<![CDATA[Rhode Island House Republicans

<![CDATA[Rhode Island House Republicans - News & Media]]>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 11:00:58 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[DMV review confirms Rhode Island voter registration safeguards]]>Fri, 09 Oct 2026 14:18:22 GMThttps://www.rihousegop.org/news-media/october-09th-2026This week, Leader Michael Chippendale, along with other legislators, attended a briefing at the RI DMV regarding voter registration procedures and safeguards.
Chippendale described the meeting as a relief in this midterm year.

“The way that our system operates, it simply isn’t possible for anyone who clicks ‘non-citizen’ to even access the voter registration portion of the system,” he said in a statement Thursday. “That’s a strong safeguard.”

But the meeting raised a separate issue for Chippendale: that the DMV’s system does not distinguish Driver Privilege Cards (DPC), which noncitizens can obtain, from standard driver’s licenses.

“Even more concerning is that once an individual leaves the DMV – not even the DMV can distinguish between the DPC and a real Driver’s License,” he said. “There is no record kept of DPCs issued – they simply mix in with all the Driver’s Licenses in the system.”

Chippendale said he later learned the Rhode Island Board of Elections gets a separate list of Driver Privilege Card recipients and checks it against voter records after elections.

“What was concerning to me was that this was the first time I was hearing of this,” he said.

Chippendale, who is running unopposed for an eighth term representing House District 40, said he plans to introduce legislation next year aimed at strengthening safeguards and penalties for people who cast ballots despite being ineligible to vote.

Other House Minority Caucus Members who attended the meeting included State Representative Chris Paplauskas and Representative Richard Fascia.]]><![CDATA[Leader Chippendale: Calling for Investigation of RI Voter Rolls - The Tara granahan show]]>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:12:02 GMThttps://www.rihousegop.org/news-media/leader-chippendale-calling-for-investigation-of-ri-voter-rolls-the-tara-granahan-showPodcast | Download

Today RI House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale and Tara Granahan WPRO discussed election integrity in RI.

Leader Chippendale publicly called for an investigation into the state’s voting rolls, urging RI Secretary of State Gregg Amore to cooperate with federal authorities to ensure absolute election integrity ahead of the 2026 cycle.

Chippendale addressed the ongoing dispute between state officials and the federal government regarding access to voter data. While acknowledging that there is currently no evidence of nefarious activity, Chippendale argued that taking proactive measures is a matter of institutional prudence, and that the argument to not share "sensitive RI voter data" with the feds is ridiculous given that they already possess social security, Medicare and Medicaid data.

"It would only be prudent that if we learn a vendor used by our state has been compromised in some extent somewhere else, that we ensure it's not happening to us."

Please take a moment to listen in:

NEWS TALK WPRO

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]]><![CDATA[RI House Republican FY27 Budget Amendment - Occupational Licensure Compact Implementation]]>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:30:00 GMThttps://www.rihousegop.org/news-media/ri-house-republican-fy27-budget-amendment-occupational-licensure-compact-implementationInfographic | Printer Friendly View

Occupational licensure compacts are a practical and effective way for Rhode Island to address its ongoing shortage of health care workers; streamlining the process of allowing qualified and licensed professionals from other states to practice in Rhode Island. These compacts have been embraced by the General Assembly; since 2023, the state entered nine compacts and even expands upon them in the budget. To implement these compacts, however, departments require manpower and technology improvements.

House Republicans introduced this amendment to address just that. By directing additional resources to the Department of Health, the state will be able to get the ball rolling implementation of current and future compacts so that Rhode Islanders can continue to receive the quality of care they deserve and expect.

Leader Chippendale statement on Occupational Licensure Compact implementation:
Rhode Island has a serious health care access crisis, and for years the General Assembly has claimed to recognize the problem by passing interstate licensure compacts intended to make it easier for qualified medical professionals to practice here.

But passing a law and then refusing to fund its implementation is not leadership - it is political theater.

The McKee Administration requested the resources necessary to implement these compacts yet failed to include the funding in the Governor’s budget. Then the House had an opportunity to correct that failure and also chose not to act. Our amendment would have provided a modest $334,951 investment to give the Department of Health the staffing capacity it says it needs to move these compacts from statute to reality.

Instead, the state will continue sitting on laws it has already passed while Rhode Islanders struggle to find doctors, nurses, mental health providers, and other critical health care professionals.

This is exactly the kind of empty policymaking that frustrates people. Everyone says they want more providers. Everyone says they understand the workforce shortage. But when given the chance to fund a practical, low-cost solution, the administration and the legislative majority went through the motions and failed to do what was necessary.

Rhode Islanders do not need more speeches about health care access. They need the state to implement the tools it has already approved.

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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).

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]]><![CDATA[RI House Republican FY27 Budget Amendment - Changes to the Renewable Energy Standard]]>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.rihousegop.org/news-media/ri-house-republican-fy27-budget-amendment-changes-to-the-renewable-energy-standardInfographic | Printer Friendly View

Rising energy costs are one of the biggest financial pressures facing Rhode Island families today. Rhode Island’s consumer electricity costs are among the highest in the country, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration and this is only made worse by mandates hidden in ratepayer bills to cover public policy and renewable energy initiatives. With the cost of nearly everything on the rise, utility bills are quickly becoming just one more monthly burden that many households are struggling to absorb.

This is why House Republicans support the Governor’s proposed changes to the Renewable Energy Standard; ratepayers need relief and many Rhode Islanders are being pushed to the limit.

This past year, at Public Utilities Commission hearings and before the House Committee on Corporations, Rhode Islanders spoke out about the real impact of rising electric bills. Some said they were caught off guard by recent increases. Others worried about future rate hikes. Many described having to make difficult choices in their household budgets just to keep up with day-to-day expenses. With summer already here, electricity usage is on the rise, and many households will soon feel these costs even more.

By extending the compliance timeline for the Renewable Energy Standard and directing additional funding towards rate relief, this amendment proposed by House Republicans, helps to lift some of the burden off Rhode Islanders. In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, energy policy must put ratepayers first.

Rep Paul Santucci, Renewable Energy Standard Amendment Sponsor Statement:
It’s not complicated – every single Rhode Islander right now is feeling the pain of constantly climbing electricity prices. We are making people’s lives worse by pushing unrealistic energy mandates on them without any consideration for the financial burden it creates. This amendment is a measured and deliberate effort to bring relief to people struggling to pay their bills. This is a kitchen table issue that affects households, businesses and municipalities. This is a vote for common sense for the common good.

Leader Chippendale statement on proposed changes to the Renewable Energy Standard:
Rhode Islanders are being crushed by electric bills, and too many people in this building are more interested in protecting a radical climate agenda than protecting seniors, working families, and small businesses from unaffordable energy costs.

This amendment would have brought Rhode Island’s renewable energy standard back to the schedule originally approved by the General Assembly in 2022, requiring 100% renewable electricity by 2050 rather than forcing an accelerated 2033 mandate onto ratepayers. It also would have required Public Utilities Commission review to ensure there is no conflict with the state’s existing renewable energy framework and directed savings back to residential customers through bill credits.

According to the Office of Management and Budget, this amendment was projected to generate approximately $53.4 million in ratepayer savings in 2027 and approximately $528.3 million in savings from 2027 through 2031.

That is not theoretical relief. That is real money back in the pockets of people who are being punished by ideological energy policy.

Every week, we hear speeches about affordability. But when given the chance to reduce electric bills for Rhode Islanders, the majority refused to act. Seniors on fixed incomes, working families, and small businesses do not need more climate virtue signaling from Smith Hill. They need relief from bills that keep climbing because of decisions made by politicians who seem immune to the cost of their own mandates.

This amendment did not abandon renewable energy. It restored a more responsible timeline, required regulatory review, and returned savings to ratepayers. That should have been common sense.

Instead, ideological blindness won again. Too many of my colleagues chose the radical climate lobby over the people who pay the bills. Rhode Islanders deserve energy policy that is affordable, reliable, and honest - not another expensive mandate dressed up as moral superiority

RI House Republican FY27 Budget Amendment - Changes to the Renewable Energy Standard

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]]><![CDATA[Leader Chippendale: RI State Budget, Housing and More - The Tara granahan show]]>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:10:36 GMThttps://www.rihousegop.org/news-media/leader-chippendale-ri-state-budget-housing-and-more-the-tara-granahan-showPodcast | Download

House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale joins The Tara Granahan Show to discuss the pressing issues of rising electricity rates and the affordable housing crisis in Rhode Island.

News Talk WPRO

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]]><![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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