I think its about time this state had an overhaul. We pay too much taxes to begin with. If the teachers and state workers do not want to participate in the new budget plan, Then let them move to another state. There's plenty of people looking for teacher's jobs. As for the welfare,take them off it and the state should limit the number of children a mother will have, in which the state will pay welfare. If she cannot keep her legs closed, well too bad. Get your tubes tied.

In July 07, there was an article about 6600 families on the welfate program, where the state social Dept. punch in a 666 code as an overide. This overide is used if no green card or no social security card can be produced. Well, its about time they are taken off the social rolls. Let them find a job or go to another state that will support them.

When you take all the taxes that WE TAXPAYERS pay, including Federal, State,SSI,health insurance, property and sales tax, what we talking, how about 32-35% thats what.

Lets work together RI, Keep our taxes down, for us and for our kids futures.

The pension system should be abolished, and replaced with 401ks.

There should be a hiring freeze.

City, State and town workers should pay 50% of their health care premium.

We should have the lowest per capita number of state workers in the US, not the highest.

Contract negotiators should have the competence and training to actually negotiate for the tax payer.

The give away pensions the city and state employees will come to bite them in the butt shortly.

It is the public elected officials responsiblity to fix this..not the special interests. Anyone who takes their eye off this problem and does not focus on this problem ....becomes part of the problem and should be identified as such....if we fail at this...last one out shut the lights off.....

So much for the "great" businessman Don Carcieri, who promised us during the 2 campaigns that he was the man for the job. It's a shame he's done such a poor job and thank goodness he's out of office before long.

Let's hope this goes into effect. Fat chance, with the Democratic controlled legislature.

The greedy unions and state workers' humongous benefit packages are not only trashing ordinary workers/taxpayers but are finally destroying the state.

I couldn't believe the large amounts of money unions are paying RI state legislatures reported in an article yesterday or the day before. Such blatant corruption. The pack of them, legislators and union officials alike, should be thrown in jail for a long time.

RHODE ISLAND: HERE IS ONE OF YOUR PROBLEMS:

“He says, ‘This is my agenda and everybody has to work on it.’ That’s a corporate approach. That’s one-side unilateral approach. That doesn’t work,” said AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer George Nee. “The governor should be a leader of bringing people together to have people solve joint problems, not just work on his agenda. That’s the problem.”

With all the money in Newport, Barrington, Little Compton and East Greenwich, why is he targeting the middle class? Because a Republican dare not announce tax increases for the wealthy? Bring on a Democratic governor, who'll work with the legislature for the middle class. Too much time and energy has been spent squabbling with the General Assembly. Let's see what the Democrats could do when it's all on them and they don't have a GOP governor to blame.