Editorial: ‘Pro-Business’ Rhode Island

Last May, speaking at a welcome dinner as part of a global ocean race, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo urged those in attendance to take away two important points from the event.

First, she said, was to enjoy the scenic town of Newport, selected as the North American stopover of the event sponsored by Volvo Group. Then she told the crowd, which included a number of truck dealers and fleet executives, to remember that Rhode Island is a pro-business state.

That seems a bit hard to take seriously now, as the fight over Raimondo’s truck-only toll plan continues and a war of words between her office and trucking escalates.

Initially unveiled just weeks after her comments at the dinner, Raimondo essentially believes truckers alone should be responsible for kicking in more funding to fix the state’s transportation network.

“Alone” is critical here. Trucking already pays fuel taxes and registration fees — to say nothing of general business taxes — and is still willing to pay even more for infrastructure improvements, but trucks are not the only vehicles on the roads. Why should car owners be exempt from paying for the roads they enjoy?

Since the initial “RhodeWorks” proposal, she has tweaked it several times and continues to push it this year, even after the state’s House blocked it during the 2015 legislative session. There is a growing sense the current version may be approved, meaning truckers could have to pay out up to $20 a day for traveling along roads currently free of tolls.

Even more disturbing than the plan is the language heaved at the industry from her office.

“The truckers have a vested interest in attacking RhodeWorks — of course they prefer to keep getting a free ride in Rhode Island while causing most of the vehicle-created damage to our bridges, which are consistently ranked worst in the nation,” Raimondo spokeswoman Marie Aberger told Transport Topics.

The comment is absurd, especially knowing that the Rhode Island Trucking Association has suggested an immediate 18 cents-a-gallon increase in the diesel tax, as well as a $500 boost in truck registration fees as part of a five-year, $250 million plan. An important issue is what is not included: an increase to the state’s gasoline tax.

From all indications, this proposal has not gained any traction.

We find that unfortunate and urge the governor to tone down the rhetoric and work toward an agreement with which everyone in her state can live.