NEW: Group Formed to Oppose Chafee’s Budget

NEW: Group Formed to Oppose Chafee’s Budget

A new coalition called IDEA-RI, or Individuals Demanding Economic Accountability, has formed to fight tax increases and call for a freeze on spending.

IDEA-RI is opposed to Chafee’s budget proposal which it warns will deal a crippling blow to small business owners, ordinary taxpayers, and the Rhode Island economy as a whole.

IDEA’s Web site says that “In addition to bringing the flawed policies of the day to the forefront, we will also be offering solutions that are based in strong data and functional models from other states and municipalities.”  Its mission is to “craft policy that is firmly rooted in the principles of responsible fiscal policy, economic feasibility, business growth and promotion, and solid self-supporting budgets.”

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The group is calling for a new budget that: has no tax increases, cuts waste and redundancy, addresses the structural flaws in the foundations of state government, includes no new spending, and represents a fair and simple new plan that would make Rhode Island more competitive among the New England states.

Members include John Hazen White Jr, President and CEO of TACO; Harry Staley, Rhode Island Statewide Coalition; Margaret Kane, Operation Clean Government; Gary Sasse, Economist, and Director of Bryant Institute for Public Leadership; Bill Felkner, founder of the Ocean State Policy Research Institute (OSPRI). A handful of state lawmakers are also members. Click here for the full list.

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