Question: List two ways East Bay legislators can help local businesses.

District 32, Senate

Rhonda Holmes (R) — “Taxation and regulation. The General Assembly missed many opportunities to provide relief to local businesses including suspending the gas tax. Second, lawmakers have added more layers of regulation that make it more difficult for RI businesses. As a lawmaker, I would legislate with local and small businesses in mind.”

Pam Lauria (D) — “The legislature needs to continue to work on streamlining regulations for small businesses and make it easier to start and do business in RI. We must focus economic development dollars and tax policies not only on big companies and construction projects, but also support and grow our Main Street businesses.”

District 66, House

Jennifer Boylan (D) — “I help run a small business and know their challenges. Expanding programs like Work Immersion Training Grants would facilitate hiring. Collaboration with colleges/universities should connect graduates to jobs. Resources of RI Commerce Corporation should be leveraged and made accessible to businesses with collaborative programming offered in the East Bay.”

Sam Read (I) — “With my experience as Secretary of the Board for the RI Small Business Coalition, I will stand up for our local businesses by ensuring the state doesn’t get in the way, and advocating for smarter government such as eliminating the corporate minimum tax.”

District 67, House

Scott Fuller (R) — “Business and hence jobs suffer from inequities between RI and Massachusetts in: 1. Sales Tax (RI 7%), (Mass. 6.25%); 2. Transportation Costs (gas tax and tolling fees) in RI effectively add a 10% surcharge to products/services; and 3. RI Workers Compensation costs are approximately 30% higher.”

Jason Knight (D) — “Rhode Island businesses face significant regulatory burdens and excessive fees that raise the cost of doing business. I support legislation to reduce these burdens. In addition, East Bay legislators must continue to apply pressure on the state to rebuild the bike path bridges because they drive economic activity for local businesses.”