• Rhode Island is now ranked #1 for unemployment, tied with Nevada. The story can be found here.   In fact, only 2 states have unemployment rates above 10% and   Rhode Island's rate stands at 10.2% as of January, 2013.   Rhode Island isn't expected to get back to pre-recession job count until 2018 according to the Wall Street Journal article found here. 
  

• 5th highest for state and local tax burden according to the Tax Foundation.  The report can be viewed here.

• 7th highest for cost per pupil according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The report can be viewed here.
  

• Despite the high cost, Rhode Island comes in at number 31 for education performance
  according to Education Week's annual education report card which can be viewed here. 
  

• 7th worst state to retire.  A copy of the report can be viewed here. 

• 6th worst in property tax administration. The report by the Council of State Taxation can be viewed here

• 5th worst for business tax climate according to the Tax Foundation report which can be viewed here.
  

• 7th most miserable housing market.  The report can be viewed here.

• Among the worst in the country for government transparency receiving a "D-" grade.  The report from the     United States Public Interest Research Group can be viewed here.
  

• The worst state in the nation for manufacturing job losses in the last decade according to the Wall Street Journal analysis of Moody's Analytics data.  The report can be viewed here.
  

There are many reports by different organizations that clearly show how poor Rhode Island is doing.  The Rhode Island Center for
Freedom and Prosperity's Report Card can be viewed here.

                  HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH?    

The Democrats have controlled our General Assembly for over 70 years.  Currently they control 90% of the seats in our legislature and all 4 seats in Washington.  So what have the Democrats done with this power?  They have continued to push for more taxes and have primarily focused on social issues as Rhode Island's economy continues its downward spiral. The 2013 budget passed by the legislature includes tax increases on clothing, pet groomers ,taxi cab owners, and tobacco.  The budget also authorized tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge.  This new budget was supported by the Democrat leadership in both the House and the Senate and sailed  through causing more of a burden on the poor business climate in Rhode Island.  Most all Republicans voted against this budget.  This occurred even with warnings from the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association. 

Many businesses and individuals are leaving our state.  Things continue to get worse as even the food stamp roles in our state have jumped 136% in just the last 4 years which is almost double the national average!  In addition, the residents of our state have had it with the cronyism and corruption that is a result of this one-party dominance.  

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO TURN RHODE ISLAND AROUND?

 Because the Democrats control the State of Rhode Island with such dominating numbers this pattern will continue into our future unless it is broken.  Democrats control which ideas and eventually which legislation makes it to the floor in our legislature. Many Republican ideas never see the light of day.  Rhode Island needs balance in our General Assembly as it can clearly be seen that one-party domination is not working.  Republicans realize that Rhode Island does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem.  Voting Republican will send a clear message to our state and put us on the path to prosperity. 

 A recent report by the non-partisan Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity  is a very telling example of what is occurring in our legislature.  In total, 96 legislative bills that received a floor vote were selected for evaluation; bills that were deemed to have a positive of negative effect on individual or economic liberty.   The bills  evaluated were divided into 5 categories.Tax & Budget, Regulatory Environment, Constitutional Government, Public Sector Labor, and Education Reform.  The House of Representatives scored -24.1, with House Democrats at -32.2 and Republicans at +28.8.  The entire report can be viewed here. 

NEWSFLASH -THE DEMOCRATS HAVE NO PLAN!

In early October House Majority Whip J. Patrick O'Neill resigned from his leadership position citing that the leadership team is not working together bring about true change and they have no clear plan to address the issues the state is facing. 

FLASHBACK-SENATOR RHODA PERRY SAID WE NEED NEW PEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATURE

In July,  Democrat State Senator Rhoda Perry stated on Channel 12's "Newsmakers" that we need new people in the legislature.  She also stated that having two parties was a good thing.  However the most alarming statement is that she admitted "economics was not her area of expertise" with respect to 38 Studios!  That interview can be seen here, beginning at the 14:30 mark as it is in the second half of the program.