2020 Election Profile: Maggie Kain, RI State Senate District 37

2020 Election Profile: Maggie Kain, RI State Senate District 37

Meet Maggie Kain who is running for election in Senate District 37 (New Shoreham, South Kingstown). 

Read what she has to say about why she is running for office.

This is part of an ongoing series by GoLocal featuring each of the candidates for House and Senate.

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1.  What do you think is the biggest political issue this campaign season in Rhode Island? 

The biggest issue facing Rhode Island is that so many voters do not realize that the power they hold. We have a failure of elected officials to act urgently on issues that affect us all deeply. The more voters we have participating in the more elected officials realize that they are going to be held accountable. There is a reason why the Senate Leadership didn’t want mail ballot applications mailed to every registered voter, for fear more people would participate in the state primary on September 8th. Rhode Island has the largest percentage of uncontested primaries of one political party in the country. Does that affect how our government runs? Absolutely. The result are legislators who are complacent to the leadership of both the Rhode Island House and Senate. Most bills die in committee under direct orders from leadership, never to make it to the floor for a vote. That to me is very undemocratic as well as a detriment to the working people of Rhode Island.

2.  What do we need to do to improve Rhode Island's economy?

To improve the economy we need to invest in the people of Rhode Island. The formula for improving the economy has been to create tax breaks for corporations or the 4,000 people that receive tax breaks in the top income tax bracket. This practice has not created enough good paying jobs, not enough revenue for the state nor has it shown that these benefit working people in any way at all. It is a further burden on regular voters. We need to put more money in the pockets of people in communities who will spend it at local businesses. We can do this by increasing the state minimum wage to at least $15/hr. This will allow Rhode Island to compete with our neighboring states plus force out of state corporations to start paying close to a living wage. Investing in a Green New Deal for Rhode Island will create good, well paying jobs trained in the industries of the future. It would be an investment in infrastructure and a better transportation system. Investing in the state will improve the job market and help support the local business by expanding their customer base. Investing in renewables will also cut the amount of the $6 billion we spend importing fossil fuels from other states for our energy needs.

3.  What is the greatest challenge facing Rhode Island as a state? 

The Climate Crisis is the biggest challenge/threat to Rhode Island. The inability of the General Assembly to invest in ways to decrease our emissions, transfer to renewable energies without putting the cost on consumers or invest in infrastructure to protect our communities from rising sea levels has been the most inexcusable offense of leadership. Rhode Island is already feeling the effects of the crisis, our state had the highest average temperature rise in the country. My district is so vulnerable to rising sea levels, as well as the majority of Rhode Island. We must act urgently, implementing the Green New Deal in the state would be the first steps we need to take now to prepare and protect our communities.

4.  Why are you running for office? What makes you uniquely qualified?  

I am running for office because our elected leaders refuse to take the necessary steps to protect us from climate change. I have watched bill after bill die in committee because only a few challenge the status quo. I have seen the candidates who have advocated for new fossil fuel infrastructure nominated to state agencies. The Senate, particularly the committee which my incumbent is the chair, has the responsibility of holding hearings on these nominations and never is there a question of these candidate’s ties to the fossil fuel industry. To confirm a candidate who would advocate new fossil fuel infrastructure, especially subsidized in some part by the state,would have very negative consequences and is unwanted by the voters of Rhode Island.

I am uniquely qualified because I am a tax payer of Rhode Island and I see how decisions are made and how those decisions have so many negative consequences for the working people of Rhode Island. My qualifications include, not taking money from Corporate PACS, being passionate about citizens being involved in local politics and knowing there is a better way to lead the state instead of giveaways to corporations.

5.  Who is your inspiration?  

I’m inspired by the voters who want change and are finding ways they are able to engage in the political process. 

 

https://www.maggiekainri.com

https://www.facebook.com/MaggieKainRI

https://twitter.com/maggiekain4ri

https://www.instagram.com/maggiekain/