GoLocalProv Voter's Guide - Candidates for Governor: Lincoln Chafee
GoLocalProv Politics Team
GoLocalProv Voter's Guide - Candidates for Governor: Lincoln Chafee
Lincoln Chafee
Independent Candidate for RI Governor
March 26, 1953, Providence, RI
Education:
Brown University ’75 (B.A. Classics)
Montana State University horseshoeing school in Bozeman
Career Highlights:
• 1976 to 1983: worked as a blacksmith at harness racetracks in Kentucky, Florida, and Alberta, Canada
• 1986 to 1990 worked as a manufacturing planner at Electric Boat, Quonset
• Mayor of Warwick1993-1999
• Appointed to the U.S. Senate in 1999
• Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000. Served on the Foreign Relations Committee, Banking Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee
• Author of Against The Tide, How a Compliant Congress Empowered A Reckless President (2008)
Personal Information:
Chafee is a former United States Senator. He is currently running as an independent for Governor of Rhode Island. He lives in Warwick with his wife Stephanie, and their three children Louisa, Caleb and Thea.
Views on Key Issues:
• Do you favor the expansion of casino gambling in RI to include table games in Lincoln and Newport?
In the face of Massachusetts exploring casino gambling next door to Rhode Island, I believe we must consider “live tables” in Lincoln and Newport. I would support placing a referendum before the citizens of Rhode Island to enable casino gambling, so long as the host cities of Newport and Lincoln are allowed to hold their own referendum.
• Do you think RI is culturally too accepting of public corruption?
No. Rhode Island’s infamous political corruption and cronyism hinders economic growth, discouraging business investment in our state.
• Do you support the Deepwater Wind Project as a way of helping RI become a hub of the new energy industry? Do you think it is a viable method of economic development here?
A combination of focus on renewable energy, recycling and re-connecting businesses with sustainability will not only benefit the environment but the economy as well. The new infrastructure in Quonset has given us the chance to develop new green maritime-related industries creating more good jobs for our state. There are exciting plans for offshore wind energy projects that can bring good new jobs to Quonset. However, it is unfortunate and regrettable that Deepwater Wind has lost the very important support of the Conservation Law Foundation over the process through the PUC.
• Do you think RI effectively spends its education dollars?
Realistic revenue estimates are the key to any state education formula. In the past, funding for schools and the state budget as a whole were based on unrealistic revenue estimates, which created unfunded mandates for the local community. Any new education formula must provide predictability. Districts will then have a true understanding of how much state aid they can expect when crafting their own individual budgets. We also need to make higher education available to all citizens of Rhode Island. Skyrocketing tuition and fees at our public colleges has an adverse effect on our state. The way out of poverty is education, therefore we must work to ensure that the state's poor and middle-class families have access to our higher education institutions.
• Do you favor a state law to allow gay marriage?
Yes. This is a question of basic fairness. Our gay and lesbian friends and family members deserve the same liberties and freedoms as everyone else. In my opinion, it is also an economic development issue. In keeping with Rhode Island’s proud progressive history of inclusion and religious liberty, I look forward to signing same sex marriage into law.
• Do you think RI should enact restrictive immigration legislation?
I am committed to helping immigrants integrate into our society and become U.S. citizens. As governor, one of my first acts will be to repeal the executive order on E-Verify. I will work with the NGA to push for a comprehensive federal immigration law.
• Do you think municipal government has done enough to cut spending?
We can all do more to control government spending and be more efficient. As Governor, I will refrain from passing the state’s problems down to the municipalities. I intend to be the champion of the property taxpayer.
• What specifically do you propose to change in the state pension system, and how much will your changes save in annual costs to the pension system?
As I have publicly stated, I believe that state government has an obligation to current employees who are currently in the state pension system. I would, however, consider moving all new hires to a hybrid plan similar to the federal government employee plan.
• What is your strategy to address the state's budget deficit? Please be specific, i.e. what cuts or revenue enhancements you are proposing.
Rhode Island has a structural budget deficit that is simply unsustainable over the short term. As governor, I will seek to raise $100 million in new revenues through the application of a 1% sales tax on currently exempt items to solidify our state’s fiscal condition. I will also conduct an exhaustive review of state expenditures in an effort to promote greater efficiency and savings that do not compromise the basic obligations of our state to provide services to its citizens.
• What specifically will you do to improve employment for Rhode Islanders?
I believe the fastest and surest way to increase employment in Rhode Island is to build on our existing strengths, our assets. I will aggressively work to create economic growth at the Station District in Warwick, the Knowledge District in Providence, and promote the green economy at Quonset, more defense-related jobs on Aquidneck Island and encourage growth in the Blackstone River Valley.