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I believe ethics are the cornerstone of public service. Ethics will continue to be my cornerstone. Consistent with my faith, my devotion to family, and my commitment to our city, I will represent the people of Cranston and their best interest. I will never compromise on matters of integrity.
The following is an article published by The Cranston Herald :
“... There's nothing more confidence building than to hear one of your elected representatives blow off the unethical practice of proxy voting with the remark, "Everybody does it."
Wonderful. Apparently, the new moral standard for government is based on the frequency of the event, rather than the enormity of it. Granted, one vote cast on behalf of one absent legislator does not a crisis make, but the fact that no one seems to see anything seriously wrong with it is truly disturbing.
After Rep. Peter Palumbo was discovered voting for his absent colleagues last year, Rep. Jim Davey started calling for the House to take action not only against Palumbo but against any future attempts to lodge "ghost votes." He asked for a change to the rules that would make impersonating another legislator during a vote a punishable offense. The House leadership ignored him, saying Palumbo had apologized and the problem was not serious or pervasive enough to warrant further action.”
One vote cast on behalf of an absent legislator does make a crisis no matter what the vote may be!
The federal government provides matching funds to all states for road infrastructure, however, two years ago our General Assembly voted to take the tobacco settlement money earmarked for highway maintenance and used it to plug-up the severe RI state budget shortfall. The result is the State of RI forfeited nearly $400m in federal matching funds. These were dollars we desperately need now as we struggle to pay for repairs on a litany of “functionally obsolete” bridges, including the bridge on Pontiac Avenue, which forced RIPTA to re-route buses through Garden City. That put our children and seniors at risk. RIPTA has since re-routed the buses after Stop The Concrete Plant orchestrated discussions.
But don’t blink, there is mounting pressure to propose highway tolls around the state.
I am opposed to gimmicks and in favor of changes that put sound fiscal policies into place, in order to solve our systemic problems for good.
I will prioritize to reduce government expenses to lay the foundation for the future. I will fight for higher paying jobs by helping to make RI attractive to corporate America by reducing the tax burden and increasing payrolls. Our state was once renowned for costume jewelry and shipbuilding. Today we have no niche. I will be a leader in turning around our business climate.
Unfortunately, in today’s poor economy we are all feeling the pinch. The high cost of gas effects everything. It’s a budget-buster for most and winter isn’t even here with the high cost of heating! RI has one of the highest gasoline taxes in the US and it needs to be lowered. Some would have you believe this money goes towards road repair. Really? Look around! The reality is it goes into the general fund and spent on budget band-aids. I will fight to lower the gas tax because this will reduce the costs of a commute, production and delivery, and intrastate commerce, and in turn with reduce the cost of goods and services. The savings can stay in the pockets of those struggling to raise families, or retire, or even find a way to pay their heating bill! I will fight to eliminate the inventory tax for the same reasons.
Again, here is another outrageous slap in the face to the hard working Rhode Islander. Notwithstanding, the infamous pork barrel legislative give-a-ways the General Assembly puts on us every year, we are saddled with a system that relents to lobbyists and special interests. Our first order of business is to fix our economy by dramatically improving our business climate by cutting wasteful spending and reducing taxes. I will not placate the special interest groups.
Example: Why is that Rhode Island, the smallest state in the union, has one of the highest percentages of people on public assistance? Let’s stop making RI the center of entitlements. Yes, there needs to be a safety net but it should be for a situational transition and not a way of life from one generation to the next. Let’s take down the figurative signs inviting everyone to RI “the welfare state for all.”
I will fight to give our public sector professionals a benefits package that is fair for the taxpayers to fund and that is in alignment with the private sector.
Not only will I fight to enforce illegal immigration laws but I will fight to close the door on the safe haven that Rhode Island has become. We must stop the flow of illegal immigration because it is overwhelming our infrastructure, emptying our wallets, and it is significantly diminishing the quality of our services in all areas from healthcare to education to jobs.
Regarding legal immigration, I agree with President Teddy Roosevelt who was quoted in 1907:
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
The poor results are alarming despite RI having one of the highest school funding expenditures per student in the US. By regionalizing we will reduce administration costs and bureaucracy, thus allowing a realignment of funding for the classroom to give our teachers the resources they need and hold them accountable for the results.
The General Assembly, in this year’s budget, level-funded education thus putting the burden back on municipalities to raise property taxes again. I will fight for state education funding and hold the line on Cranston property taxes.
Like the firemen and police who put their lives on the line everyday, I am deeply concerned about our men and women serving in the military. As a Marine Corps veteran I understand the demands military service has on family. The Reserves and National Guard are our volunteer citizen soldiers who are leaving for extended periods of time. They have put aside their private careers for us, however family obligations cannot be set aside.
In most scenarios, they sacrifice competitive civilian wages to fulfill their military duties in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other hostile locations. I’m concerned because many are the primary ‘bread winners’, sole proprietors, or key employees whose contribution is critical to keeping their companies viable, their mortgages paid, and their families supported.
We must do a better job in supporting them. I will sponsor legislation that will give tax relief and tax credits to service members and their immediate families. I will sponsor legislation to support our men and women serving us.
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Mike McManaman