Issue Position: A Fair Economy for Everyone

Issue Position

We deserve a fair economy that allows everyone to earn a living wage, achieve economic mobility, and live with dignity. For too long, wealthy people and large institutions have gotten their way with state policy, winning tax-cuts and special favors. Meanwhile, our middle-class families, working families, and low-income communities are struggling due to the rising costs of living and stagnant wages.

As your State Representative, I will unapologetically advocate for:

Repealing Tax-Cuts for the Rich

In 2006, Rhode Island cut taxes for the rich (the second largest series of tax-cuts in US history). As a result, millionaires have been paying the same income tax-rate as middle-class families for over a decade.
Since then, we have lost over one billion dollars of tax revenue, leading to budget cuts in social programs that benefit our neighborhood. I am going to fight to repeal our state's tax-cuts for the rich so we have the revenue to re-invest in our communities!

Raising the Minimum Wage to $15

At $10.50, our current minimum wage is not enough to support a person, much less a family. Our neighbors, Connecticut and Massachusetts, have both passed a $15 minimum wage by 2023. We can do the same for our people and help stimulate our local economy. Minimum wage workers keep our economy running (COVID-19 has clearly demonstrated this); they deserve competitive wages.

Requiring Wealthy Institutions to Pay their Fair Share

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and Brown University are examples of wealthy institutions that do not pay taxes to our state, despite owning hundreds of acres across Rhode Island. Meanwhile, property taxes and state fees continue to increase, putting the tax burden on working people and middle-class families. This is not right and it is time they pay their fair share just like the rest of us.

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