Gov. Gina M. Raimondo’s Jan. 16 State of the State address was a chance to tout the advances made in the first three years of her administration.
The themes are ones she has presented often during her tenure: jobs, education, infrastructure and the opioid crisis. They are good ones, but the one that deserves the most focus is jobs.
The numbers are improved from when the governor took office. Some complain that progress has been bought by incentives. But it would be foolish for Rhode Island to unilaterally stop developing its own focused job-creation programs while other states employ them.
In addition to incentives, the governor’s job-training programs have moved the needle. And her focus on education and training are an important response to the needs of Rhode Island employers.
But her next steps should focus just as much on improving the state’s regulatory structure, including at the municipal level. If progress could be made on that topic, the state would undoubtedly be even better off in the coming years.