PROVIDENCE – Lt. Gov. Elizabeth H. Roberts offered a mixed response to the budget plan released yesterday by Gov. Donald L. Carcieri.
To help close the burgeoning state budget gap, Carcieri called for “fundamental reform” – specifically, the tightening of personnel expenses by slashing 1,000 state jobs, freezing wages and restructuring health care benefits; and the privatization of “every state service that could possibly be performed more efficiently by the private sector.” He condemned past attempts as “band-aids [that] will not stop the hemorrhaging.” (READ MORE)
But though Roberts applauded Carcieri’s call for changes to state insurance benefits, she added that in other ways, his plan falls short.
She issued a statement saying: “Rhode Islanders need a bold vision that offers long-term budget solutions rather than temporary fixes.
“The governor’s proposal to partially restructure health benefits, encouraging more efficient use of our health care system, is one that I have long advocated. Thoughtful changes to the state employee health plan may yield positive results in both better services and cost savings.
“Rhode Island does face a serious structural deficit and we must take steps to make government more efficient,” Roberts continued.
“However, the governor’s proposal for broad personnel cuts does not assure greater government efficiency. We need a careful plan for how to restructure government programs to yield better services at lower cost.
“Without that plan, the governor’s proposal is another short-term fix rather than a structural approach to budget reform.”
Democratic leaders in the R.I. General Assembly today are expected to unveil their own budget plan. To learn what’s new at the Assembly, visit www.rilin.state.ri.us.
