Filippi, Chippendale to Serve Second Term as Leadership Team of RI House GOP Caucus

Filippi, Chippendale to Serve Second Term as Leadership Team of RI House GOP Caucus

Rhode Island House Republicans unanimously re-elected Representatives Blake Filippi as Minority Leader and Michael Chippendale of Foster as Minority Whip to serve in their now second term at the helm.

“I am honored to receive my colleagues’ confidence to continue as Leader of the House Republican Caucus,” said Filippi. “Last night’s ousting of the Speaker is a clear mandate from our citizens that the General Assembly needs to get back to work and that ‘business as usual’ will no longer be tolerated. Our caucus is committed to championing policies and legislation that helps our constituents, not special interests.” 

“Republicans have repeatedly called for spending reforms, so the burdens placed up on our taxpayers and businesses are lessened -- allowing for growth in our failing economy,” said Chippendale. “Republicans have consistently called out mismanaged core government functions and offered fiscally responsible reforms to services affecting the most vulnerable, such as at the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), the Veterans Home, and children in failing school districts. We are a voice for those needing government the most, and are proud of our efforts. We will champion these causes and so much more in the upcoming legislative session. It is time to get back to work.” 

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GOP on Record

The House Minority Office issued the following statement at the announcement: 

"During his first term as Minority Leader, Filippi led the Caucus in a number of high-profile campaigns to challenge the status quo. Most notably, the Caucus filed a lawsuit against the Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello over his illegal control of the Joint Committee on Legislative Services (JCLS). The lawsuit is pending decision in the Rhode Island Superior Court.

The Caucus also successfully championed and secured an independent consultant to analyze the Governor’s proposed 20-year, no-bid gaming contract, resulting in the Caucus discovering $660M in overpayments to IGT/Twin River. 

In an attempt to safely minimize the Coronavirus pandemic’s impact on Rhode Island citizens and businesses, House Republicans repeatedly called upon the Speaker, the Senate President and members of the General Assembly to reconvene and provide necessary oversight of: the Governor’s succession of Executive Orders; to investigate the record-setting number of nursing home fatalities; to address significant and growing budget shortfalls; and for the proper release of the federal CARES Act funds for education reform and small business support."