Rhode Island House Minority Leader Chippendale Comments on the FY26 Budget
State House, Providence, RI – Rhode Island House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale offers the following statement in regard to the FY26 Budget:
Michael Chippendale
While every state budget carries some good and some bad fiscal policies and appropriations, this budget is outweighed by the bad. Rhode Island continues to rank among the top 10 states with the highest tax burden per capita. Yet, this budget fails to demonstrate the kind of fiscal restraint our residents deserve. Rather than focusing on long-overdue spending reforms, this plan leans on increased fees, higher taxes, and growth in government. These choices will only worsen our economic competitiveness and place even greater strain on our struggling taxpayers.
During the 2025 legislative session, members of the House Republican Caucus put forward a responsible approach to right-size Rhode Island’s budget, which remains disproportionate to the size of our state, our economy, and our population. This level of spending is unsustainable and continues to place a heavy burden on taxpayers. Our caucus remains committed to making government operations more accountable, transparent, and efficient. Through the legislative process this year, we have consistently focused on identifying areas of waste, improving oversight, and introducing efficiencies at every level of government. Our legislative efforts include proposals such as creating an Office of Inspector General, advancing student success in education, modernizing critical infrastructure, and supporting private-sector solutions to housing, healthcare, and job growth. These initiatives are aimed at delivering measurable outcomes for the people of Rhode Island.
Other Democratically led states are wisely recognizing the economic headwinds and are actively working to cut costs, reduce the size of their state workforces, and tighten their belts. The Trump administration is rightfully withholding federal funds from states that are not complying with federal law or executive orders, and whether one dislikes this or agrees with this is irrelevant, as it is indeed the reality of our situation. Rhode Island should be adapting to these conditions, not ignoring them.
By failing to act now, we risk having to return later this year to pass a supplemental budget. That will almost certainly require deep cuts and additional tax increases. This outcome would be far more disruptive than if we had made responsible adjustments now.
Hard working Rhode Island families are already doing more than their fair share. We should be finding ways to ease that burden, not add to it. This budget may represent reasonable appropriations in some areas, but it does not do enough to put Rhode Island on a sustainable path forward.
The 2025 Rhode Island House Minority (Republican) Caucus is comprised of the following elected members: Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale, District 40 (Foster/Glocester/Coventry); Minority Whip David J. Place, District 47 (Burrillville/Glocester); Representative George Nardone, District 28 (Coventry); Representative Brian Newberry, District 48 (North Smithfield/Burrillville); Representative Robert Quattrocchi, District 41 (Scituate/Cranston); Representative Sherry Roberts, District 29 (Coventry/West Greenwich); Representative Richard Fascia, District 42 (Johnston/Cranston); Representative Marie Hopkins, District 21 (Warwick); Representative Chris Paplauskas, District 15 (Cranston); Representative Paul Santucci, District 53 (Smithfield/Glocester).