Editor’s note: these are the candidate’s responses to questions provided by RIPR. The views expressed are the candidate’s alone, edited only in cases of inappropriate or libelous language. No changes have been made to correct errors of fact, spelling or grammar.
Do you support trucking tolls for tractor trailers on Rhode Island highways?
My primary opposition to the RhodeWorks plan is that it spends most of the money on rebuilding the 6/10 connector as is, a wasteful project that my district strongly opposes. Instead, we should build a boulevard, which was the overwhelming community consensus. I don’t think truck tolls are a particularly good way to raise revenue. They are somewhat regressive, although less so than car tolls. They are also a very wasteful tax to collect, with a significant percentage of the revenue eaten up by the cost of building and maintaining gantries. However, there are much worse taxes that our state levies, and truck tolls would be far from my top priority for removal. I would first want to lower the car tax, lower property taxes, and abolish car tolls.
Would you support a state-mandated health insurance program?
I support a Medicare for All vision for healthcare. In the short term, I will be focused on opposing further cuts to Medicaid. I have heard story after story on the doors from people kicked off of Medicaid, sometimes in the middle of treatment. These policies are just too cruel, and I strongly disagree with the incumbent’s votes for all those budgets that cut Medicaid.
Are you in favor of expanding protections against sexual harassment to include domestic workers (such as nannies) and volunteers (such as interns)?
Certainly! The State Senate also needs to conduct a real, public investigation into how a Senate page was allegedly extorted for sex by a Senator. By just expelling the Senator in question without a full investigation, we missed the opportunity to really make sure this will never be allowed to happen again.
If given the opportunity, would you codify the right to have an abortion in state law?
This is a core part of my campaign. A woman’s right to choose is a fundamental right, and we cannot allow it to be taken away in our state. I am very proud to be endorsed by Planned Parenthood and the National Organization for Women. We must pass the Reproductive Health Care Act.
Is the state doing enough to help people who have been left behind by the economy? If not, what additional steps should be taken?
No. We need to repeal the tax cuts for the rich. Ever since our state cut taxes for the rich by more than any state in all of American history except for North Dakota, middle class and low-income Rhode Islanders have been suffering. From our crumbling roads to severe cuts to healthcare programs, the pain has gone deep. The human cost has just been too high. That is why we need to repeal the tax cuts for the rich so we can finally have a conversation about where to invest, instead of always talking about where to cut.
Does primary education need to be improved statewide? If so, how?
Our schools are honestly in even worse condition than the roads. To begin with, we need to solve the municipal budget problems that have caused our schools to feel so many cuts. This is why I so disagree with the incumbent’s decision to cosponsor that Senate bill that forced Providence to subsidize all that luxury construction on the I-195 land. I don’t think it’s right for the agency that did the 38 Studios deal to be able to spend our Providence taxpayer money on fifteen and twenty year tax breaks for luxury housing–without our consent. It’s bankrupting the city budget. And we need to repeal the tax cuts for the rich and restore the cuts that state made to the city budget to pay for the tax cuts for the rich.
Our schools’ problems go beyond a land of funding. We need to stop a wide array of misguided policies that are undermining learning. For instance, I strongly disagree with the current push to replace human teachers with computer programs. I believe that the human connection remains essential to education. That being said, education is complex. Many of the policies that have been advanced in the name of so-called reform have done more harm than good. We need to make sure we really think through all of the consequences of our education policies.
Do you support RI’s designation as a sanctuary state? Why or why not?
Rhode Island is not a sanctuary state. Our state government deports people all the time. They even deported a domestic violence victim and split her up from her children, forcing her children into DCYF care. I think we need to protect our neighbors and resist Trump’s deportation force.
