OnTheIssuesLogo

Dan McKee on Budget & Economy

 

 


Rebuild Rhode Island by investing in infrastructure

Keep Rhode Island building: that's one of the best ways to protect our economy from national downturns. We are rebuilding Rhode Island with good, prevailing-wage union jobs that support strong families and bright futures across our state. That's why my budget will call for $600 million in bond proposals to "Keep Rhode Island Building," by investing in infrastructure across our state--for business, higher education, K-12, and housing.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to Rhode Island legislature , Jan 13, 2026

Won't sign budget objecting to new taxes and fees

Criticizing the "unnecessary" taxes and fees in lawmakers' 2026 budget, McKee announced that he will not sign the $14.3 billion tax-and-spend plan. "This is not a time to be putting fees and additional taxes on the working families in the state of Rhode Island," McKee said. "I am drawing a line in the sand. We need to have a great deal more fiscal responsibility."
Source: R.I.Current, "FY26," on 2026 Rhode Island Gubernatorial race , Jun 25, 2025

Make home ownership reachable for first time homebuyers

Housing is being built in every corner of our state. Thanks to the voters passing our historic $120 million housing bond last year, we will continue to address this issue with courageous impatience. Because we know that, on average, the median homeowner has a net worth of around $400,000, compared to just $10,000 for the median renter. That's why home ownership is still the American Dream. We want to make that dream reachable for more Rhode Islanders, with a focus on first time homebuyers.
Source: 2025 State of the State Address to Rhode Island legislature , Jan 15, 2025

$100M housing production bond, largest in state history

In addition to the new housing tools passed last year, the budget I'll propose will call for a $100 million housing production bond on the ballot. This would be the largest housing production bond in our state's history. And we're going to ensure that-- if approved by the voters--these dollars will create more inventory and help put young people on a path to homeownership in our state. We know that homeownership is one of the top ways to build generational wealth. Let's get it done.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the R.I. legislature , Jan 17, 2024

Quarter billion dollar investment in creating more housing

Housing is one of the most critical issues facing Rhode Island today and over the next decade. That's why our Administration proposed a once-in-a-generation, quarter-billion dollar investment in creating and supporting more housing at all income levels. We have over $90 million in funding from the historic $250 million available for developers. And 39 projects have already been funded that are anticipated to create or preserve over 1,000 units of affordable housing.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the R.I. legislature , Jan 17, 2023

$2B for 137 state infrastructure projects moving forward

The budget surplus and economic stimulus funding from the federal government has put us in a position to make a record-setting investment in Rhode Island and in the people of Rhode Island. In addition to economic development projects happening across the state through public and private partnerships over the next several years, we will also have 137 state infrastructure projects totaling nearly $2 billion moving forward.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the R.I. legislature , Jan 17, 2023

Make a once in a generation investment in our housing stock

For Rhode Island to be an attractive place to live, work, and raise a family, we must address the availability of housing. Rhode Island has historically underinvested in housing. We are experiencing a housing shortage in part because too few units have been built over several years. In 2020, we built fewer units per capita than any other state in New England. Let's come together again and allocate a quarter billion dollars to make a once in a generation investment in our state's housing stock.

Did you know that homeownership is one of the most important ways to build generational wealth, yet Rhode Island has one of the lowest homeownership rates in the country, largely because families and individuals cannot afford the down payment? It's time to change that. That's why I will be sending the General Assembly a proposal for investing $50 million to provide down payment assistance to Rhode Island households who need it most.

Source: 2022 State of the State Address to Rhode Island legislature , Jan 18, 2022

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

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

Other governors on Budget & Economy: Dan McKee on other issues:
RI Gubernatorial:
Aaron Guckian
Allan Fung
Ashley Kalus
Helena Foulkes
Luis-Daniel Munoz
Nellie Gorbea
Seth Magaziner
RI Senatorial:
Allen Waters
Connor Burbridge
Jack Reed
Patricia Morgan
Sheldon Whitehouse

Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families/Children
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Infrastructure/Technology
Jobs
Local Issues
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
War/Iraq/Mideast
Welfare/Poverty

[Title9]





Page last updated: Apr 01, 2026; copyright 1999-2022 Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org