JIM: COMING UP ON "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT.

A NEW" YEAR BRINGS A NEW GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION WITH NEW CHALLENGES.

WHAT ARE LIKELY TO BE THE KEY ISSUES IN 2023?

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY.

>> FOR OVER 30 YEARS, "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I'’M A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US THIS WEEK OUR LEADERS FROM BOTH CHAMBERS.

HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER CHRIS BLAZEJEWSKI.

SENATE MINORITY LEADER JESSICA DE LA CRUZ.

JOSH MILLER, CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, AND HOUSE MINORITY LEADER MIKE CHIPPENDALE.

HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO OUR ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE LEADERS PROGRAM.

I'’M JIM HUMMEL.

HOUSING, EDUCATION, THE ENVIRONMENT, HOMELESSNESS.

HAVING A LOT OF MONEY DOESN'’T ALWAYS SOLVE THE STATES PROBLEMS, BUT IT'’S A BETTER POSITION TO BE IN THAN WHAT RHODE ISLAND SAW JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

SO WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS?

PANEL, WELCOME.

A PROGRAMMING NOTE, SENATOR MILLER, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

RYAN PEARSON HAD A SCHEDULING CONFLICT, SO JOSH IS COMING IN FROM THE BULLPEN.

WE JOKED BEFORE, YOU WERE THE ONLY GUY THAT SURVIVED LAST YEAR'’S PANEL.

THERE'’S BEEN A BIG CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP.

CHRIS, LET'’S BEGIN WITH YOU.

THIS BUDGET SURPLUS, SPEAKER SHEKARCHI SAID THERE WAS 10 TIMES THE AMOUNT REQUESTED THAN WHAT WE HAD.

IT IS A NICE LUXURY TO HAVE BUT A LOT OF PEOPL WHAT A PIECE OF THAT PIE.

REP. BLAZEJEWSKI: IN THE TWO YEARS THAT SPEAKER SHEKARCHI HAS BEEN SPEAKER, WE HAVE DONE THREE BUDGETS SERVING THE PEOPLE RHODE ISLAND ON HOUSING, CHILDCARE, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING TARGETED TAX RELIEF.

WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON THESE THINGS FOR SOME TIME.

LOOKING AT HOW WE HANDLE ANY BUDGETARY SURPLUS, IS IT ONE TIME MONEY?

WE THINK IT IS.

WHAT DOES OUR LONG-TERM OUTLOOK LOOK LIKE?

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT A POTENTIALLY SOFTENING ECONOMY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ANY SPENDING THAT OCCURS IN THE BUDGET IS ONE TIME AND FOCUSES ON THE REVENUE WE HAVE NOW, DOES NOT CREATE OBLIGATION THAT COULD SET US BACK IN THE FUTURE.

JIM: YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST TO CALL FOR THE SUSPENSION OF THE GAS TAX.

PRICES HAVE NOW COME DOWN.

NEIGHBORING STATES SAY WE HAVE ALL THIS MONEY, WHY DON'’T WE DO SOMETHING?

THE GOVERNOR HAS TALKED ABOUT A POTENTIAL SALES TAX CUT.

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE IN MIND BEYOND THAT?

REP. DE LA CRUZ: IF WE ARE GOING TO DO A CUT, WE NEED TO COMPETE WITH MASSACHUSETTS.

IF WE JUST HAVE A 1% TAX CUT, THAT WILL NOT ENTICE ANYONE.

IF WE MAKE IT 5%, IT IS ENTICING AND PEOPLE WILL CROSS THE BORDER TO RHODE ISLAND.

>> ON THE SALES TAX, I THINK IT IS A LITTLE REWARD INVESTMENT IN THE SENSE THAT WE ARE GIVING THAT RELIEF TO PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE, AS WELL.

BY BECOMING COMPETITIVE WITH MASS, WE WOULD ONLY BE RECAPTURING RHODE ISLANDERS WHO PURCHASE OUT-OF-STATE.

WHILE THAT IS GOOD RELIEF, WE COULD OFFER RELIEF IN AN AREA THAT IS FOR EVERYONE.

>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF THE CYCLES WE HAVE SEEN OVR THE LAST FEW YEARS, WHETHER TAX CUTS I GENERAL HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATE.

WE HAVE HAD COVID, THE RECESSION OF 2007-2008, ANOTHER ONE FORECAST.

SO I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT ANY TAX CUT, IT IS WHAT THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS COULD BE TO OUR ABILITY TO APPROACH ANY TREND.

JIM: THE GOVERNOR MAY HAD MENTIONED THIS IN THE DEBATE, BUT I READ A STORY THAT HE DID.

WAS THIS ON YOUR RADAR SCREEN?

THE SPEAKER WILL SAY WE NEED TO DO A FISCAL ANALYSIS.

HAS THAT BEEN DONE ON IF YOU LOWER A PERCENTAGE, HOW MANY MILLIONS THAT TRANSLATES INTO?

>> ONCE WE GET THE BUDGET, OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL IMMEDIATELY GO TO WORK AND START HEARING THE BUDGET, ARTICLES, LOOK AT WHAT THE COSTS WILL BE.

THE GOVERNOR IS SUPPOSED TO PRESENT US WITH A BALANCED BUDGET, SO PRESUMABLY HE IS DOING NETWORK AS WELL, BUT WE TAKE THAT WORK SERIOUSLY IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE THAT IS OUR PRIMARY GOAL, TO PASS A BUDGET EVERY YEAR.

WE WILL PROVIDE A BUDGET ONLY SERVES THE PEOPLE RHODE ISLAND, SERVES THEIR NEEDS, BUT IS ALSO A BALANCED AND PROVIDES RELIEF TO PEOPLE.

JIM: WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS?

>> THEY NEED RELIEF.

PROPERTY TAX IS THE BIGGEST THING IN THE PART OF THE STATE THAT I REPRESENT THAT DRIVES WHERE PEOPLE ARE.

WE DON'’T GET MUCH RELIEF FROM ANYTHING OTHER THAN HOMEOWNER TAXES.

THIS PAST ELECTION, A LOT OF IT WAS THE INCREASE IN ELECTRIC COSTS, GENERAL INCREASE IN COSTS ACROSS THE BOARD, HOW THEY REALLY NEED SOME RELIEF AT HOME.

THAT IS AN AREA WHERE I THINK WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON.

JIM: YOU HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE 2006.

YOU HAVE A FEW YEARS ON EVERYONE HERE.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN THE RED INK, FOR SO LONG, THERE IS A HESITANCY.

RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OUT YEARS.

I SENSE A HESITANCY.

I DON'’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE HEARING UP THERE.

TWO YEARS OUT, WE MAY BE FACING ANOTHER $200 MILLION DEFICIT.

REP. MILLER: THERE IS SOME CAUTION BASED ON THAT.

WE HAVE SEEN CYCLES, IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING OF A ROLLER COASTER.

IF YOU ADD THE IMPLICATIONS OF SOMETHING LIKE COVID, WHICH HAS SHOWED HOW WE CAN GET A SPIKE IN DEMAND FOR A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES -- AND I KNOW THAT YOU'’LL TALK ABOUT HOUSING LATER.

BUT THAT IS AN EXAMPLE.

THERE IS A TREMENDOUS DEMAND ON SOME OF OUR SOCIAL SERVICES BASED ON COMING OUT OF COVID, BASED ON A LONG-STANDING LACK OF A CERTAIN ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES.

HOUSING, WE WILL TALK ABOUT.

THOSE ARE EXAMPLES WHERE THERE COULD BE HUGE DEMAND ON SERVICES.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BE EQUIPPED TO FUND THAT DEMAND.

JIM: SAME QUESTION FROM YOU, JESS.

REP. DE LA CRUZ: THE GAS IS EXPENSIVE, HARD TO HEAT THEIR HOMES.

PAYING FOR GROCERIES IS ALMOST DOUBLE.

IT IS HARD FOR THEM TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND THEY HAVE NOT CHANGED THEIR SPENDING HABITS, STILL BUYING THE SAME PRODUCTS AT THE GROCERY STORE, DRIVING THE SAME AMOUNTS.

IT IS NOW COSTING SO MUCH MORE.

THEY FEEL THE PINCH.

JIM: MIKE, LET'’S TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

YOU HAVE BEEN IN HEARINGS, THE SECRETARY HAD A ROUGH START TO BEGIN WITH.

AS I SAID IN THE OPEN, HAVING MONEY DOESN'’T ALWAYS SOLVE PROBLEMS.

PARTICULARLY THE CRANSTON ARMORY SHELTER, PROBLEMS STAFFING.

PEOPLE LOOK AT THE EXECUTION.

THE MONEY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED, WHAT ABOUT THE EXECUTION?

AND WHAT ROLE DOES THE LEGSLATURE PLAY?

THEY HAVE BEEN FUNDED.

REP. CHIPPENDALE: IT IS LIKE THROWING BAND-AIDS ON SKIN CANCER.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO EXECUTE.

WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN EXECUTE IS REALLY WHAT IS AT QUESTION HERE.

FRANKLY, I HAVE NOT SEEN THE SORT OF URGENCY THAT THIS ISSUE REALLY DEMANDS SO FAR.

WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

WE HAVE TO ACT, AND WE HAVE TO ACT SWIFTLY AND RESPONSIBLY.

JIM: I KNOW THE SPEAKER HAS CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THE SECRETARY IS DOING.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE'’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR SO LONG BUT WE HAVE THE LUXURY OF MONEY NOW.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IT USED?

>> YOU TALK ABOUT EXECUTION, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT.

HOUSING IS AN ISSUE THAT'’S BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT.

IF YOU GO BACK TO THE BUDGETS THAT WE HAVE DONE SINCE 2020, AND THE FIRST BUDGET WE HAD AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND, THE HIGHEST THAT EVER EXISTED.

WE ALSO PASSED A FIRST AND RHODE ISLAND HOUSING PRODUCTION FUND, OVER $25 MILLION.

LAST YEAR, WE PROVIDED ALMOST $300 MILLION T SUPPORT -- TO SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

NOW WE HAVE TO EXECUTE ON THOSE PLANS.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CHRONICALLY ON HOUSED.

THAT WAS PASSED IN THE SUMMER OF 2021.

JUST NOW, THE GOVERNOR IS STARTING TO PEOPLE IN THOSE PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE TO SEE EXECUTION ON THOSE FUNDS THAT WE CREATED OVER TIME.

REP. MILLER: THERE IS THE HOUSING COMPONENT, WIDE-RANGING HOUSING NEEDS, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS 30,000 UNITS.

BUT IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY HOMELESS, IT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CATEGORY, AND IT REQUIRES A TOTALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH.

THAT GOES BEYOND HOUSING.

WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE HOUSED?

COULD WE HAVE PREVENTED THAT?

CAN WE QUICKLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT?

ARE THERE POPULATIONS WE CAN SPECIFICALLY TARGET THAT WOULD PREVENT THEM FROM BEING UNHOUSED, WHETHER THEY ARE RECENTLY INCARCERATED, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES, ADDICTION ISSUES, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN EVICTED, VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT WOULD PREVENT THEM FROM BEING HOMELESS THAT ALSO NEED TO BE FUNDED, THAT WOULD PREVENT HOMELESSNESS, THAT WOULD REALLY BE A QUICKER SOLUTION OFTEN THAN WAITING FOR HOUSING TO BE BUILT.

PROPERLY RESPOND VERSUS RESPONDING IN DECEMBER.

WE HAVE LIVED IN RHODE ISLAND MOST OF OUR LIVES, MOST OF US.

WE KNOW WINTER IS COMING EVERY TIME, BUT WE ARE ALMOST NOT PREPARED EVERY SEASON.

TO PROPERLY FUND THAT RESPONSE ON AN ANNUAL BUDGET, THAT ACTUALLY MEETS THOSE NEEDS AND APPROACHES THOSE ISSUES.

JIM: AFFORDABLE IS A RELATIVE TERM.

RENT HAS SPARKED SO MUCH.

I'’M SURE EVEN IN YOUR DISTRICT, PEOPLE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNITS.

REP. DE LA CRUZ: IT IS HARD FINDING THEM AT ALL.

I TALKED TO EVEN LEGISLATORS IN THE SENATE, SHE WAS TELLING ME THAT HER CONSTITUENTS CANNOT FIND ANYTHING IN PROVIDENCE.

EITHER IT IS TOO MUCH OR THERE IS NOT ENOUGH AVAILABLE.

FOR THE HOMELESS, THEY ARE SHORT-TERM THINGS WE CAN DO IMMEDIATELY, AND THEN THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS LONG-TERM.

SHORT-TERM, WE HAVE ALL THIS MONEY.

THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT USED ALL THE FUNDS.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THE ARMORY, THEY FOUND IT TO BE UNSANITARY, UNSAFE.

THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT.

JIM: THAT ALSO MIGHT BE A WORKFORCE THING.

WE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING PEOPLE TO WORK IN ANY JOB.

I KNOW THEY ARE OVERSEEING THESE THINGS -- BUT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HIRE PEOPLE AND GET THEM OVER TO THE ARMORY?

FROM THE OUTSIDE IT MAY SEEM EASY, BUT THE EXECUTION IS NOT SO EASY.

>> THAT IS PART OF THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO RAISE EARLIER.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE'’VE BEEN WORKING ON IN THE LEGISLATURE THREE YEARS.

WE CAME TOGETHER SHORTLY AFTER SPEAKER SHEKARCHI WAS ISSUED, WHAT SHE WANTED TO WORK ON, AND HOUSING WAS FOR MOST -- FOREMOST.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT THROUGH THE BLOG, SETTING UP THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO EXECUTE ON THE PLAN, NOT ONLY TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING LONG-TERM BUT TO PROVIDE THOSE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, SHORT-TERM NEEDS THAT WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND INTO A STABLE HOUSING SITUATION.

>> I WAS GOING TO INTERJECT ON THOSE COMMENTS.

IN THOSE SAME THREE YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN A DEPLETION OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, ADDICTION COUNSELORS, OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE COMPLICATED THE ISSUE.

HAVING THE FUNDING IS ONE ELEMENT, BUT NOT HAVING THE FOLKS WHO CAN GO OUT AND PERFORM THESE VITAL SERVICES IS A PROBLEM THAT IS, IN MY OPINION, NOT BEING ADDRESSED IN THE MARKETPLACE.

JIM: WE SEE THAT WITH NURSES, A LOT OF PROFESSION, TEACHERS.

JOSH, PEOPLE SAY THERE IS A NUMBER OF COMPONENTS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

pIS IT A RENT VOUCHERS?

IS IT A COMBINATION OF THINGS?

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE STATE ONE YEAR FROM NOW?

REP. MILLER: I JUST CAME FROM A MEETING WHERE IT WAS DISCUSSED, THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING THAT WAS SHORT IN RHODE ISLAND, 30,000 UNITS.

A FEW HUNDRED OF THOSE IS THE HOMELESS POPULATION WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT.

IT IS A WIDE RANGE, DIFFERENT APPROACH FOR EACH SECTOR.

WORKFORCE HOUSING IS A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THOSE THAT ARE HOMELESS.

THE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT FIND HOUSING IN A RURAL DISTRICT, WHO CANNOT AFFORD AN APARTMENT, IS PARTLY TO DO WITH THE WAGE THEY ARE PAID.

THEY ARE NOT PAID ENOUGH.

IT IS PARTLY TO DO WITH HOW QUICKLY YOU NEED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

DO YOU NEED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BY SUBSIDIZING SOMEBODY'’S RENT?

OR DO YOU NEED TO ADD MORE INVENTORY?

IT IS NOT THE SAME APPROACH FOR EACH SECTOR.

THEREFORE, WE HAVE NOT COME UP WITH A SIMPLE SOLUTION.

WE NEED TO SPECIFY THE REPORT THAT IS OVERDUE, THAT WOULD HELP SPECIFY WHERE YOU NEED TO SPEND.

DO YOU NEED TO SPEND MORE ON SUPPLEMENTAL, MORE ON EMERGENCY?

I AM SURE WE NEED TO SPEND MORE ON ALL OF THEM, BUT IF YOU HAVE 250 AND YOU WANT TO SPEND ANOTHER 250, HOW SHOULD YOU ALLOCATE?

THAT IS WHERE THE WORK COMES IN, AND THAT IS WHY YOU NEED HOUSING THAT WILL RESPOND APPROPRIATELY, KNOW THAT IT IS BASED ON FACT, RATHER THAN WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.

JIM: BEFORE WE MOVE ON, WHERE DOES THE LEGISLATURE FIT IN HERE?

YOU SAY THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO DO THINGS.

SPEAKER SHEKARCHI IS NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT IS GOING ON.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO FROM A LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVE TO MOVE THE BALL ALONG?

>> WE PASSED A SET OF PACKAGES LAST YEAR, SOME ARE STILL IN DEVELOPMENT, TO PROVIDE THE LEGAL ENFORCEMENT AND RAMIFICATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT TOWNS ARE MEETING THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATIONS.

THAT WE HAVE THE PERMISSION WE NEED TO START BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I THINK THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS ON THAT FRONT.

THE LEGISLATURE CAN PASS LAWS, PROVIDE FUNDING.

THE ADMINISTRATION HAS TO EXECUTE ON THOSE LAWS AND USE THAT FUNDING.

JIM: EDUCATION IS SUCH A BIG DEAL.

WE HAD A MULLIGAN FOR COVID FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT THAT IS LOST LEARNING.

AS YOU LOOK AT IT STATEWIDE, GREEN WAS BROUGHT IN, AND THAT THE PROVIDENCE TAKEOVER SUCKED ALL OF THE AIR IN THE ROOM.

BUT THERE ARE DISTRICTS THAT WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON.

REP. DE LA CRUZ: EDUCATION, THE PROBLEM DIDN'’T HAPPEN BECAUSE OF COVID.

IT HAPPENED TO BE FOR COVID.

THE JOHNS HOPKINS REPORT CAME OUT BEFORE COVID.

IT WAS A SCATHING REVIEW OF PROVIDENCE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, BUT NOT JUST PROVIDENCE.

WE SAW CENTRAL FALLS HAS A 1% PROFICIENCY IN MATH.

THAT REQUIRES A RADICAL APPROACH.

STUDENTS IN A FAILING SYSTEM DO NOT HAVE 10 YEARS FOR US TO FIX A PROBLEM.

WHILE WE ARE FIXING THE PROBLEM, THOSE STUDENTS NEED IMMEDIATE HELP.

GIVE THEM A VOUCHER, LET THEM GO TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL SYSTEM, EITHER A PRIVATE SCHOOL OR ANOTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL.

IT WOULD BE WRONG TO KEEP THESE KIDS IN A FAILING SYSTEM.

I WAS TALKING TO ONE BUSINESS OWNER OVER THE ELECTION, HE OWNS A RECYCLING BUSINESS FOR AUTOMOBILES.

HE HIRES OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL FROM PROVIDENCE AND THEY CAN BARELY READ AND WRITE.

HOW ARE THOSE INDIVIDUALS GOING TO BUILD A LIFE FR THEMSELVES OR A FAMILY?

WE ARE DOING A GREAT DISSERVICE TO THE CHILDREN OF THE STATE.

REP. CHIPPENDALE: IT'’S BEEN GOING ON A LONG TIME.

NO DISTRICT OR REGION IS UNAFFECTED RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE SEEING SCORES ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE WORRISOME.

EACH TWO-YOUR CLIP LOST IN A CHILD'’S EDUCATION OUT OF 12 YEARS IS SUBSTANTIAL.

CERTAINLY, COVID EXACERBATED THAT, NO QUESTION, BUT WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY FORWARD MOMENTUM WITH THE STATE TAKEOVER IN CENTRAL FALLS.

I AM RATHER HESITANT TO SEE THAT WE WILL SEE COMMENT TO HIM IN PROVIDENCE UNLESS SOMETHING CHANGES.

IT DOES HAVE TO BE DRAMATIC.

WE DIDN'’T GET HERE OVERNIGHT, WE ARE NOT GOING TO UN-GET HERE OVERNIGHT.

JIM: YOUR MAJORITY LEADER, WHO WOULD BE HERE IF HE COULD, ALSO SAYS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE FUNDING FORMULA AGAIN.

THE HOUSE MAY DISAGREE WITH THAT.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK YOU NEED TO RE-EXAMINE THE FUNDING FORMULA.

AS YOU MENTIONED, NO COMMUNITY IS UNTOUCHED, BUT THERE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED, BECAUSE THE NEED IS MORE.

I THINK ANY RE-EXAMINATION OF THE FUNDING FORMULA SHOULD RECOGNIZE THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST IN CRISIS, FIGURE OUT A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY TO DEAL WITH IT, RATHER THAN STATE TAKEOVERS.

JIM: THE HOUSE PERSPECTIVE?

REP. BLAZEJEWSKI: WE LOOK AT THE FUNDING EVERY YEAR.

WE HAVE PROVIDED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING TO FUND THE FORMULA.

WE HAVE ALSO ADDED ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR CATEGORICAL'’S, MULTI LANGUAGE LEARNERS, WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITIES LIKE PROVIDENCE.

MY CHILDREN GO TO PROVIDENCE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

I WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOL, MY WIFE DID.

WE ARE STRONGLY COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE AT THE LEGISLATURE TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY, OUR ROLE IN EDUCATION.

THE LAST FEW YEARS, LAST YEAR ALONE, OVER $700 MILLION, INCLUDING A $300 MILLION BOND TO REBUILD OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I WILL ALSO ADD, RIGHT NOW THE DISTRICTS HAVE -- PROVIDENCE HAS $100 MILLION TO ADDRESS A LEARNING LOSS.

WE PUT IN AN ADDITIONAL $40 MILLION TO LOOK AT LEARNING LOSS LAST YEAR.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE ISSUES.

THE DISTRICTS HAVE THE RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS THE RESOURCES.

NOW THEY NEED TO USE THOSE RESOURCES TO MAKE THE CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO SEE.

JIM: THE VOUCHER SYSTEM GETS TURNED TO LIKE THIS, AND I KNOW YOU WANT TO SEE THAT, BUT IN THE SHORT RUN IF THAT I NOT HAPPENING -- TEACHER SHORTAGES.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH ALL OF THESE THINGS AS YOU ARE WORKING TOWARD THAT?

REP. DE LA CRUZ: WE JUST SENT A THROWING MONEY AT A PROBLEM DOES NOT FIX IT, AND THERE ARE SHORTAGES ACROSS EVERY SECTOR.

THROWING MONEY AT THE EDUCATION ISSUE WE ARE HAVING -- AND WE SPENT A LOT PER CAPITA, PER STUDENT IN THE STATE.

IT IS NOT THAT WE ARE UNDERFUNDING THE STUDENTS.

I AM ALL FOR MORE SERVICES.

ENGLISH IS MY SECOND LANGUAGE.

I DIDN'’T LEARN UNTIL I STARTED KINDERGARTEN.

JIM: YOU ARE DOING PRETTY WELL.

REP. DE LA CRUZ: I STAYED BACK IN THE FIRST GRADE BECAUSE I DIDN'’T HAVE STRONG COMMAND OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

HAVING RESOURCES FOR THOSE ENGLISH LEARNERS, SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS, IS IMPORTANT.

BUT IT IS NOT NECESSARILY JUST THE MONEY.

WE HAVE PLENTY OF IT RIGHT NOW.

I THINK SOME STUDENTS ARE NOT THRIVING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I'’M A PRODUCT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

BUT THOSE KIDS NEED A CHOICE.

THERE WILL BE STUDENTS THAT LEAVE, MAYBE 20%, 10%, I'’M NOT SURE WHAT THE NUMBER WILL BE, BUT THEN THERE WILL BE FEWER STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

THEY WILL HAVE MORE ATTENTION, MORE INSTRUCTION TIME.

YOU KNOW, THE SENATE WANTED TO PASS SMALL CLASSROOM SIZES IN KINDERGARTEN.

WE ARE GETTING STUDENTS A DIFFERENT MODEL OF EDUCATION, IN A DIFFERENT PUBLIC SCHOOL OR PRIVATE SCHOOL, AND WE ARE MAKING THE CLASSROOM SIZES SMALLER SO THAT STUDENTS HAVE MORE ATTENTION.

JIM: I ALWAYS LOVE HOW THE CONTRACT SAYS YOU CAN ONLY HAVE 28, BUT IF IT GOES OVER, WE WILL JUST PAY YOU MORE.

WE ARE MOVING ALONG.

I ASKED EACH OF YOU TO BRING ONE ISSUE OR PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE GRABBING THE HEADLINES, THAT YOU WANT THE AUDIENCE TO BE TRACKING, THAT YOU'’LL BE TRACKING.

SENATOR MILLER, LET'’S BEGIN WITH YOU.

REP. MILLER: IT BECOMES MORE OF AN ISSUE BASED ON THE SUPREME COURT.

THE ACA WILL NOT GET OUT OF DANGER WITH THE SUPREME COURT.

AS WE HAVE CODIFIED OTHER IMPORTANT STATE PRIORITIES, WE HAVE TO CODIFY -- JIM: THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

CHRIS, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?

REP. BLAZEJEWSKI: THE EQUALITY AND ABORTION COVERAGE ACT, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR ABORTION SERVICES AS THOSE WHO ARE PRIVATELY INSURED.

AFTER WE SEE THE SUPREME COURT'’S DECISION OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE, IT'’S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE SERVICES THEY NEED.

JIM: REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE PHILOSOPHICALLY ON THAT, YOU ARE AN OVERWHELMINGLY DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE.

DO YOU SEE ANY ROADBLOCKS TO THAT?

>> ANY KIND OF BOAT WILL REQUIRE A DEBATE.

THERE WAS A POLL THE SUMMER THAT SHOWED 72% OF RHODE ISLANDERS BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE STATE AVERAGE SHOULD HAVE THE SAME AS THOSE WITH PRIVATE INSURANCE.

IF THE PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND SUPPORTED THAT, THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD, AS WELL.

JIM: MIKE, WHAT DO YOU HAVE UNDER THE RADAR?

REP. CHIPPENDALE: I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES.

THE BILLS THAT MY COLLEAGUE CALLED DEPENDING ARE OF GREAT INTEREST TO ME.

WHERE THEY SEEK TO GO WILL BE, I THINK, WHAT MAKES OR BREAKS THE ISSUE.

I'’M VERY INTERESTED AND WANT TO BE VERY ACTIVE IN HELPING -- JIM: THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THAT.

I KNOW THAT WE MOTHBALLED A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS THAT WE HAD TO BRING BACK AT ONE POINT BECAUSE THE POPULATION FLUCTUATES.

WHEN YOU RELAX ZONING RULES, THAT AFFECTS OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS.

IS THAT THE DISCUSSION GOING ON?

REP. CHIPPENDALE: CERTAINLY ONE OF THE ELEMENTS BUT WE NEED TO REVOLUTIONIZE OUR APPROACH.

EMPOWERING FOLKS WHO WANT TO GET OUT OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SITUATION, GETTIN INTO AN APARTMENT, RENTING, LEASING, BUILDING EQUITY, BUYING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSE, AND THAT PERHAPS ONE DAY MOVE WHERE THEY WANT, FREEING UP INVENTORY FOR FOLKS COMING UP.

I THINK WE CAN BUILD A REVOLVING SYSTEM THAT KEEPS THE STOCK I AND ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BUILD EQUITY AND GET OUT OF THAT CYCLE.

JIM: JESSICA, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT THAT OTHERS MAY NOT BE SEEING IN THE HEADLINES?

REP. DE LA CRUZ: THE USUAL THINGS LIKE EDUCATION, A LOT OF THESE TOPICS.

IT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ONE SENATOR FOR EVERY CITY AND TOWN, GOING FOM 38 TO 39.

REALLY MODELED AFTER THE FEDERAL MODEL.

RHODE ISLAND GETS TWO SENATORS, CALIFORNIA GETS TWO, REGARDLESS OF THE POPULATION.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT.

WE WOULDN'’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GERRYMANDERING IN THE SENATE.

JIM: YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST.

LET'’S DO OUTRAGES AND KUDOS.

CHRIS?

REP. BLAZEJEWSKI: THE INSURRECTION IN BRAZIL.

IT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 8, TWO YEARS INTO DAYS -- AND TWO DAYS AFTER THE ATTACK IN THIS COUNTRY.

OUR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS ARE IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE TO PRESERVE THEM.

IT TAKES THE WORK OF ALL OF US TO DO THAT.

IF IT CAN HAPPEN HERE AND IN BRAZIL, IT CAN HAPPEN ELSEWHERE.

>> MY OUTRAGE IS THE WAYTHE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONDUCTED THEMSELVES, THE DANGERS AND INVESTIGATIONS -- THE IMPORTANTROLE THAT JOURNALISM WILL PLAY IN THIS.

IF JOURNALISTS DO NOT HELP TO GET TO THE FACTS OF WHAT IS BEING PONTIFICATED BY PEOPLE LIKE US, IT WILL BE A REAL CRISIS.

WE DON'’T UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FACT AND PROPAGANDA.

JIM: JESSICA, OUTRAGE OR CREW TO?

REP. DE LA CRUZ: I WILL GO WITH A KUDO.

I HAVE TO GIVE KUDOS TO MY SENATE COLLEAGUES FOR PUTTING THE WORK BEHIND SAVINGS AND BROUGHT HOSPITAL.

I COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT ALL OF THEM AND THEIR SUPPORT.

THAT INCLUDES THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND MY COLLEAGUE HERE AT THE TABLE.

COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT THEM.

VERY THANKFUL FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

JIM: IT LOOKED DICEY AT ONE POINT.

REP. DE LA CRUZ: WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO BUT I LOOK FORWARD IN WORKING WITH THEM ON THAT.

REP. CHIPPENDALE: MY OUTRAGE AT FIRST I THOUGHT WAS A JOKE BUT IT IS TRUE.

THE PRESIDENT HAS SUGGESTED BANNING THE USE OF GAS STOVES IN OUR HOMES.

FOR ALL OF THOSE FOLKS WHO WORSHIP AT THE ALTAR OF SOLAR PANELS, I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST RIDICULOUS PROPOSALS I HAVE HEARD OF.

HE WILL HIT ME WITH A CAST IRON PAN.

WHILE EMBRACING WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH CLIMATE ISSUES, I THINK THE APPROACH HAS BEEN FOOLISHLY, IDEOLOGICALLY DRIVEN.

IT HAS RESULTED IN POLICIES THAT ARE IMPRACTICAL AND WILL BANKRUPT FAMILIES.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE LUDICROUSLY -- JIM: I WOULDN'’T HOLD YOUR BREATH ON THAT GOING THROUGH.

WE DIDN'’T EVEN GET TWO GUNS ON THIS ISSUE.

THAT WILL BE FOR ANOTHER DAY.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

JOSH, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

MIGHT, JESSICA, CHRIS, SEE YOU AT THE STATEHOUSE.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

WE WILL HAVE A FULL ANALYSIS ON WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH ALL OF THESE PEOPLE AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DURING THE YEAR.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

"A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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VISIT NCICAP.ORG] >> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> FOR OVER 30 YEARS, "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEMS