 per child permanent Child Tax Credit. Read our full fact sheet on the proposed Child Tax Credit here. This program, if adopted, will reduce child poverty, improve family financial stability, boost child wellbeing, stimulate RI’s economy, and help families.
2) Medicaid rate increases for Early Intervention and Family Home Visiting.
3) Stable funding to provide access to Head Start, including $1.2 million in state revenue and $3 million in federal TANF funds.
4) Bold new revenue proposal - A marginal tax increase on ultra-high earners, which is needed to invest in critical services for children and families.
5) New investments to backfill federal cuts to Medicaid, HealthSource RI (Affordable Care Act subsidies), and SNAP benefits.
Thank you, Governor McKee, for proposing these investments! We now look forward to working with the General Assembly to include these policies and investments in the final, adopted FY 2027 State budget.
Please see the Save RIPTA coalition’s statement on the Governor’s FY27 budget and RIPTA funding.
"We are grateful to see the recognition of RIPTA’s importance in Governor McKee’s FY27 budget, which allocates funds to fill the agency’s deficit. But the reality remains that the impacts of the largest bus service cuts in RIPTA’s history, enacted last fall, are devastating for riders and drivers. The cuts need to be reversed: this is not the “right size” for RIPTA.
"We are seeing the consequences of what happens when vital transportation services are taken away: thousands of RIPTA riders have lost employment and income, lost their ability to get to work and school on time, been forced to change housing, and been locked out of educational, commercial, and civic opportunities. If Governor McKee and the General Assembly truly seek greater affordability and advancement for Rhode Island, they must reverse the cuts and invest in sustainable funding that expands our only public transit system.
"We will be back at the State House to fight for real long-term investments in transportation funding every week this session!"
RIBLIA Caucus statement on Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee’s proposed FY2027 budget
The Rhode Island Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander Caucus (RIBLIA) issued the following statement concerning Governor McKee’s budget proposal and priorities:
“For the majority of Rhode Islanders, we are living in challenging and uncertain times. Affordability of homes, health care, energy, food, and daily necessities is driving our state’s residents to the brink and creating overwhelming stress for individuals and families. While we applaud the governor for including a ‘millionaires’ tax’ and other affordability measures, it is the RIBLIA Caucus’s belief that this budget proposal does not go far enough to offer Rhode Islanders the relief and support that they desperately need.
“In the face of devastating federal cuts, both implemented and threatened, we believe a more aggressive approach than what is being offered by the governor is warranted to ensure that every Rhode Islander is not left behind or forgotten. This is why we will be strongly and unapologetically advocating for the wealthy to pay their fair share of taxes above what the governor has proposed, for increased support for health care, housing assistance, free school lunch for all, and many other areas of support that Rhode Islanders require and deserve.
“Now is not the time for half measures or empty rhetoric. The struggle is all too real for so many of our residents, and they deserve tangible solutions to the challenges they face every single day. The RIBLIA Caucus firmly stands with the everyday people of Rhode Island, and rest assured, we will be fighting on their behalf for a better and more supportive Rhode Island."
In the history of the United States the data is quite clear. Higher taxes on the wealthiest people is good for the economy and the community. Higher taxes on the rich reduce inequality, which has clearly been demonstrated to be good for the economy, and provides additional revenue to invest in lower income comminities. The economic benefits of increasing monetary flows in low income communities spread through the entire state, benefitiing everyone, including the wealthiest people who are paying the higher taxes, as the additional commerce generated is disproportionally spent in the buisnesses owned by wealthier people. That the wealthiest people in the state are not supporting a higher income tax on the richest people shows that they lack not only a community spirit, but also a basic understanding of economics and the benefits of higher taxes on the rich for everyone, including themselves.