One way to unite state lawmakers across the political divide: Give them a common cause.
In this case, defeating Gov. Dan McKee’s pitch to raise salaries for 11 of his department heads.
The Rhode Island House of Representatives voted unanimously Tuesday in a 68-0 vote to reject McKee’s proposed cabinet raises, marking the first time on record that the legislature has exercised its statutory authority to veto executive salary hikes.
State law specifies that annual raises proposed by the governor automatically take effect within 30 days, unless the legislature acts to stop them through a joint, concurrent resolution, which must pass through both chambers.
McKee wrote to the Rhode Island General Assembly notifying them of his proposed raises on April 18, giving the legislature till May 18 to make a move. The Rhode Island Senate has not scheduled a vote as of Tuesday, with leaders still discussing the proposal, Greg Paré, a Senate spokesperson, said.
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, who sponsored the resolution to stop the salary increases, made it clear when McKee unveiled the combined $82,000 worth of salary increases in March that he had reservations about doling out raises in cash-strapped times. The state is facing a projected $190 million deficit for fiscal 2026, alongside threats of potentially devastating cuts to federal funding.
House Majority Leader Christopher Blazejewski also said prudence was needed in explaining the bill on the floor Tuesday.
“This is not a reflection of any one particular director but has more to do with the financial circumstances at this time,” Blazejewski, a Providence Democrat, said.
The 68-o vote came swiftly. The only lawmaker who commented prior to the vote was Rep. Charlene Lima, a Cranston Democrat.
“I don’t think people should be getting raises at this time,” Lima said.
McKee, however, has defended the salary bumps as necessary to keep pay competitive with other states and the private sector.
Nine cabinet members would receive 5% raises effective May 18 if the Senate fails to vote on the resolution before then. They are the head of the Departments of Administration; Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals; Business Regulation; Children, Youth and Families; Corrections; Environmental Management; Human Services; Labor and Training, and Revenue.
The Department of Transportation director would get a 2% raise while the Rhode Island State Police superintendent, who also serves as director of the Department of Public Safety, is in line for a 0.5% raise.
Absent from the vote Tuesday were representatives Mia Ackerman, a Cumberland Democrat; Stephen Casey, a Woonsocket Democrat; Marie Hopkins, a Warwick Republican; Brian Kennedy, a Hopkinton Democrat; and William O’Brien, a North Providence Democrat.
This story was originally published by the Rhode Island Current.
