Rhode Island officials have not gotten off to a good start in engendering confidence that they can be counted on to make the best decisions on spending an estimated $1.1 billion in new pandemic-related federal aid.
Right now, Gov. Daniel J. McKee appears to be following one plan, and the General Assembly another. One result is that Rhode Island is the only state in the Northeast, according to Gov. McKee, not to have spent any of its American Rescue Plan Act funding.
While everyone agrees most of the money should be spent on long-term needs, Gov. McKee has been clamoring for weeks for state lawmakers to return from recess to consider spending an estimated 10% of that money now. But he waited much longer than many other governors to make the request, allowing the General Assembly to go into recess without having to consider it.
He finally submitted a budget proposal in early October to spend about $113 million on short-term needs, including for small businesses, housing and hospitality.
But General Assembly leaders thus far have stubbornly declined to say whether state lawmakers will be called back before the end of the year to vote on the request.
If the governor and his fellow Democrats leading the House and Senate can’t get on the same page now, why would anyone think they can do so in an election year on longer-term spending?
Lawmakers should vote on Gov. McKee’s request this year. And there should only be one plan both can sign on to for sorting through community recommendations for longer-term spending.