ElizabethRoberts's blog

Knock the Vote: Week 2

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:59:00 GMT

Last weekend I officially kicked off my campaign for reelection as Rhode Island’s lieutenant governor and began my Knock the Vote tour—where I’ll campaign door-to-door in all 39 cities and towns—by canvassing in my hometown of Cranston.

My government position may be at the state level, but I think it’s vital to talk to Rhode Islanders on their front doorsteps and hear first-hand their hopes and concerns. I get a feel for what the issues are at the community level, and it helps me do my job better. Ultimately, I work for you—the people of Rhode Island.

My Knock the Vote tour will continue this weekend, when I’ll be campaigning on Block Island on Friday, Richmond on Saturday and Newport on Monday evening. I’ll be coming to your town soon; stay tuned to my website for upcoming stops.

Health Care in Focus

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:34:00 GMT

It’s an action-packed, health-care-oriented 24 hours!

Today I’m in DC at a forum that Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse has organized for those of us working on health reform in Rhode Island. We’ll hear from Secretary of Health Kathleen Sebelius and others about the status of reform nationally and how that will affect what we do locally.

And tomorrow (July 15), at 5:30 p.m., Harold Miller, executive director of the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, will speak at the next free public forum that is part of the Making It Work series on health reform in Rhode Island that I’m cosponsoring with the RI Foundation.

The forum topic is health care in transition—how do we chart a course from our current health care system to reform? We need to focus on both the quality and cost of health care—Miller will lead the discussion of how we can do that, rather than feel overwhelmed by the challenge of changing such a vast system.

At the end of the day, reform is not so much about an industry changing; it’s about something we all care deeply about—our personal health—and how to ensure that we get quality health care at prices we can afford. We all have a stake in how this health care transition is implemented—not just those who work in the health care industry. And locally, gaining control of runaway medical costs will also help increase job growth in RI.

For more information on the Making It Work event, click here; to register, call 427-4029.

Tomorrow morning is also the next Healthy RI Implementation task force meeting that I’m convening, also open to the public, beginning at 8 a.m. at the RI Foundation in Providence. Click here for more information.

Your participation is important as we work to improve our health care system—I hope to see you!

Join Me for My Campaign Kickoff on July 17!

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:08:00 GMT

In November 2006, I was so honored that Rhode Island voters elected me to be their Lieutenant Governor.

Since that time, I have made it my mission to work on behalf of Rhode Island families and businesses to lead them through tough times and to develop common sense approaches to challenges that we face. Now, four years later, I need to ask for your help again.

Join me on Saturday, July 17 at 10 a.m. at my home in Cranston, as I kick off my campaign for re-election. During the 9 weeks between now and the primary, I will visit every city and town in Rhode Island, personally knocking on doors to talk with Rhode Islanders about my candidacy.

Please join us for coffee and donuts before we head out into the neighborhood. Click here to RSVP for Saturday's kick-off and please tell your friends. I hope to see you on Saturday!

What You Can Do About Insurance Rate Hikes

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:15:00 GMT

1. Talk to your state representative and senator. Tell them to make sure health reform works in Rhode Island. They need to hear directly from those they represent that addressing the cost of health care is a top priority. You can find your elected officials here.

2. Talk to candidates for office. In this campaign season, you’ll have plenty of chances to see and shake hands with many candidates running for state house office. Ask them what they’ll do to make health reform work locally, if elected.

3. Attend a Making It Work forum. I’m cosponsoring a series of free public forums with the RI Foundation to address the challenges and opportunities of implementing health reform in Rhode Island—including how to rein in skyrocketing medical costs that help drive up insurance rates. The next forum is Thursday, July 15, at 5:30 p.m. at the RI Foundation in Providence. For more information, click here.

With your help, I will also reintroduce my primary care bill in the 2011 legislative session that would require all RIers to have a primary care doctor. Primary care is a key to improving health care and managing the cost of that care.

Insurance Rate Hikes Too Much

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:49:00 GMT

I’m deeply disappointed by today’s news that employer-based health insurance rate hikes for 2011—ranging from 8.4 percent to 12.3 percent—have been approved. Paying significantly more for employees’ health insurance will further burden Rhode Island’s businesses during this difficult economic time—putting both jobs and health at risk.

From my press release:

PROVIDENCE—Lt. Gov. Elizabeth H. Roberts today spoke out against the ruling by the Office of Health Insurance Commissioner approving 2011 increases by all three health insurers in Rhode Island, ranging from 8.4% to 12.3% for plans offered by employers.

“Rate increases at any level are unacceptable and unaffordable for Rhode Islanders, and may put their jobs and health at risk,” said Roberts. “Many large and small businesses that are still struggling to recover from the recession are faced with choosing between hiring new workers and keeping health insurance coverage for their existing employees. Our state simply cannot afford to have employers and employees in this economic squeeze play."

Roberts continued, “I have repeatedly stressed the necessity that insurers look at ways to change the way health care is delivered and paid for to make it more affordable for Rhode Islanders. These rate hikes take us in the wrong direction as a state. The Commissioner’s ruling does offer one sign of hope for the future, however. I am encouraged that the commissioner is imposing strict conditions on the insurers to work with hospitals to address the cost drivers behind these rising premiums. Today’s ruling underscores the obvious--it is only through attacking the underlying costs of care that we will stem the tide of rising insurance premiums for Rhode Island employers and families."

The Lt. Governor has shown her unwavering commitment to working with all stakeholders to bend the healthcare cost curve downward as she continues the series of public forums in partnership with The Rhode Island Foundation, "Making It Work: Health Reform in Rhode Island." This effort is helping to inform the work of the "Healthy RI: National Health Reform Implementation Task Force” that the Lt. Governor formed in June to prepare recommendations for making the national health law work to Rhode Islanders' best advantage.

The next session of Making It Work: Health Reform in Rhode Island is on Thursday, July 15, 2010, 5:30 p.m., at The Rhode Island Foundation, One Union Station, Providence. Harold Miller, executive director of the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, will talk about how a community can shift from today’s healthcare system to a system of reform that works.

Happy Fourth of July!

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:21:00 GMT

On Monday morning I’ll be proudly marching in the Bristol Fourth of July parade—the oldest continuous parade of its kind in America. I’ll also march in the more eccentric Glocester Ancients and Horribles parade later on Monday. Together the parades are representative of the fierce independent streak and diversity that runs through Rhode Island.

The Fourth is a reminder that we are lucky to have as heritage here the capable spirit of the Colonists, who first believed that government should be representative of the people.

So it’s fitting that the official Rhode Island election season gets underway around July Fourth, when we celebrate these values and ideals of our democracy.

I’m impressed that so many are running for office in Rhode Island this year. It’s one of our country’s strengths that those who want to get involved in its governance have the opportunity to get their name on the ballot. It’s democracy in action.

Enjoy your July Fourth holiday!

Making It Official

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:12:00 GMT

This morning I filed my formal paperwork with the Secretary of State, making my bid for reelection as your lieutenant governor official.

Read more about my goals for the next four years (below), and get ready for an exciting few months leading up to the primary!

From my press release:

PROVIDENCE— Lt. Governor Elizabeth H. Roberts filed a Declaration of Candidacy with the Secretary of State's Office at 9 a.m., Monday, June 28, 2010, marking her bid for re-election to the office of Lieutenant Governor with a robust plan for her next four years in office.

"I am running for re-election to continue advocating for small businesses. RI companies are the backbone of our state's economy and they deserve support from their state to make it easier for them to do business here, especially during these difficult economic times. I will be an effective partner with these businesses, protecting them now and growing jobs for the future," stated Roberts. "We also will look to build industries of the future in the knowledge economy, and capitalize on opportunities in advanced manufacturing to compete on a national scale."

"I will make sure national health reform is done right in Rhode Island," she continued. "I have convened healthcare stakeholders from across the state who are already working to make sure Rhode Islanders derive maximum benefit from the federal reforms. I will continue to fight against health insurance rate hikes, holding insurers accountable for reducing costs for Rhode Island’s families and businesses," said Roberts.

"My door has been open to Rhode Islanders without an advocate when they most needed guidance from their government. I have helped numerous Rhode Islanders in navigating access to COBRA subsidies, flood loan assistance, unemployment benefits and other services. I will work diligently to keep the public engaged to ensure an open and honest government that works for the people," Roberts said.

Setting the Stage for a Manufacturing Resurgence

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:31:00 GMT

Yesterday I spoke at Bryant University’s 25^th annual World Trade Day event, which focused on helping Rhode Island and New England to grow its manufacturing and exports in the international market.

As the national economy shows signs of picking up, we’re still facing some real challenges. This event explored the significant opportunities that are available in the manufacturing realm—especially advanced manufacturing, or those using cutting-edge technologies (click here for a report on advanced manufacturing in New England). Advanced manufacturers in Rhode Island are already successfully manufacturing electrical components and specialty medical devices.

Rhode Island is especially well poised to take advantage of advanced manufacturing opportunities: We have a long legacy of manufacturing success and know-how, and a burgeoning high-tech sector.

I felt a lot of optimism and excitement in that room yesterday. I share that optimism: Rhode Island has a number of existing strengths we can tap to rebuild our state’s beleaguered economy. And we made some important changes this year that will help improve the business climate this year: simplifying permitting and restructuring RI’s income tax.

If we’re strategic about economic development, we can create a strong, diverse, 21st-century economy that will create 21st-century jobs for Rhode Island’s residents—an economy that will present opportunities for generations to come.

Congratulations to Our Graduates

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:11:00 GMT

Yesterday was a great day for my family. Nora, our younger daughter, graduated from high school. It was a day when extended family visited, and we talked about Nora and our lives with her from her birth, and we thought forward to college and where her life may be heading.

It is an experience families throughout Rhode Island are having over the next few weeks, proudly watching our surprisingly grown-up teenage children walk across a stage. They walk up those few steps as our children, and they leave the stage as young adults, heading for college, work … the future.

Nora scolded me in advance, knowing I would cry. And she was right. I cried with pride in her accomplishments in school, with bittersweet expectation of the few months we have together this summer, and excitement for her as she leaves for college at the end of August.

Congratulations to all families who have graduating seniors this June. We are launching them into an often-challenging world, but trust that we have done our best to prepare them for it.

Preparing RI for Hurricane Season

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:48:00 GMT

Today, I gave the opening talk at the annual Hurricane Conference sponsored by the RI Emergency Management Agency—perhaps all the more vital this year both because of the flooding disaster we went through earlier this year and the active hurricane season hurricane experts are predicting.

Although it’s been years since a hurricane affected Rhode Island, we can’t become complacent—surely the floods of 2010 taught us that. And it’s important to review the lessons we learned from the March floods so we can effectively prepare if a hurricane threatens us.

The conference theme is “interdependencies,” or how cascading events can affect emergency response efforts. We saw such ripple effects during the floods—when the Warwick wastewater treatment center went underwater, that affected how the airport operated. The closing of I-95 affected how responders—and indeed all of us—traveled around the state.

These types of interdependencies point to how critical working relationships are between levels of government, agencies, and the private sector—and how important it is to have those good relationships, communication patterns, plans and equipment in place before an emergency strikes.

While I hope the forecasters are wrong about this hurricane season, as chair of the Emergency Management Advisory Council, I’ll continue to lead efforts to work together and learn from each other to keep Rhode Islanders safe.