Dan McKee in 2022 RI Governor's race
On Abortion:
Identifies as supportive of abortion rights
Gov. Gina Raimondo and Lt. Gov. Dan McKee, both Democrats who identify as supportive of abortion rights, face spirited primaries on their left this year,
as do several anti-abortion legislators, with the challengers making abortion rights one of their top priorities.
Source: NBC News on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Jun 25, 2018
On Budget & Economy:
Strong supporter and advocate for local small business
Since becoming lieutenant governor, McKee has spent much of his time promoting and advocating on behalf of small businesses. During the pandemic, he's used the office as a bully pulpit to call for greater support for the business community.
When asked about his greatest achievement as lieutenant governor, McKee pointed to his support of the business community, namely during the pandemic. "That's probably the highlight," he said.
Source: WPRI on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Jan 7, 2021
On Budget & Economy:
I understand that budgets reflect priorities and policy
[On COVID recovery]: "We're digging in now and I think we will be prepared to understand what we are looking at and that's an important thing," McKee said. "You can understand what the options might be based on real numbers and I think that is what
I always did as mayor," he said. "I understand that budgets reflect priorities and policy and so I'm looking forward to trying to work through this budget even if it is on short time frame," McKee said.
Source: The Independent on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Jan 21, 2021
On Civil Rights:
Overstated support for marriage equality, but for it at end
In response to an ad released by incumbent Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Daniel McKee claiming early leadership on marriage equality, leaders of
Rhode Island's LGBTQ community condemned the lieutenant governor for taking credit for a fight they say he was absent from until the very end.
Source: Uprise RI blog on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Aug 22, 2021
On Crime:
Proposed parole after 10 years if under 22 at time of crime
The budget proposed by Gov. Dan McKee would have offered parole eligibility after 10 years to anyone under 22 at the time of their crime. The revised version passed by the
General Assembly doubles that time, and explicitly exempts people sentenced to life without parole. McKee is expected to sign the revised budget on Tuesday.
Source: Go Local Prov blog on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Jul 6, 2021
On Drugs:
Proposed regulating a legal marijuana market
Rhode Island's elected officials have proposed three different legalization bills this year. The first was introduced by Governor
Dan McKee (D), proposing to regulate a legal marijuana market and award 25 licenses a year for the first three years.
Source: Filter magazine on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Jun 29, 2021
On Education:
As mayor created the first mayoral charter school
As Cumberland mayor, he created Blackstone Valley Prep, the first mayoral charter school in the state and template for independent public schools. It remains his most high-profile accomplishment in public life. The Blackstone Valley Prep CEO
calls McKee a "great man who cares deeply for children. He's a family man, married to a lifelong educator, and I think he understands as well as anyone how important and hard it is to be a public school teacher," Chiappetta told The Journal.
Source: Providence Journal on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Jan 8, 2021
On Education:
Charter schools support criticized by public sector unions
McKee successfully lobbied the General Assembly to pass legislation allowing mayoral academies, a controversial achievement in Rhode Island education that's pitted public-sector unions against him ever since. During his re-election campaign for mayor
in 2008, the National Education Association of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island AFL-CIO and the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals sent out direct mailings and paid for TV ads claiming McKee was destroying public education.
Source: WPRI on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Jan 7, 2021
On Education:
COVID and schools: locally driven, state supported
McKee is looking to working more with local communities in managing the impact of COVID-19 on schools. "It should be locally driven, state supported and also a local decision," McKee said of local districts deciding when they can resume full operation
of their schools. "The state should play a role in providing the information to the local districts so that they can make the best decisions that they can," McKee said.
Source: The Independent on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Jan 21, 2021
On Education:
Set up after-school programs to make up time lost to COVID
We can be intentional about getting on top of the hours that have been lost. You bring in educators, retired, under-employed teachers, current teachers, and we run a reading program. It's kind of like when you were 10 years old, taking a piano lesson.
We structure curricula, and we have these programs that families sign their kids up for, and they come in a couple times a week for a reading lesson, or a math lesson, or a music lesson.
Source: The74million.org on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Feb 10, 2021
On Education:
School reform by partnering without being demanding
I think it's going to look like partnering with the current structure without being demanding, right? You're going to have to create partnerships, and you're going to have to listen to the people who are running those schools, including the labor
groups, and you're going to sit down and say, "How are things going and how do we make things better?" You can't just drive in and demand change. Our approach is going to be, "OK let's, let's hear what you think can happen."
Source: The74million.org on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Feb 10, 2021
On Education:
Make two years free community college program permanent
Q: Sunset provision [expiration of program] on free community college program--will you make it permanent?A: Yeah, I think that that's good. On the community college level that first two years, I think we're going to support that. And again, I think
that President Biden's going to actually make that more real than less real, too. I'm hearing that the Pell Grants are going to get increased. So I think in that area, I think things look pretty bright for students in Rhode Island.
Source: The74million.org on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Feb 10, 2021
On Energy & Oil:
Community solar panel program lets people subscribe
[On landfill conversion]: "Today, we are celebrating the transformation of a brownfield into a clean, renewable energy source, while making the benefits of solar power available to more Rhode Islanders," said McKee at a ribbon cutting
ceremony. "The state's community solar program allows National Grid customers, who want to reduce carbon emissions but who cannot install solar panels on their own homes, to subscribe to a local solar project & receive a discount on their electric bills.
Source: Waste 360 blog on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Oct 26, 2021
On Government Reform:
RI Equity Council meetings should not be open to the public
Should Rhode Island Equity Council meetings be secret? The Equity Council serves an important function: ensuring that the state's COVID-19 strategies address the specific needs of the communities most impacted by the pandemic. But a reporter was recently
prevented from watching the Equity Council meeting via Zoom, and a spokeswoman for Governor Daniel McKee told a reporter, "These meetings have not been open to the public." So the reporter filed a complaint alleging a violation of the Open Meetings Act.
"I think it should be open to the public. While it doesn't have any authority to implement or execute on ideas, the Equity Council ultimately serves as a liaison for the community voice. Without transparency, there could be a disconnect between
what's advised on the council and what the community wants," Mu&?ntilde;oz said, "The Equity Council is the only lens the community has into what the administration is doing. If this is not open to the public, it kind of defeats the purpose of it."
Source: Boston Globe on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
May 28, 2021
On Government Reform:
Vetoed state short-term rental regulations as burdensome
[On AirBnB bill} "I cannot support this bill because it will create additional burden for property owners. Short-term rental concerns, like other property/land use and small business matters, are most effectively addressed at the municipal level.
Our local planning, zoning, and building authorities have the requisite experience and expertise to determine what works (or does not work) for their community," McKee added.
Source: Go Local Prov blog on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Jul 8, 2021
On Gun Control:
Received an "F" from the NRA's Political Victory Fund
10 Things you didn't know about RI Governor Dan McKee:
He received an "F" from the NRA's Political Victory Fund.
Source: Boston Globe on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Mar 3, 2021
On Immigration:
In-state college tuition regardless of immigration status
McKee signed the Student Success Act which grants in-state college tuition rates to all Rhode Islanders, regardless of immigration status. "No matter your immigration status, you are a Rhode Islander, you are valued, and your education and future
matter to us, not only for you, but also for the state of Rhode Island," he said. "Our children are quite literally the future, and the success of our economy, our workforce, and our state depends on them."
Source: WPRI CBS-TV-12 on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Jul 6, 2021
On Jobs:
Enacted pay equity regardless of gender or ethnicity
[On pay inequity]: "I'm proud to support women's health and equity. Today, Rhode Island is closing a number of discriminatory gaps and eliminating a collection of practices
that have unfairly impacted women for generations," said McKee. The first bill ensures pay equity for all employees, regardless of gender or ethnicity.
Source: WUN blog on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Aug 4, 2021
On Local Issues:
Lieutenant governor has no power; job criticized
Despite having served as second-in-command for the six years, McKee still isn't as well known in Rhode Island in part because of the No. 2 position's lack of power. Unlike most other states, where lieutenant governors preside over the state Senate,
the job in Rhode Island has long been criticized since that role was eliminated here. Yet Raimondo's decision to leave halfway through her term underscores the job's most important function: to be ready to lead if the current governor cannot.
Source: WPRI on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Jan 7, 2021
On Principles & Values:
People have pride in their communities & staying in hometown
As for where he plans to live McKee said he will stay in his hometown. "I'm not leaving Cumberland," he said. "As we go around the state and talk to people, people have a lot of pride in their communities as I do in Cumberland," McKee said. "That's our
strength, and so I'll go to that strength and that's why I know the communities are going to respond strongly to this effort to really rally and attack this virus in a way that we can do from a ground level," McKee noted.
Source: The Independent on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Jan 21, 2021
On Principles & Values:
Trump's Big Lie is a threat to our democracy
McKee said, "Once I became aware on Friday afternoon of the details of a fundraising event set for next Wednesday, I asked that the event be cancelled. I do not want to be associated with Donald Trump in any way, shape, or form.
I do not like Trump--he is dishonest, divisive, and his "Big Lie" is a threat to our democracy. There is no place for a Trump spokesperson to co-host any event I am involved in."
Source: Newport Buzz on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Jul 6, 2021
On Tax Reform:
Increase real estate transfer tax on homes over $700,000
He also supports a buffed-up version of former Gov. Gina Raimondo's bid to raise the real estate transfer tax on high-end homes, defined as those costing more than $700,000, to provide "a permanent funding stream for affordable and workforce housing."
(Raimondo had proposed a $500,000 threshold.) The current rate is $2.30 for every $500 spent. McKee's proposal doubles the rate to $4.60 for every $500 spent above $700,000, with all of the new revenue going into a new "housing production fund."
Source: Providence Journal on 2022 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race
Mar 11, 2021
Page last updated: Feb 14, 2023