R.I. high court blocks referenda on tax burden, voter initiative

The Rhode Island Supreme Court has decided to prevent the Secretary of State from putting two non-binding referenda on the November ballot.
The first question to voters would have read: “Should the Rhode Island Constitution be amended to limit the growth of state spending and to limit annual increases in local property taxes.
The second referendum would have asked Rhode Islanders whether they were in favor of voter initiative, which allows citizens with specified number of signatures to put proposed law changes on the ballot.

Gov. Donald L. Carcieri, who had asked to put the questions on the ballot, released a statement today to express ire over the court’s decision.
“I’m very disappointed that the people of Rhode Island will not have an opportunity to voice their opinions on these two important questions,” Carcieri said. “The two questions… are tremendously important issues for Rhode Island’s future.”
The governor and other advocates for a state spending cap and limits on local property tax increases say the Ocean State has among the largest tax burdens in the country, and annual tax hikes have outpaced most people’s income growth in recent years.