Woonsocket Radio News Room

HOUSE MINORITY LEADER CHIPPENDALE COMMENTS ON THE TRUCK TOLL RULING BY FEDERAL APPEALS COURT

 

State House, Providence – In response to Friday’s federal appeals court ruling that Rhode Island's suspended truck toll system is constitutional and can relaunch as long as daily toll caps that advantage in-state trucks are removed, House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale offers the following statement:

 

This was not a “good day” for Rhode Islanders and it is a very bad deal for Rhode Island businesses, as increased transportation costs are often passed through to consumers via increased product and services pricing. In January 2024, Wallethub ranked Rhode Island dead last for “Best and Worst States to Start a Business”, and in July, 2024 CNBC’s annual Best States for Business ranking placed Rhode Island 44th, receiving D grades for the economy, cost of living, access to capital and cost of doing business –we are in a race to the bottom to be the least business friendly state in the country and that is detrimental to all of Rhode Island. With rumored out-of-state moves from some of Rhode Island’s anchor corporations, this will be a difficult decision for the Governor, and legislative leaders – and the choice is clear:  punish Rhode Island truckers or do away with tolls altogether.

 

As Republicans stated since the initial RhodeWorks proposition in 2016, the plan to enact select tolls for in-state vs out-of-state tractor trailers was unconstitutional as proposed—and the amount of taxpayer dollars used over the years to install all the gantries and hire an out-of-state monitoring company - in addition to the legal fees to fight this folly is not a victory. Also, to now renege on the negotiated toll cap for local commercial trucking, which was part of the original deal for passage, is very concerning. The tolls should not be reinstated.

 

In January, 2025, the House Republican Caucus will introduce legislation to repeal the tolls entirely.  It is time for business-friendly leadership in Rhode Island and a new day for government fiscal management and responsibility.

2026 has begun in some parts of the world. France, Germany, Italy, Japan, China, and New Zealand already held celebrations earlier today. It comes as there was an increased police presence in Sydney as Australia rung in the new year after the deadly Bondi [[ BOND-eye ]] Beach attack earlier this month. Another million or so revelers are expected to pack New York City's Times Square for the Big Apple's annual celebration.        President Trump is ending National Guard deployments in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the cities were gone if it wasn't for the federal government stepping in, adding they will come back in maybe a different and stronger form when crime begins to soar again. The move comes weeks after the Supreme Court rejected Trump's bid to send National Guard members to the Chicago area to protect federal officials who were enforcing his immigration policies.        Drugmakers are set to raise the prices of hundreds of medications in the new year. A new analysis from health care research firm '3 Axis Advisors' found that a higher number of drugs would see median price hike hovers around four percent despite drugmakers pledging to offer more favorable prices under new Trump administration policies. Pharmaceutical companies entered into voluntary agreements with the White House rather than be subjected to tariffs that could impact their profits.        Some light snow could ring in the New Year tonight in New York City and Boston. It's from a weaker area of low pressure traveling down from southern Canada that's shifting East over the Great Lakes region. Snow is forecast to fall from Ohio to Pennsylvania as a result before moving Northeast.        SNAP recipients in five states will see restrictions on soda, candy and other foods starting tomorrow. Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia are the first of at least 18 states to enact waivers prohibiting the purchase of certain foods through the program. It comes as part of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again effort, and it could impact more than 40 million Americans.        A Walt Disney World worker is being treated after they were hurt while stopping a boulder prop from bouncing into the audience during an Indiana Jones stunt show. The incident happened Tuesday during the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Video on social media shows the boulder bouncing off track and starting to head toward the crowd watching the show before a staff member stepped in front of it, getting knocked to the ground.       

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