Rhode Island

May 8. 2009 -- Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri today announced that the Governor's Office of Economic Recovery & Reinvestment will post financial reports on the state's recovery website, www.recovery.ri.gov. A key provision of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is public reporting of project status, spending, and job creation and retention. Expenditure information for each department receiving Recovery funds is presented in a summary table with links to more detailed reports with information on dollars budgeted and spent to date.    » read more »

May 6, 2009 -- Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri joined Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Governors in a letter to the leadership of the United States and House of Representatives expressing opposition to the various proposals regarding transmission and the move to create a national corridor for transmission of electricity from the Midwest to the East Coast.

The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Governors expressed concern about the significant risks posed by recent proposals regarding transmission that could jeopardize states efforts to develop wind resources and inject federal jurisdiction into an area traditionally handled by states and regions.    » read more »

April 28, 2009 -- Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri and Dr. David Gifford, Director for the Rhode Island Department of Health, today assured Rhode Islanders that the state is prepared to deal with an outbreak of swine flu, should one occur. To date, there have been no confirmed cases of swine flu in Rhode Island.

“The Department of Health is leading the state’s coordinated effort and will continue to monitor the situation closely,” said Governor Carcieri. “Our health officials are well prepared to manage the situation. It is important for the public to be informed of how to prevent getting swine flu – wash your hands frequently, cough into your elbow and stay home if you are sick.”    » read more »

April 24, 2009 -- The Rhode Island Governor joined United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the RI Department of Environmental Management, RI Dept. of Health and the RI Clean Water Financing Agency at a press conference to announce $45.8 million in funding though the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to provide funding and financing for high priority infrastructure projects needed to ensure clean water and safe drinking water in Rhode Island.

Under the Recovery Act, Rhode Island shall receive $26.3 million for clean water and wastewater management projects and an additional $19.5 million for drinking water programs.    » read more »

Funds for Improvement Projects at Newport and Quonset Airports Total $6.2 Million

April 16, 2009 -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced the award of $6.2 Million to the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) for two important construction projects at the state’s general aviation airports. Monies for the airport stimulus package total $1.1 billion overall, with $53 million of that being allocated to the New England Region.

Funds awarded for reconstruction, marking and lighting of Taxiway A at Quonset Airport total $3.5 million. $2.7 million was awarded for work at Newport Airport, which entails reconstruction, marking and lighting of Runway 16-34. Both the Taxiway and Runway measure approximately 2,600 ft. x 75 ft.    » read more »

March 25, 2009 -- Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) are announcing the availability of $20.15 million for local roadway improvements through the Rhode Island Local Equity Aid Program or RI-LEAP. RI-LEAP is being funded by RIDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) so that resurfacing and sidewalk replacements can take place in all of the Ocean State’s 39 cities and towns.    » read more »

Partially Restores Local Aid and Averts Reductions to Critical Social Programs

March 11, 2009 -- Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri today released his FY 2010 budget, as well as amendments to the Governor’s FY 2009 Supplemental. The Governor’s revised FY 2009 budget is $3.064 billion in general revenue, a $204 million reduction in general revenues expenditures as compared to FY 2008, excluding the impact of funds from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009. General revenue expenditures for FY 2010 are $3.079 billion.    » read more »

March 4, 2009 -- Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri was joined by Speaker William Murphy, Senate President M. Teresa Paiva-Weed and Michael P. Lewis, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), at a press conference today to announce details of the RIDOT projects to be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Under the Act, Rhode Island will receive $138 million in direct funding to support 50 transportation and infrastructure projects across Rhode Island. These projects will be completed in conjunction with nearly $60 million worth of projects – including the first allotment of funds toward replacement of the Pawtucket River Bridge – already scheduled to go to construction in 2009.    » read more »

Increase in Unemployment Benefits to Start Week of March 2nd; Governor Certifies Commitment to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Feb. 26, 2009 -- Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri joined House and Senate leaders today at a press conference to officially certify that the State of Rhode Island will receive funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The ARRA requires state governors to certify that their states will request and use funds to support activities that will create jobs and economic development. By statute, Governor Carcieri is required to certify the request no later than April 3, 2009.    » read more »

Feb. 25, 2009 -- Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri and Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch commented on the decision by the United State Supreme Court in Carcieri v. Salazar (Secretary of the Interior). The Supreme Court found in favor of the State of Rhode Island, reversing the judgment of the US Court of Appeals.

The implication of this decision is that all laws and statutes of the State of Rhode Island will be applied equally to the Narragansett Indian Tribe as they do to all citizens of Rhode Island, including taxation, gambling, zoning, and all other civil and criminal laws.    » read more »

Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch announced that Rhode Island has joined a coalition of 13 other states, New York City, and Washington, DC, in suing the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to protect the public health and the environment.

Lynch said that the EPA and the Bush Administration are in violation of the Clean Air Act by having set weak standards that do not effectively regulate the amount of ground-level ozone air pollution allowed in the atmosphere.    » read more »

General Treasurer asks Senate Judiciary Committee to support legislation to shield renters from subprime fallout, preserve quality of life in RI neighborhoods

PROVIDENCE -- 4/1/08 -- Rhode Island General Treasurer Frank Caprio testified before the Senate Judiciary committee this afternoon in support of legislation he has proposed to protect Rhode Island renters from becoming the next wave of victims in the subprime mortgage crisis. In addition to leaving many homeowners struggling with mortgages they cannot afford, the collapse of the subprime mortgage market has devastated many renters who are being left without a home because their landlords were unable to avoid foreclosure.    » read more »

Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch together with the attorneys general of 16 other states and the District of Columbia, two cities, and 11 environmental advocacy groups today asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to order the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to respond to last year’s landmark ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA.

That ruling, issued by the U.S. Supreme Court a year ago today, required EPA to make a decision on whether to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles under the federal Clean Air Act. Today’s court filing, known as a Petition for Mandamus, requests an order requiring EPA to act within 60 days.    » read more »

April 1, 2008 -- Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri today reiterated his belief that elected officials have an obligation to enforce and support all federal, state and local laws -- including those barring illegal immigration.

"Last week, I issued an Executive Order that is designed solely to enforce the illegal immigration laws currently on the books," Governor Carcieri said.

Anti-immigration sign on a garage in Chepachet, Rhode Island: (Photo CC Apollo-Jack)    » read more »

Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch issued the following statement concerning the briefs that the State filed today in connection with the appeal of the historic verdict in the lead-paint litigation. The Rhode Island Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments on this case on May 15, 2008.

“Today we filed arguments on behalf of the State urging the Supreme Court to uphold the historic verdict entered by a jury of Rhode Island citizens after hearing months of arguments. In part, our briefs assert:    » read more »