Rep Mike Chippendale

Opposing assisted suicide is not “religious bias.” It’s concern over coercion, elder abuse, disability rights, suicide prevention, and medical ethics. Demanding that legislators of faith recuse themselves is laughable. One need not have faith to be moral.

Rhode Island House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale @MikeWChip and RI Representative George Nardone Comment on Speaker Blazejewski’s Proposed Legislation to Create an Office of Inspector General State House, Providence, RI – Rhode Island House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale and Representative George Nardone offer the following statements regarding Rhode Island House Speaker Chris Blazejewski’s announcement that he is submitting legislation to establish an Office of Inspector General in Rhode Island: Leader Chippendale: “I am pleased to see the Speaker’s initial announcement on creating an independent Inspector General’s Office (OIG). This press release reflects the way House Republicans, and specifically tenacious bill sponsor Representative George Nardone, have been framing this issue for many years - that Rhode Island does not simply need more internal review, it needs real, independent oversight with the authority to investigate waste, mismanagement, and failures before they become crises. Over the years, House Republicans have brought Inspectors General from neighboring states and federal agencies to Rhode Island to testify on our OIG legislation. That testimony clearly demonstrated not only the need for this office, but the imperative nature of having a truly independent watchdog protecting taxpayers and restoring public confidence in government. We are encouraged that the Speaker appears to be coalescing with us on this important reform. While our final position will depend on the actual legislative language once it is introduced, this announcement represents a welcome shift from our Democratic colleagues and a positive step toward the accountability Rhode Islanders deserve.” Representative George Nardone: “During my eight years serving as State Representative for District 28 in Coventry, I have consistently introduced legislation to establish an Office of Inspector General. At times, the effort felt more symbolic than substantive, but I am encouraged to see that the new Speaker shares this vision. I am hopeful that this will finally be the year we create a much-needed Office of Inspector General in Rhode Island. If implemented according to the bill I submitted about a month ago, this office can be incorporated at no additional cost to taxpayers. Being as late as we are in the session for such an important piece of legislation, I am hopeful the Speaker places this item into the budget as an article. This will ensure a cohesive singular bill for the House and Senate and will avoid confusion in the last weeks of work in both Chambers. I applaud the new leadership for recognizing the importance of accountability, transparency, and responsible government oversight.” Since 2002 there has been a bi-partisan call to establish an Office of Inspector General, to root out waste, fraud and abuses in RI state government, and offer recommended reform. When any element of the Executive or Legislative branch fails to meet the high standards expected of them - there must be a mechanism for impartial investigation. This office would serve as a guardian of public trust. Only through such rigorous, independent oversight can we expect the people of RI to have any level of confidence in their government or the integrity of our government institutions. Recent federal investigations and other costly department or agency failures across state government have necessitated this development. The time for an Office of Inspector General – an independent entity with the authority to investigate any issue across all corners of government, is now. -30- #inspectorgeneral #RIinspectorgeneral

@psychfugues Fact check: TRUE

From your own collective’s mouths. Rent control isn’t the endgame, it’s the first step in your warped campaign to wage “economic justice” against capitalism and the very concept of private property itself. Just say no to Steve Ahlquist, Reclaim RI, and the disease of socialism.

@JonDBrien1 @kathleenlala @CBlazejewski @RhodeIslandGOP Well, in her defense, she's not that bright.

@kathleenlala @CBlazejewski @RhodeIslandGOP When the GOP introduced it, it was a bad idea. Now you suddenly think it’s a good idea? The only thing that proves is that your thought process is the problem here.

There goes @CBlazejewski doing something Republicans wanted to do, but never could. A win for all, and so ironic that the @RhodeIslandGOP have been whining about this for ages and the new Speaker gets it done.

@TomIannitti @RhodeIslandGOP We feel strongly that our good government initiatives should be adopted. We aren't as concerned with the "credit" as we are with the initiatives being adopted. It still has a long way to go before it's law.

@RhodeIslandGOP should take a bow.

Leader Michael Chippendale @MikeWChip and @taragranahan1 discuss the Governor's announcement of a budget surplus: Fifty years of institutional overburden on RI taxpayers is not the result of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill. I submit that the body of evidence from the past several decades demonstrates quite frankly and consistently where the Democrats stand. Campaign talking points by Governor @DanMcKeeRI do not change reality -- Democrats tax and spend and when there's a little left over, they spend that too. Republicans believe the people that overpaid should get their money back -- not be redistributed to others via government programs. The ability for our residents to pay for a $15B budget has been far outpaced by the out-of-control spending. It is not sustainable. The canary in the coal mine is the growing number of municipalities asking to exceed the statutary tax cap. There is never a decrease in spending. That has to stop. Please take a moment to listen to this conversation. rihousegop.org/news-media/hou…

@BrianAllenWIN I'd love to know how many of the people affected by the pension reform still vote Democrat... I know the ones in my family still do...

@MikeWChip Remember when we didn’t have enough revenue so we took it from the State pension and never put it back? Then said we fixed it with Pension Reform. 🤮

In true Democrat style, McKee views this "surplus" (overcharge) as a candy store. Says he wants to "give it back to the people" & blames Trump in there as well - why not? But what he's doing is redistributing that money from those who paid it, to those who didn't - spending it.

@KateFangman @SueStenhouse Well Katie, I'd love to be able to promote one bill that addresses all those problems your Dem pals have created - but that's not how policymaking works. We tackle each problem one at a time. So don't be - or feign ignorance please.

@MikeWChip @SueStenhouse That’s rich. You’re the one that isolated the budget as unreasonable based on population. You put it in the vacuum.

RI House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale @MikeWChip calls for state budget reform -- a $15B budget for a state the size of RI is the first unaffordable issue the House should address. RI House Republicans submitted two bills H7251 (state law change to limit growth in state spending from exceeding the amount of growth in inflation or personal income growth, whichever is greater ) and H7257 (a constitutional amendment to establish a state spending growth limit based on inflation or personal income growth for the voters to decide) to ignite the much needed change for a sustainable state government. The bills were heard in House Finance and were "held for further study." CALL TO ACTION: Please email/call your Rep, the Speaker's Office, and the members of the House Finance Committee to move this bill forward. House Finance Committee Members: Rep Marvin L. Abney, Chair - rep-abney@rilegislature.gov Rep Scott A. Slater, 1st VC - rep-slater@rilegislature.gov Rep Alex Marszalkowski, 2nd VC - rep-marszalkowski@rilegislature.gov Rep Karen Alzate - rep-alzate@rilegislature.gov Rep Jacquelyn M. Baginski - rep-baginski@rilegislature.gov Rep Nathan W. Biah - rep-biah@rilegislature.gov Rep Terri Cortvriend - rep-cortvriend@rilegislature.gov Rep Grace Diaz - rep-diaz@rilegislature.gov Rep John G. Edwards - rep-edwards@rilegislature.gov Rep Alex S. Finkelman - rep-finkelman@rilegislature.gov Rep Raymond A. Hull - rep-hull@rilegislature.gov Rep William W. O'Brien - rep-obrien@rilegislature.gov Rep Teresa A. Tanzi - rep-tanzi@rilegislature.gov Rep Sherry Roberts - rep-roberts@rilegislature.gov Rep George Nardone /Co-sponsor both bills - rep-nardone@rilegislature.gov #MakeRIAffordable

@KateFangman @SueStenhouse That might be fair in a vacuum - but the reality is that when you consider taxes paid, utility burden, healthcare premiums, housing scarcity & stagnant wages we are the 5th least affordable state in the U.S.

@MikeWChip @SueStenhouse RI ranks 17th for state budget per capita and below average for New England states. That doesn’t seem unreasonable.

@KateFangman @SueStenhouse The size we refer to IS the population. Nothing misleading at all - just misunderstood evidently.

@SueStenhouse @MikeWChip “The size of Rhode Island” is somewhat misleading given our population density.

Taxpayers earning $200K+ make up just 7% of RI filers, but generate 55% of state income tax revenue. That means even modest outmigration among high earners has outsized impact on state revenues and economic activity. Our new analysis examines the risks: bit.ly/4tvIdB

@DavidAHolley @IanDonnis @LoughlinRI1 @JohnMarionjr My Dem colleagues assured me we don't need an Inspector Gen, because we already have an Auditor General... who works for JCLS... which is controlled by the Speaker of the House... never heard the "partisan" red herring about that...

.@LoughlinRI1 wants to bring the inspector general to the LG's office. @JohnMarionjr says there are a number of challenges involved oceanstatemedia.org/politics/gop-c…

@MoniqAR He's a snake oil salesman.

Did Dr. Jha decide it is now necessary to fear-monger about hantavirus? Or did he simply speak on Friday prematurely, without adequate information? Either alternative is detrimental to both the promotion of public health and to the credibility of a medical expert/doctor.

The reasoned message from 1 of RI's truly independent thinktanks has increasingly been ignored by Democrats in RI. It's clear why - the fiscal responsibility that drives @RIPEC_ is at direct odds with the approach adopted by RI's Democratic Party. They ignore RIPEC at our peril.

@CArpiainen @regularguyme What do I get paid? Give me the hourly rate please. This is you're opportunity to flex.

@MikeWChip @regularguyme If i worked 84 days in a year and get paid what you do, plus the perks, I'd be happy too dipshit

“Free universal healthcare” isn’t free - it’s paid through high taxes, rationing, wait times, denied treatments, and limited access. Other countries didn’t “figure it out”. They figured out different ways to make citizens pay dearly for it with money and their health.

@Tallboys236 I once had a neighbor. He kept his dogs in squalid conditions, and was abusive to them. They lived their entire lives that way and would literally wag their tails when the man came home. They simply didn't know life could be better.

@MikeWChip And those countries hate it sooo much they r rioting every year and every election to get rid of it right??? right???…,,.right?

@regularguyme That you believe that tracks. I'm a very happy person. Studies consistently demonstrate that Conservative and Republican Americans are far happier than Leftist and Democrat Americans...

@MikeWChip lol. They’re happier than us.

@regularguyme Literally spent 2 years in Europe. The do NOT have it good...

@MikeWChip Please turn off Fox News and get out more. Go to Europe. They got it good.

@AF2002RI Yup. I have a buddy in Montreal who literally drives to the US to pay out of pocket to get the care for his family that Canada either won't provide, or expects them to wait months for.

@MikeWChip I have friends in Canada who tell me it’s nearly impossible to get any sort of appointment let alone get the treatment they need.