<![CDATA[Rhode Island House Republicans

<![CDATA[Rhode Island House Republicans - News & Media]]>Fri, 15 May 2026 12:21:01 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale and The News with Gene Valicenti wpro Discuss proposed Inspector General's office]]>Fri, 15 May 2026 15:52:29 GMThttps://www.rihousegop.org/news-media/house-minority-leader-michael-w-chippendale-and-the-news-with-gene-valicenti-wpro-discuss-proposed-inspector-generals-officePodcast | Download

Thursday, new Rhode Island House Speaker Chris Blazejewski announced the creation of an Inspector General's office. Speaker Blazejewski said the independent inspector general would be able to initiate investigations into state and quasi-state agencies, as well as municipal governments that use state funds. Republican House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale joined Gene Friday to react to the announcement of the office.

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]]><![CDATA[Rhode Island House Minority Leader Chippendale and Representative George Nardone Comment on Speaker Blazejewski’s Proposed Legislation to Create an Office of Inspector General]]>Fri, 15 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.rihousegop.org/news-media/rhode-island-house-minority-leader-chippendale-and-representative-george-nardone-comment-on-speaker-blazejewskis-proposed-legislation-to-create-an-office-of-inspector-generalMedia Release | Printer Friendly

State House, Providence, RI – Rhode Island House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale and Representative George Nardone offer the following statements regarding Rhode Island House Speaker Chris Blazejewski’s announcement that he is submitting legislation to establish an Office of Inspector General in Rhode Island:

Leader Chippendale:

“I am pleased to see the Speaker’s initial announcement on creating an independent Inspector General’s Office (OIG). This press release reflects the way House Republicans, and specifically tenacious bill sponsor Representative George Nardone, have been framing this issue for many years - that Rhode Island does not simply need more internal review, it needs real, independent oversight with the authority to investigate waste, mismanagement, and failures before they become crises.

Over the years, House Republicans have brought Inspectors General from neighboring states and federal agencies to Rhode Island to testify on our OIG legislation. That testimony clearly demonstrated not only the need for this office, but the imperative nature of having a truly independent watchdog protecting taxpayers and restoring public confidence in government.

We are encouraged that the Speaker appears to be coalescing with us on this important reform. While our final position will depend on the actual legislative language once it is introduced, this announcement represents a welcome shift from our Democratic colleagues and a positive step toward the accountability Rhode Islanders deserve.”

Representative George Nardone:

“During my eight years serving as State Representative for District 28 in Coventry, I have consistently introduced legislation to establish an Office of Inspector General. At times, the effort felt more symbolic than substantive, but I am encouraged to see that the new Speaker shares this vision. I am hopeful that this will finally be the year we create a much-needed Office of Inspector General in Rhode Island.

If implemented according to the bill I submitted about a month ago, this office can be incorporated at no additional cost to taxpayers. Being as late as we are in the session for such an important piece of legislation, I am hopeful the Speaker places this item into the budget as an article. This will ensure a cohesive singular bill for the House and Senate and will avoid confusion in the last weeks of work in both Chambers.

I applaud the new leadership for recognizing the importance of accountability, transparency, and responsible government oversight.”

Since 2002 there has been a bi-partisan call to establish an Office of Inspector General, to root out waste, fraud and abuses in RI state government, and offer recommended reform. When any element of the Executive or Legislative branch fails to meet the high standards expected of them - there must be a mechanism for impartial investigation. This office would serve as a guardian of public trust. Only through such rigorous, independent oversight can we expect the people of RI to have any level of confidence in their government or the integrity of our government institutions.

Recent federal investigations and other costly department or agency failures across state government have necessitated this development. The time for an Office of Inspector General – an independent entity with the authority to investigate any issue across all corners of government, is now.

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The 2026 Rhode Island House Minority (Republican) Caucus is comprised of the following elected members: Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale, District 40 (Foster/Glocester/Coventry); Minority Whip David J. Place, District 47 (Burrillville/Glocester); Representative George Nardone, District 28 (Coventry); Representative Brian Newberry, District 48 (North Smithfield/Burrillville); Representative Robert Quattrocchi, District 41 (Scituate/Cranston); Representative Sherry Roberts, District 29 (Coventry/West Greenwich); Representative Richard Fascia, District 42 (Johnston/Cranston); Representative Marie Hopkins, District 21 (Warwick); Representative Chris Paplauskas, District 15 (Cranston); Representative Paul Santucci, District 53 (Smithfield/Glocester).

(Click on each page to expend)

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]]><![CDATA[House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale and Tara Granahan WPRO Discuss RI State Budget Surplus]]>Thu, 14 May 2026 14:57:11 GMThttps://www.rihousegop.org/news-media/house-minority-leader-michael-w-chippendale-and-tara-granahan-wpro-discuss-ri-state-budget-surplusPodcast | Download

House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale joins Tara Granahan WPRO to discuss the Rhode Island State Budge Surplus.

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]]><![CDATA[RI House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale calls for state budget reform]]>Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.rihousegop.org/news-media/ri-house-minority-leader-michael-chippendale-calls-for-state-budget-reformInfographic | Printer Friendly View

Rhode Island House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale calls for state budget reform -- a $15B budget for a state the size of RI is the first unaffordable issue the House should address.

RI House Republicans submitted two bills H7251 (state law change to limit growth in state spending from exceeding the amount of growth in inflation or personal income growth, whichever is greater ) and H7257 (a constitutional amendment to establish a state spending growth limit based on inflation or personal income growth for the voters to decide) to ignite the much needed change for a sustainable state government. The bills were heard in House Finance and were "held for further study."

CALL TO ACTION: Please email/call your Rep, the Speaker's Office, and the members of the House Finance Committee to move this bill forward.

House Finance Committee Members:
Rep Marvin L. Abney, Chair - rep-abney@rilegislature.gov
Rep Scott A. Slater, 1st VC - rep-slater@rilegislature.gov
Rep Alex Marszalkowski, 2nd VC - rep-marszalkowski@rilegislature.gov
Rep Karen Alzate - rep-alzate@rilegislature.gov
Rep Jacquelyn M. Baginski - rep-baginski@rilegislature.gov
Rep Nathan W. Biah - rep-biah@rilegislature.gov
Rep Terri Cortvriend - rep-cortvriend@rilegislature.gov
Rep Grace Diaz - rep-diaz@rilegislature.gov
Rep John G. Edwards - rep-edwards@rilegislature.gov
Rep Alex S. Finkelman - rep-finkelman@rilegislature.gov
Rep Raymond A. Hull - rep-hull@rilegislature.gov
Rep William W. O'Brien - rep-obrien@rilegislature.gov
Rep Teresa A. Tanzi - rep-tanzi@rilegislature.gov
Rep Sherry Roberts - rep-roberts@rilegislature.gov
Rep George Nardone/Co-sponsor both bills - rep-nardone@rilegislature.gov

(Click on the image above to expend)

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]]><![CDATA[House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale and Tara Granahan WPRO Discuss State House Leadership Changes and Rhode Island Tax Policies]]>Thu, 07 May 2026 18:51:25 GMThttps://www.rihousegop.org/news-media/house-minority-leader-michael-w-chippendale-and-tara-granahan-wpro-discuss-state-house-leadership-changes-and-rhode-island-tax-policiesPodcast | Download

House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale joins Tara Granahan WPRO to discuss State House leadership changes and Rhode Island tax policies.

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]]><![CDATA[Rhode Island House Minority Leader Chippendale StatementRegarding the Speaker’s Resignation]]>Thu, 07 May 2026 13:44:25 GMThttps://www.rihousegop.org/news-media/rhode-island-house-minority-leader-chippendale-statementregarding-the-speakers-resignationMedia Release | Printer Friendly

State House, Providence, RI – Rhode Island House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale offers the following statement regarding the resignation of K. Joseph Shekarchi as the Speaker in the Rhode Island House of Representatives:

Speaker Shekarchi’s decision to step away from the Speaker’s rostrum marks a significant moment for the Rhode Island House of Representatives. While the Minority Caucus will continue to watch the judicial selection process with appropriate care and respect for the institutions involved, we wish Speaker Shekarchi well as he pursues this opportunity to serve Rhode Island in a different capacity.

This transition has not come as a surprise to those of us in the House. It has been discussed in State House conversation for months, and it is clear the uncertainty surrounding this decision has contributed to delays in the important work of the chamber. Rhode Islanders deserve a General Assembly that is focused, organized, and fully engaged in the urgent business before us.

Regardless of who emerges in the roles of the new leadership team within the Democratic Caucus, the House Minority Caucus stands ready to continue to work on the matters left unfinished. The people we represent are still facing the same serious problems they faced before this leadership transition began: an unaffordable state, a stagnant and underperforming economy, a crumbling health care system, the worst infrastructure in the nation --despite an exorbitant $15B proposed state budget, and the continued loss of young Rhode Islanders to states that offer greater affordability, opportunity, and stability.

The balance of this session must not be consumed by internal politics or leadership maneuvering. It must be used to address the real and pressing challenges facing Rhode Island families, taxpayers, small businesses, patients, providers, and young people trying to build a future here.

We hope for a smooth transition in House leadership, a renewed sense of urgency, and a productive conclusion to this legislative session for the benefit of all Rhode Islanders.

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]]><![CDATA[Representative Fascia introduces legislation to protect RI children from sex offenders]]>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:52:33 GMThttps://www.rihousegop.org/news-media/representative-fascia-introduces-legislation-to-protect-ri-children-from-sex-offendersMedia Release | Printer Friendly

State House, Providence, RI – During the March 24th hearing in the Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee, Representative Richard Fascia, a retired Providence Police Officer, presented his bi-partisan supported bill, H8065, making it a felony for any person required to register as a sex offender to live within three hundred feet (300’) of a school as defined in RI Law § 11-37.1-2. This bill corrects a previous action by US District Court, which vacated – due to ambiguity in the law-- the statute mandating the safety zone, leaving no restrictions on Level 3 sex offenders.

H8065 creates clears up any ambiguity and agrees with the laws governing Level 1 and Level 2 sex offenders which calls for a 300-foot buffer zone. Forty states currently have residency restrictions that prevent convicted sex offenders from living near schools or locations where children congregate. A US Department of Justice study found that released sex offenders were over three times more likely to re-offend and be arrested for rape or sexual assault, and that grooming and relationship building occur in places of proximity. Fifty-nine percent of victims were acquaintances with the sex offender. The stats show that opportunities for contact and victimization grow around school grounds.

“This bill, which is co-sponsored by Senator Todd Patalano --a career law enforcement officer, is a duplicate of the South Carolina statute which was examined and survived U.S. Supreme Court scrutiny,” said Fascia. “My bill boasts 39 co-sponsors in the House, demonstrating an overwhelming degree of bi-partisan support. Clearly, it is recognized that we cannot do enough to protect our children and all members of our community from these monsters who have violated their covenant with civilized society.”

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2026 Rhode Island House Minority (Republican) Caucus Member Representative Richard Fascia, District 42 (Johnston/Cranston)

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