New budget makes long-term investment in RI’s future

Home Majority Chief Christopher R. Blazejewski is a Democrat from Home District 2 in Windfall.

Final week, my spouse Ami and I had been at India Level Park with our youngsters. Watching our youngsters run on the grass by the bay was a reminder of how fortunate we’re to name Rhode Island dwelling. We reside in an exquisite place with a terrific group. However as great as our state is, we face severe challenges, from outrageous housing prices, to crumbling colleges, to the specter of local weather change. If we wish Rhode Island to be an reasonably priced, livable place for all of us, we want daring motion.

That’s why I’m so happy with the work my colleagues and I had been capable of accomplish on this yr’s state funds. As Home Majority Chief, I’ve had the privilege of bringing folks collectively from throughout our state to tackle the problems affecting all of us. Drawing upon their tales, this funds delivers actual outcomes for Rhode Islanders:

Housing affordability

The price of housing is the primary subject I am listening to from voters. If we wish everybody to have the ability to afford a roof over their heads, if we need to reside in a various group, if we wish our youngsters to have the ability to purchase a home sometime, we have to deal with the housing prices by constructing extra housing by good progress for folks of each revenue degree. That is why the funds consists of almost $300 million to handle the housing disaster and construct extra reasonably priced properties.

Public colleges

My daughter goes to Windfall public colleges, and I see daily how vital it’s to improve our colleges so children get the schooling they deserve. That is why the funds consists of $700 million in proposed and allotted funding to rebuild and restore our colleges so Rhode Island college students can attend colleges which might be secure, heat, dry, and prepared for twenty first century studying. It additionally consists of over $500 million in federal funds to stem the tide of pandemic studying loss.

Local weather change

If we do not act, our grandchildren will see a lot of India Level Park, downtown Windfall, and Rhode Island’s shoreline underwater. That is why I introduced folks collectively final yr to cross the Act on Local weather, which units essentially the most formidable carbon neutrality goal within the U.S., and this yr to cross the strongest renewable power customary within the nation.  The funds builds on this progress, with $250 million to transition us to a clear power economic system and construct for local weather resiliency.

Little one care and early studying

With a son in pre-school, I understand how vital high quality early studying is for childhood growth and our economic system. The funds consists of over $100 million, with plans for even additional growth, to help baby care and early studying so children get the help they want and fogeys can get to work.

Frontline care employees

If we realized something from this pandemic, it is that frontline heroes are undervalued and underpaid. That is why I introduced collectively sufferers, employees, and suppliers to make sure Rhode Islanders get the care we want once we want it, and care employees earn a residing wage. From hospitals and nursing properties to home-based care and behavioral and psychological well being companies, the funds comprises over $300 million to repair our health-care system. It additionally consists of funding to handle our psychological well being disaster, together with addiction-recovery companies and help for psychological well being in colleges.

It’s usually stated that budgets are an announcement of values. This funds is greater than an announcement. It delivers actual outcomes for Rhode Islanders and well makes use of federal rescue funds to make long-term investments in our future.  We accomplish all this whereas eliminating the automotive tax and reducing taxes for fogeys, veterans, and seniors. With this funds, I’m as optimistic as ever that we will face our challenges and hold Rhode Island a terrific place to reside, for ourselves, our youngsters, and our grandchildren.