Rep. David Caprio, D-Narragansett, a member of the House Finance Subcommittee on Transportation, said the tax increase was necessary since the state must maintain bus service that allows people to get to work. Since the governor submitted his original budget plan, the state lost another $200 million.
“I think it would be irresponsible to force RIPTA to cut those services as a time when people are having substantial hardships without having to worry about whether their bus is running or not,” Caprio said. “We were forced to explore options we were trying to avoid.”
Representative David Caprio, District 34, Narragansett, South Kingstown, expressed serious concerns about a proposed school funding formula during a House Finance Committee meeting Wednesday. The legislation, H5978, sponsored by Representative Edith Ajello (D – Providence) creates a permanent funding formula for the State’s 34 school districts.
A formula that entirely eliminates funding for eight school districts is unfair and inequitable on its face,” said Caprio. Both Narragansett and South Kingstown would lose all State aid under the proposed formula. “Further, a total of 22 school districts would get less school aid.”
The formula punishes those districts that have been able to keep their taxes low, negotiate hard contracts, and otherwise operate efficient municipal governments,” said Caprio.
There was testimony that the formula takes into consideration four primary factors: number of students, property tax capacity, student need, and enrollment need.
Representative Caprio suggested that if a community’s funding is eliminated, so should its requirement to follow the costly, unfunded mandates placed upon them by the State. “It’s only fair,” said Caprio, “if the State is not going to provide any funding, then don’t tell us what to do.”
Representative David Caprio has introduced legislation that would protect the Port of Galilee as well as other Ports throughout the State of Rhode Island.
Here are excerpts from the Providence Journal article:
Legislation proposed by Rep. David Caprio, D-Narragansett, would guarantee that “working waterfronts” — which it defines as any property along a navigable body of water — will be used only by “water dependent” industries — those that require direct access to waterways.
Caprio said he filed the bill to ensure that his hometown port of Galilee remains a working fishing port.
Galilee, while home to two state beaches, a number of restaurants, bars and motels and a departure point for the Block Island ferry, remains one of the busiest fishing centers on the East Coast, Caprio said.
“It is a multifaceted port, but at the cornerstone is the fishing industry,” he said.
Representative David Caprio completed a one-on-one interview with the Narragansett Times last week and here are excerpts from the article:
Breaking down the newly-signed Economic Recovery Act will likely be the first order of business at the State House when the General Assembly resumes on Tuesday, according to Representative David Caprio, (D-34, South Kingstown, Narragansett), and a member of the House finance committee.
The year has already gotten off to a hectic start, according to Caprio who said during an interview Wednesday that even though the act has been passed, the state still isn’t out of its own economic quagmire.
“The federal recovery act is only a day old, so there is no real talk yet,” said Caprio. “But the finance committee staff is gathering itself to figure out what we are eligible for to maximize our take. It’s a 1,200 page bill that not one member of congress had time to read before signing.”
Nevertheless, Caprio said he is excited to begin the process of sifting through the language of the stimulus act with the committee. “I am encouraged by the tremendous amount of effort put in by members of the House finance committee. I look forward to imposing some agreeable changes.” Caprio said the stimulus plan would not be fully realized for at least several weeks.