See legislators rally for ‘just cause’ evictions bill at the statehouse
Legislators and tenants describe why just cause eviction protections are needed in Rhode Island.
- Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee is facing criticism for his plan to give raises to members of his Cabinet.
- Critics, including House Speaker Shekarchi and Senate Republicans, argue that the raises are inappropriate given the state’s fiscal woes.
- The debate over the raises comes as the state grapples with Tuesday’s news that the Trump administration is canceling $31 million in federal grants for the state Department of Health.
- McKee defended the raises, stating they are necessary to keep salaries competitive with those in neighboring states and retain qualified individuals.
PROVIDENCE – Despite critics calling him “tone deaf,” Gov. Dan McKee has doubled-down on his plan to give raises to members of his Cabinet.
McKee’s fellow Democrat, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, said the raises conflict with the money-is-tight message the governor has given every legislator – and every advocacy group – seeking additional money this year, especially on the heels of Tuesday’s news that the Trump administration is canceling $31 million in federal grants the state Department of Health was counting on.
Senate Republicans delivered this broadside: “Wrong time, wrong message.”
“As average hardworking Rhode Islanders face staggering energy prices and historic highs for housing costs, the Governor’s proposal is tone deaf and irresponsible,” said Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz. “If this proposal passes, I will support a formal Joint Resolution with my colleagues to reject the proposed pay raise package.”
Why does McKee say the raises are necessary?
But McKee, after his weekly meeting with House and Senate leaders – in this case, Shekarchi and Senate Majority Leader Valarie Lawson – announced that he is “staying the course.”
A statement issued by spokeswoman Laura Hart, ahead of Wednesday’s public hearing on the raises, said that it is important, “in a competitive marketplace … that leaders with specialized areas of expertise are compensated fairly and that their salaries keep pace with peers in similar roles in other states.
“To achieve this goal, 11 cabinet members are in line to receive modest raises – none exceeding a 5% increase. Collectively, all the salary increases total approximately $82,000.”
At the point McKee took office in March 2021, she noted, many Cabinet members had not received raises in years “and their salaries had fallen below the standard for their roles. To rectify this situation, the state had to implement considerable raises over a three-year period.”
“Moving forward, providing small, incremental increases over time will help Rhode Island maintain competitive salaries without causing a significant impact on any one budget year,” she said.
Are salaries in Massachusetts and Connecticut comparable?
De la Cruz questioned the comparisons the McKee administration used to justify the raises.
The administration provided a study of salaries that other states pay their appointees in comparable positions, and it showed Transportation Director Peter Alviti, as an example, still making less at his proposed new $192,000 salary than his counterparts in Massachusetts ($196,551), Connecticut ($245,215), Maine ($201,769.80) and Maryland ($222,493).
For what it is worth, some directors with long histories with the state make more, with incentives and longevity pay, than the base salaries for their jobs.
With those extras baked in, the proposed pay raises will boost the full pay for Department of Business Regulation Director Elizabeth Dwyer from $183,340.20 to $191,377; Department of Environmental Management Director Terrence Gray from $197,867.78 to $206,248.67; Department of Human Services Director Kimberly Merola-Brito from $180,042.50 to $188,066.50; Department of Labor & Training Director Matthew Wheldon from $190,864.05 to $199,539.28; and State Police Superintendent Darnell Weaver, the director of the Department of Public Safety, from $224,250 to $225,250.
“The Governor cites regional competitiveness as a driver of proposed raises, so should we not also compare Rhode Island’s budget, population, land mass, and government effectiveness to those other states?” de la Cruz asked.
Brian Kennedy, a Journal reader who used to work for the state in human resources, suggested asking “how many employees each “comparable” agency had, or the amount of their budget, or the scope of their programs. … The argument can be made that Mass. and Conn. are NOT comparable to RI – their agencies are, typically, much larger and more complex.
“They are used when ‘proof’ is needed to award pay raises,” he said.
Broadening the issue, de la Cruz said, “Our $14 billion state budget makes our per capita spending 35 percent higher than neighboring states, while our business climate, bridges and infrastructure are ranked among the worst in the nation. Clearly, we are not getting the most effective use of our tax dollars under this administration.”
Barring a veto by the House and Senate concurrently – or a change of heart by the governor – the raises could take effect within 30 days of their transmittal to the legislature. De la Cruz vowed to “support a formal Joint
Resolution with my colleagues to reject the proposed pay raise package.”
What would the $31 million in canceled federal grants have been used for?
In response to a Journal inquiry late Tuesday, health department spokesman Joseph Wendelken confirmed: “We were notified by CDC [the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] that it was terminating four grants totaling roughly $31 million.
“While the work funded by these grants goes beyond responding to COVID-19, CDC’s cause for terminating these grants was the end of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Wendelken said.
“These grants partially support vaccination work, some of our epidemiology and laboratory capacity work, work to address health disparities, and community health workers,” though “the construction of the new State Health Laboratory is not affected,” he said.
“We are working very closely with the Governor’s Office and the Rhode Island Attorney General to explore all options to safeguard the funding that supports the critical work done by the Department of Health.” He said the workforce impact is being evaluated.
