economic development

Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian joins us this week to discuss his political future, Rhode Island's population loss, the outlook on same-sex marriage, RIPTA, and more.

As part of a series of recent interviews with state officials, House Speaker Gordon Fox sat down with RIPR political reporter Ian Donnis this week to discuss jobs, same-sex marriage, and other issues facing the House of Representatives. 

House Speaker Gordon Fox sat down this week with RIPR political reporter Ian Donnis to discuss his legislative priorities for 2013 and other issues, including payday lending.

House Speaker Gordon Fox and Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed cruised to re-election in their leadership positions Tuesday while pledging increased legislative attention to trying to boost Rhode Island’s underperforming economy.

Governor Lincoln Chafee is declining to talk specifics about whether his next budget will include revenue increases – a.k.a. tax hikes.

The governor offered this comment during an interview last week (excerpts of which will be broadcast on RIPR Thursday morning):

“The budget will come out in January … we’re still putting it together.”

James Diossa, the mayor-elect of Central Falls, says he hopes to raise the level of investment in the city by restoring confidence in its municipal government.

During an interview broadcast this morning on RIPR, Diossa said:

Governor Lincoln Chafee remains open to the idea of putting one person in charge of the state’s economic development efforts, although the precise approach for doing that hasn’t been decided, his office says.

Almost two months have passed since the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council issued its recommendations for reshaping the state’s strategy to improving the economy.

Governor Lincoln Chafee, perhaps responding to the clamor about the need for more short-term steps on boosting hte economy, has issued this news release:

How many Ken Block-style voters are out there?

That’s a big question, since Block says he plans to split his ticket on Tuesday, voting for President Obama and Republican CD1 candidate Brendan Doherty. If Doherty is going to prevail as Rhode Island’s great GOP hope, he needs tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders to do the same thing.

Block explained his stance during a taping of RIPR’s Bonus Q+A, which will air Friday at 6:40 and 8:40 am:

With a series of organizations calling for more urgency in jolting Rhode Island’s under-performing economy, Governor Lincoln Chafee says the state needs to remain focused on a long-term approach. 

Speaking during a news conference highlighting $110 million in federally-backed improvements at T.F. Green Airport, Chafee said: