Democratic challenger Brown outlines jobs & economy plan

Democratic candidate for governor Matt Brown. File photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News

By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

A Democratic challenger in the race for governor of Rhode Island is proposing significant changes in direction for the state’s economy.

Matt Brown, who is hoping to unseat incumbent Gov. Gina Raimondo in the September 12 primary election, is critical of her economic development approach.

“Governor Raimondo’s approach of taking money from taxpayers and giving it to big corporations doesn’t work, it’s a widely discredited strategy and hasn’t worked in Rhode Island,” Brown said in an interview.

He would, among other things, roll back tax cuts for corporations, introduce graduated corporate tax rates to help small businesses and raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour.

“We could start to grow the Rhode Island population again if we create an economy that creates the kind of jobs I’m talking about, lifts wages, but also solves some of the problems in the meantime, like the need for affordable housing that holds our economy back,” Brown said.

Brown focuses on promoting home construction to meet a housing shortfall by lowering barriers for construction permits and cutting red tape for home building.

Brown posted details of his plan to his campaign website.

In a statement, Raimondo campaign spokeswoman Emily Samsel criticized Brown’s proposal.

“Matt Brown is offering a plan to eliminate good Rhode Island jobs,” Samsel said. “He wants to end the program that has attracted 27 major employers to relocate to or expand in Rhode Island, which would put hundreds of good jobs in jeopardy and stall our hard-won economic recovery. That might be a good talking point for Brown, but it would be a disaster for Rhode Island families.”

 

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