Governor Gina Raimondo flies to Des Moines, Iowa Friday for the annual summer meeting of the National Governors Association. The meeting is a chance for governors from around the country to discuss and compare policy.
Raimondo plans to focus on comparing strategies for combating the ongoing opioid overdose epidemic.
“It’s a public health crisis in most states, there’s no easy solution,” said Raimondo. “I want to share what we’re doing and also learn from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and other states—what are they doing.”
Raimondo signed a package of bills earlier this week aimed at combating the opioid epidemic. She credits the measures, along with other recent initiatives, for making Rhode Island a national leader on the issue.
Next year’s NGA conference will be held in Rhode Island, so Raimondo says she hopes to come away from Des Moines with a few hosting tips.
“It’s great for our economy, it’s great to show off Rhode Island,” Raimondo said. She also hinted at some competition between this year’s conference and next year, adding:
“I’m feeling like we may have the edge. Providence and Newport versus Des Moines.”
