Rhode Island’s 2025 legislative session is in the books. But the focus for many politics-watchers remains firmly on Rhode Island House Speaker Joe Shekarchi.
Rhode Island PBS reporter Jim Hummel sat down with Shekarchi to reflect on the progress and pitfalls of the legislative session. They discussed several topics, including the state budget, funding for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, the Washington Bridge closure, and the chances of Shekarchi running for governor next year.
Interview highlights
On the recently passed state budget
Joe Shekarchi: The final budget that we passed – the General Assembly – met the moment — the needs of Rhode Island, and I’m very proud of the budget. I stand behind the budget. It was three very critical areas that I call the ‘health care area,’ in terms of hospitals, nursing homes and primary care physicians. People say, ‘Why did you do this? Why did you allocate so many dollars there?’ And I said, ‘It’s not about allocating to the industry of the hospitals, it’s about the patients in the hospital.’
There’s a great need in Rhode Island. There’s a great need for social service support, whether you like it or not, so we have to make a decision. Do you say, ‘Well, I’m sorry, we’re going to put money in a rainy-day fund…’ We have immediate needs and the people of Rhode Island need those needs to be addressed.
On the challenge of fully funding the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA)
Shekarchi: Last year, we gave them $15 million above and beyond what the governor put in his budget, and that was a one-time use of ARPA money. This year, we gave them $15 million of program money. We’ve asked RIPTA to do an efficiency study. They’re one year behind on giving us that study. So I don’t know what the answer is for RIPTA. I’m not in the public transportation business. That’s why we asked for a mandated study. They’ve got to look at the ridership. The ridership is going down with RIPTA since COVID. Why is that? We haven’t cut any routes in the last two years, so why is ridership going down? What is happening or not happening on those buses? That has to be answered before you can just put more money in it. A lot of people want to give precious taxpayer dollars away. We have to be stewards of that.
On the lack of DOT accountability following the Washington Bridge closure
Shekarchi: There is a lawsuit going on. There’s attorney generals involved. We have to respect that. There were a lot of potential liability issues and sometimes even if there wasn’t a lawsuit, there was one contemplated almost from the get go.
The point I’m making is we don’t know the facts. It’s easy to jump to the conclusion that the state did something wrong, but I’m from Missouri. You have to show me, and that’s the lawyer in me. Everybody in this state, in this country, deserves the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
On a potential run for governor
Shekarchi: I don’t know the answer to that question. First of all, I enjoy the job I’m doing, and second of all, honestly, the people of Rhode Island don’t care about the election 18 months from now. People of Rhode Island care today about riding a RIPTA bus, making sure that their loved ones are taken care of, getting a doctor. As Speaker of the House, it’s my job to be the best Speaker I can be to meet those needs and that’s what I’m planning on doing. The politics will worry about itself down the road.
