Legislative supporters of the Rhode Island Working Families Party say that Donald Trump and his administration underscore the need for Democrats to support policies that help working people.
State Rep. Brandon Potter (D-Cranston) said Democrats need to be bold after losing the White House in November.
And while some may debate what the party stands for, Potter said Wednesday during a Statehouse news conference, “one thing is certainly undeniable. The wealthiest people and the largest corporations continue to get richer and more powerful while working families continue to fall further and further behind.”
“Let’s be clear,” Potter added. “This moment is different — this is not like years past …. We need and we deserve a Democratic Party that can be counted on to fill the breach in these moments. And we have the opportunity to choose to be that party. These next few years, we know we’re going to see Washington, D.C., at its worst.”
The 13-point agenda from the Working Families Party includes measures meant to guard against cuts in Medicaid and federal funding, promote affordable healthcare, prevent retaliatory evictions and raise taxes on individuals earning more than $625,000 a year.
Here’s how state Rep. David Morales (D-Providence) framed the moment: “It’s well-known — no matter your party or politics — that this state is staring down a crisis: President Trump looks hell-bent on cutting hundreds of million dollars or more to Rhode Island in particular. So our Working Families agenda is about protecting families. But it’s also a call to action: For every Democrat in the Rhode Island State House, fighting Trump and Musk’s agenda starts in this building.”
Fifteen state representatives, a fifth of the 75 lawmakers who make up the House of Representatives joined the news conference, along with one state senator.
The appetite of legislative leaders to fund new initiatives is uncertain as Rhode Island stares down a new era of perennial deficits.
The budget proposed by Gov. Dan McKee last month closed a deficit of about $250 million for the fiscal year starting July 1.
But since coming on the scene in Rhode Island about 10 years ago, the Working Families Party has made its presence felt by scoring several legislative victories, moving what had been a predominantly socially conservative legislature somewhat to the left.
Legislative leaders have staunchly opposed broad tax increases for years, seemingly fearing it would hurt the state’s business climate, but Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Pawtucket) argued there’s a case to be made for adding a small increase for affluent taxpayers. She said doing so would yield an additional $190 million for such needs as education, child care, and transportation.
More revenue could be generated through a bill being developed by Rep. Edith Ajello (D-Providence) that would add additional tax above a certain threshold for luxury second homes.
A bill from Rep. Susan Donovan (D-Bristol) would expand eligibility for childcare while capping the amount paid to 7% of household income, far less than the current amount.
Rep. David Bennett (D-Warwick) is proposing incrementally raising Rhode Island’s $15 an hour minimum wage to $20 over five years.
Rep. Megan Cotter (D-Exeter), who gained attention for winning re-election in a pro-Trump district, wants to create a year-long study commission to examine the possible creation of a public utility for energy in Rhode Island. She said the red state of Nebraska has such a utility and that it utilizes more renewable energy than Rhode Island’s for-profit utility.
This story was reported by The Public’s Radio.
