To the editor:

Our form of government is a democratic republic. As such, the citizens elect candidates to represent them at state and federal legislatures. This system is successful when citizens provide their opinions to their elected legislators and incumbent representatives heed the voice of the people. 

Unfortunately in Rhode Island, we have a virtual one-party political system and some of our representatives are more attuned to pressures of colleagues within their political party than the will of the people they represent. 

The citizens of Rhode Island recently sent e-mail letters to their representatives encouraging support for line item veto authority by the governor. Rep. Raymond Gallison, Jr. (District 69) was fortunate to receive numerous letters from his constituents requesting his support for this legislation. 

His response was a return letter describing the thorough budgeting process leading to his conclusion that his constituents were misinformed and line item veto legislation was not needed. 

Rep. Gallison also stated that $4.5 billion (50 percent of the total budget) is “fixed.” Fixed by who? Why isn’t funding for maintenance of infrastructure included in the “fixed” budget?

At this point a common-sense constituent might wonder why, if the legislature’s budgeting process is so good, are our roads and bridges among the worst in the nation? Why has the maintenance of our infrastructure been consistently underfunded to the point that a special toll for trucks is necessary? 

Why is Rhode Island, a sanctuary state, spending millions of dollars to support immigrants, legal and illegal, while our roads and bridges are falling apart? When new budget requirements are identified, why do our representatives immediately look for additional taxes and fees instead of cutting costs by eliminating old programs that have outlived their usefulness? Are our budgeting priorities upside down?

In conclusion, I would like to suggest that all of our elected representatives recognize that they work for the people. 

Robert Bledsoe

348 Windstone Drive

Portsmouth