Rhode Island

Should rich Rhode Islanders pay higher taxes? Here’s what’s being proposed, and why

Published

10 months ago

March 4, 2025

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Should rich Rhode Islanders pay higher taxes? Here’s what’s being proposed, and why

Progressives and union leaders say fear that millionaires will flee RI to avoid higher taxes is a “myth.”
Massachusetts collected more from its millionaires tax than expected and did not see an exodus of the rich.
Business groups say higher taxes would make RI less competitive.

PROVIDENCE − Rhode Island AFL-CIO President Patrick Crowley on Tuesday kicked off this year’s campaign to raise state income taxes on the top 1% of earners wearing an “Eat the Rich” T-shirt.

“You know they say that we have to have the tax policy we have because it benefits job creators,” Crowley told a coalition of groups gathered at the State House in support of the tax hike. “We say we can’t solve tomorrow’s problems with yesterday’s tax policy.”

Raising taxes on the wealthy has been a goal of Rhode Island progressives and unions at least since the state’s top tax rate was lowered in 2010.

But the idea has been a political non-starter for a series of governors and General Assembly leaders, including the current officeholders.

Post-pandemic federal aid and budget surpluses have reduced the impetus for the increased revenue that new higher taxes would bring, but the state’s fiscal picture could change quickly if there is an economic downturn or Republicans in Washington make deep cuts in Medicaid. The federal government splits the cost of Medicaid coverage with the states, and a reduction in federal funding would make states pony up more or cancel health insurance for some portion of residents.

Under those tougher scenarios, the tax plan the Revenue for Rhode Islanders coalition is pushing − a 3% surcharge on income above $625,000 − may become more politically appealing.

Advocates estimate that the tax increase would generate $190 million in annual revenue.

What about Massachusetts?

Rhode Island progressives believe their case for raising taxes on the rich has been bolstered by Massachusetts voters passing the “Fair Share” tax increase − a 4% surcharge on income over $1 million − in 2022.

Massachusetts’ higher income taxes make it less likely that wealthy residents will move across the border for tax reasons and, tax-the-rich advocates say, the Bay State’s experience with a millionaires tax is encouraging.

The Economic Progress Institute releases a policy paper Tuesday arguing that tax data shows millionaires are less likely to move than lower-income residents, and that when they do move, taxes are not usually the reason.

“There’s no evidence we’ve seen of a tax flight from Massachusetts or anywhere else, and the revenue impact is significant,” Economic Progress Institute research director Alan Krinsky said.

Andrew Farnitano, communications director for the group what campaigned for the Massachusetts millionaires tax, called the tax hike a “resounding, unqualified success” and said it had not sent Bay State millionaires and billionaires packing.

He offered as evidence that advocates had advertised that the tax would generate $2 billion per year, and in the first full year of collections Massachusetts took in $2.4 billion.

“They said the money will not show up, because multimillionaires will flee the state en masse rather than pay a new tax. And they were flat-out wrong,” Farnitano said.

In opposing a tax hike on the rich, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee last year said he hoped millionaires would move to Rhode Island to get away from the tax hike in Massachusetts.

How many people would pay more?

Revenue for Rhode Islanders estimates that 5,700 of Rhode Island’s 500,000 tax filers would pay more under the surcharge plan the group supports.

The tax increase is spelled out in legislation − H5473 and S329 − from Rep. Karen Alzate, D-Pawtucket, and Sen. Melissa Murray, D-Woonsocket, but would likely be folded into the state budget if passed. It is part of the slate of bills backed by the House progressive bloc and Rhode Island Working Families Party.

Business groups, including the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, have vehemently opposed an income tax increase for many years and are expected to fight this proposed 3% surcharge.

What would it be used for?

Alzate’s and Murray’s bills don’t specify what the new revenue generated by higher taxes would be used for, but the Revenue for Rhode Islanders coalition has a long wish list, including education, school meals and public transit.

“We could fund housing. We could fund badly needed mental health supports in our schools,” Murray said. “We could fund free school lunch for all, and breakfast. We could fund child care so parents could go back to work. We could help lift children out of poverty and so much more.”

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Jan. 10, 2026

Published

9 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 10, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

05-19-21-28-64, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

17-24-36-38-43, Lucky Ball: 17

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

Midday: 6-3-1-0

Evening: 3-7-1-4

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

10-13-27-37-38, Extra: 19

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Rhode Island

GoLocalProv | News | Gov. McKee’s Schedule for the First 10 Days of the New Year

Published

21 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

GoLocalProv | News | Gov. McKee’s Schedule for the First 10 Days of the New Year

Saturday, January 10, 2026

GoLocalProv News Team

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Governor Dan McKee PHOTO: GoLocal

It’s a new year, filled with new challenges. The General Assembly is back in session. Rhode Island’s economy is flat at best, and according to the University of Rhode Island economist Leonard Lardaro, the state is in a recession. Rhode Island is also in daily legal conflict with the Trump administration.

Add that the state is trying to recover from a mass shooting at Brown University, which killed two students and wounded nine others.

For Governor Dan McKee, it is a critical time.

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He has announced he is running for reelection—the Democratic primary is just nine months away.

McKee’s poll numbers have plummeted to record lows.

A poll released by the University of New Hampshire in November of 2025 found that in the race for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Rhode Island, 29% of likely Democratic primary voters (N=359) say they would currently vote for former CVS executive Helena Foulkes, 13% would vote for Speaker of the RI House of Representatives Joe Shekarchi, 11% would vote for incumbent Governor Dan McKee, 6% would write in someone else, and 42% are undecided.

Is the 74-year-old McKee criss-crossing the state to reassure Rhode Islanders, listening to residents’ ideas, and sharing his vision for the state in his second term?

GoLocal offers a recap of the McKees’ public schedule for the first ten days of the month.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10 & SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2026

No public events.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2026

No public events.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

2:00 PM

Governor McKee will deliver remarks at the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty’s 18th Annual Interfaith Poverty Vigil.

LOCATION:

RI State House Rotunda

82 Smith Street

Providence, RI

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2026

No public events.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2026

No public events.

MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2026

9:30 AM

Governor McKee will deliver remarks at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new community learning center at the Cross’ Mills Public Library.

LOCATION:

Cross’ Mills Public Library

4417 Old Post Road

Charlestown, RI

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3 & SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2026

No public events.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2026

11:00 AM

Governor McKee will join members of Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation and local and state leaders for a rally hosted by Climate Action RI, Climate Jobs RI, and the AFL-CIO in support of Revolution Wind and other offshore wind projects.

LOCATION:

CIC Providence

225 Dyer Street

Providence, RI

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2026

No public events.

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Rhode Island

GoLocalProv | Politics | Providence On Sunday Is One of the Sites for a National Protest Against ICE

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

GoLocalProv | Politics | Providence On Sunday Is One of the Sites for a National Protest Against ICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

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Protest in Providence in June against ICE PHOTO: GoLocal

Organizers in Rhode Island and across the country are mobilizing against ICE after a pair of shootings in the past few days.

Organizers locally said, “Rhode Islanders will gather on Sunday to honor the life lost, make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions, and demand that state and federal leaders reject local contracts with ICE, take every action possible to stop ICE from operating in Rhode Island, and hold ICE agents accountable when they break the law.”

The RI event begins at 2 PM at the State House on Sunday.

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Nationally, it was a announced on Friday that, “A broad national coalition, including Indivisible, MoveOn Civic Action, the American Civil Liberties Union, Voto Latino, United We Dream, 50501, the Disappeared in America Campaign of the Not Above the Law coalition, and partner organizations across the country, is calling for a coordinated ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action.

“The mobilization comes in response to the escalation of ICE violence in our communities, the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old wife and mother of three, and the months-long pattern of unchecked violence and abuse in marginalized communities across America. Across the country, communities will gather in nonviolent, lawful, and community-led actions to honor the life lost, demand accountability, and make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions,” said organizers.

Organizers added, “Good and the Portland victims are part of a broader and deeply alarming pattern of unchecked violence and abuse by federal immigration enforcement agencies. In September, ICE reportedly shot and killed Silverio Villegas González, a father and cook from Mexico living in Chicago. In 2025 alone, more than 30 people have reportedly died in ICE detention.”