We will win this race but I need your help:
1. Read the 10 for 10 for Change Challenge. If you like what you read, please click here to contribute $10 or mail a check to my campaign .*
Thank you!

John J. Loughlin II

We will win this race but I need your help:
1. Read the 10 for 10 for Change Challenge. If you like what you read, please click here to contribute $10 or mail a check to my campaign .*
Thank you!

I am outraged that the Rhode Island General Assembly has once again passed a budget that has slashed local aid and will force cities and towns to raise property taxes. At the same time, it has granted cities and towns the ability to pass along massive increases in the regressive car tax. This is a budget that will mean that virtually every Rhode Islander will be facing a bigger tax bill.
This budget also failed to make structural changes to the pension system. We needed to create a sustainable system going forward – like the 401K plans in the private sector – instead we’ve just put a band-aid on a gaping wound.
The budget that passed the House does not include language for relief of unfunded state spending mandates that the towns have begged for to manage through the reduced revenue from the state. Despite the best efforts of a few House members, the leadership once again shot down our amendments on unfunded mandates.
In short, this was a typical election year budget with no progress on the changes needed to make Rhode Island competitive with neighboring states and grow our economy – a real opportunity squandered for political gain. This was my last budget as a Rhode Island state legislator and once again, I was forced to vote “no.”
Today I am introducing a bill that would require the State of Rhode Island to pay taxpayers the same rate of interest on his or her refund that the state assesses for overdue taxes. It’s unfair that the state can hold on to YOUR money for an indefinite period of time but can charge interest and penalties if you are just a few days late. Government works for us — not the other way around!
I have two beautiful daughters with bright futures. If our government continues to spend money we don’t have, my girls will pay for today’s mistakes for decades to come. The stimulus didn’t create jobs, it just created an unimaginable debt.
My small business is struggling. If we don’t create opportunities for businesses to grow and stop burdening them with excessive taxes and mandates, my business will wither, like so many others before. We bailed out the banks but have left “mom and pop” out to dry.
We are a country at war. If we don’t treat terrorists operating within our borders as enemy combatants, more acts of terror are inevitable. Terrorists get Miranda rights while our SEALs get court martialed.
We need to restore balance to our government. If Rhode Island sends any of the Democratic contenders to Congress, Nancy Pelosi has one more guaranteed vote for her left-wing agenda. Cornhuskers get kickbacks and Rhode Islanders get to foot the bill.
President Obama has been right about one thing. Change is good. Stick with me and this time the change will be for the better.
Welcome! Thanks to the folks at The Jenn Lee Group for helping to create a crisp new site for my congressional campaign.
Please take a few minutes to explore the site and if you like what you see, hit the big red CONTRIBUTE tab to support my campaign. With your help, our organization and my determination, we will win in November!
I hope you’ll visit my blog regularly to learn more about me, keep up with the campaign and read about the issues I am passionate about. I am running for Congress because quite simply, our country is on the wrong track. Instead of creating more taxes and government mandates, we need to create more jobs and provide businesses with incentives to grow. Congress has been spending money we don’t have and mortgaging the future of our children and grandchildren. We cannot afford — and don’t need — bigger government.