Archive for the ‘Republicans’ Category
Join Us
Tuesday, May 19th, 2026
State Overreach
Thursday, May 14th, 2026Representative Richard Fascia comments on the state’s overreach when it comes to municipal countrol for housing projects in this week’s edition of the Cranston Herald:
The state is stealing municipal control
By Rep. RICHARD R. FASCIA May 13, 2026
Recent legislation at the House of Representatives (H-8006) mandates a 30-year structured tax schedule for new or existing low-income housing in any Rhode Island municipality. This concept is yet another attempt to take total control away from small towns and cities and impose a statewide “one-size-fits-all” form of governance.
This bill is not just about housing, it’s about who controls local taxation and who bears the cost of state policy. H8006 declares that certain housing is a matter of statewide concern, and then it limits how municipalities can tax those developments. It sets the structure, it sets the formula, and it tells cities and towns they cannot go above it – and for that matter, they cannot go below it. This is a direct loss of local control that should not be simply given away. Local municipalities are unique and cannot all be painted with the same wide brush. Moreover, the seizure of that control demeans the integrity of local government and casts aside the rights of local citizens to control their own financial destiny.
Conceivably, through individually crafted tax incentives, cities and towns could otherwise encourage more new development to meet the state imposed minimum affordable housing threshold. This legislation impedes that creativity. Cities and towns are ordered to meet state requirements for affordable and low-income housing, but are then restricted on how to achieve those goals and absorb the resulting financial impact.
No one likes paying taxes, yet property taxation is one of the most fundamental powers of local government and it should be controlled locally. More importantly, it’s how communities fund their schools, maintain roads and provide police and fire services.
This bill takes that authority and restricts it from the state level on down.
The bill in question sets a specific graduated scale that slides from 8% to 15% over a 30-year period. Cities and towns are saddled with this formula, which they had no input on, regardless of the financial repercussions the development might have. These developments will still require the aforementioned services despite having no crystal ball to anticipate costs 30 years in the future. Under this bill, municipalities may not be able to collect the full revenue needed to support those developments or the wider resulting growth. Those additional costs do not disappear; they shift to existing taxpayers. Those taxpayers receive nothing more in return as a result of the state-imposed low-income housing threshold, or the tax plan in question. Nothing.
We need to be honest about the position we are putting our communities in. We already cap their ability to raise revenue through the 4% levy limit. We tell them they cannot increase their tax levy beyond that ceiling, regardless of rising costs to support the state-imposed affordable housing mandate. However, at the state level, we do not hold government to the same discipline when it comes to spending.
Now, on top of that cap, this bill further restricts how municipalities can collect revenue from mandated affordable-housing development. It ties their hands even more. It limits their ability to manage their own budgets and respond to local needs. Our towns, especially those outside the urban core (like Johnston and Cranston) are already frustrated. We feel like the state continues to tie our hands, whether it is zoning, planning, or now, taxation. This bill reinforces that concern by telling us that even our local tax policy is no longer fully our own.
The state should be working with municipalities, not restricting them. They should respect our ability to make decisions based on local budgets, our own infrastructure and the local taxbase. I am never in favor of taxation, but if we must have taxes the structure should be fair to everyone and controlled at the local level, not by the state. We know what’s best for our cities and towns, and we should make our own decisions.
Post Script: Sadly, Bill H-8006 was passed on May 5, 2026 on a vote that included all but four Democrats voting in the affirmative.
Rep. Richard R. Fascia represents House District 42, which includes parts of Cranston and Johnston.
See less
RI Republicans on the Move!!
Saturday, April 25th, 2026New Chairman Allyn Meyers on 10 News Conference. He’s laser-focused on building our city and town committees from the ground up, energizing the grassroots, and assembling the strongest team yet for the 2026 Governor’s race. While President Trump and the White House deliver results for working Americans, Rhode Island remains stuck under one-party Democrat failure:
The Washington Bridge disaster and last night’s RT10 continues to crush commutes, businesses, and family budgets a direct result of decades of neglect and incompetence. Enough is enough. Rhode Islanders are done watching our state lag behind while the rest of the country surges forward. 2026 is our year to take Rhode Island back!
See Allyn Meyers with Gene Valicenti on Channel 10 News Conference here
Urgent Alert for ALL Rhode Island Gun Owners
Monday, April 6th, 2026“URGENT All Rhode Island Gun Owners Your Rights Are Under Attack April 8th!”
We need people early to fill the hearing room! The earlier the better. Line up at the House Lounge, 2nd Floor Right (west) side of the building.
![May be an image of text that says 'URGENT ALERT For ALL Rhode Island Gun Owners H 8073- Assault Weapons Ban: Eliminating the Grandfather Clause (Possession Becomes a Felony] H 8071- Background Checks Required n ALL Ammunition Purchases Wednesday, April 8th Hearings starting 4:00 PM Arrive Early! H 8075- Mandatory $1,000,000 Liability Insurance for Gun Owners Wednesday April 8th Hearings starting 4:00 PM Arrive Early! •Rhode Island State House in Providence, RI MERUBLICAN PART SHOW UP & DEFEND YOUR RIGHTS! OFRHODETELAVO OF RHODE ISLANO'](https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/667794719_1393406116164539_8500357503348831511_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_p180x540_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=13d280&_nc_ohc=GXAkl8xheyIQ7kNvwEvIh08&_nc_oc=Adqy9L_aHzSuhVNpMBnIGHhuWX8xT1efiJNJzVzHQV-2Sn1CsKHE0EOSQGkLr8k4kuc&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&_nc_gid=NnbjyC6kA2D7QOIACkNr8g&_nc_ss=7a3a8&oh=00_Af0sUQyVHZa2W_oxm2jjnN8AmwWio5rno83wLaS7O7n8xw&oe=69DA1B3B)
Stop These 5 Dangerous Democrat Bills
Monday, April 6th, 2026Rhode Island Democrats are trying to ram through 5 dangerous bills that would weaken our elections and destroy voter confidence.
Here’s exactly what they’re pushing:
• S2404 – Lower the voting age to 16 in local elections
• S2590 & S2951 – Force confusing Ranked Choice Voting (already banned in 17 states)
• S3113 – Extend the recount window to 9 days and block certification of winners
• S3143 – Create a new “Voting Rights Act” that turns elections into a lawsuit factory
Republicans are fighting hard to protect election integrity and keep our elections secure and fair.
Share this post and the image far and wide.
Rhode Island deserves better!
RNC Statement on Democrats’ Criticism of President Trump’s Recue of American Airman Behind Enemy Lines in Iran
Monday, April 6th, 2026This was reposted by the RI Republican Party
Letter to the Editor: Stop Insulting Married Women
Thursday, March 19th, 2026
Republicans Candidates Forum
Wednesday, March 18th, 2026
From the Ocean State Current: Portsmouth Fights Back: Local Control Under Attack
Wednesday, February 25th, 2026
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
