Chris Fierro

Woonsocket – State Representative Chris Fierro of Woonsocket said he was proud to support reform measures adopted this year which overhauled and simplified the personal income tax system to benefit the majority of Rhode Islanders.

Fierro, seeking re-election to the District 51 seat in the September 14 primary, said the tax reform plan will go into effect on January 1, 2011, impacting the 2010 tax returns.  The new law eliminates the optional flat tax method of preparing income taxes, and it reduces the number of tax brackets from five to three, which will benefit most taxpayers.

“When I first ran for office in 2008, I pledged to eliminate the unfair alternate flat tax and I am pleased this legislation accomplished that goal,” said Fierro.  “The reform effort will not only help our state attract new businesses, but this change is a first step for our communities to shift the tax burden away from property taxes.”

Fierro, one of only two freshmen to serve on the House Finance Committee, said the legislation was first passed by the committee following a wide array of testimony on tax reform offered to the panel.

“The new law is the most significant income tax reform the legislature has enacted in the last 40 years,” said Fierro.  “Most of the hard-working taxpayers of Woonsocket and our state will benefit from these important changes.”

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Rhode Island Democratic State Representative Chris Fierro today announced his plans to reintroduce ethics reform legislation when the General Assembly convenes next January.

“When I was elected by the people of District 51, I promised to be an advocate for transparent, accountable government,” said Fierro. “I believe the best way to serve as a steward of the public trust is through example. That’s why in the next legislative session I will reintroduce a series of ethics reform bills and continue to fight for these issues.”

The ethics package include measures Fierro had pushed for in 2009 and 2010: making public corruption a felony, restoring the State Ethics Commission’s jurisdiction over the General Assembly, and legislation that would require legislators’ roll call votes to be posted on the General Assembly website.

The Ethics Commission bill, sponsored by Fierro, passed the House 67-5, but failed to garner Senate approval.

“This past session, we came close to achieving meaningful ethics reform. The feedback statewide has been overwhelmingly in favor of these changes,” continued Fierro. “I will continue to fight to see these bills pass the Assembly and into law.”

Fierro holds a master’s degree from UMass Amherst, and lives on Papineau Avenue with his wife, Kristina Lambert, and their three children. Since being elected to the General Assembly he holds a perfect attendance record.

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Woonsocket – Democratic State Representative Chris Fierro today announced he has received the endorsement of Clean Water Action, the state’s preeminent environmental advocacy group.

“Representative Chris Fierro has earned Clean Water Action’s endorsement because of his work as a proven leader on the House Finance Committee – and through his work with labor and industry leaders – passing legislation to clean up the dirtiest diesel construction vehicles in Rhode Island,” said Sheila Dormody, Rhode Island Director of Clean Water Action. “We need strong leaders like Chris Fierro at the State House to take on the challenges facing Rhode Island, protect our environment and bring green jobs to our state.”

“I am proud and grateful to receive the support of Clean Water Action,” stated Fierro. “In 2008, I campaigned on the idea of bringing green jobs to Rhode Island – two years later we’re on the brink of delivering that promise. The proposed wind farm off of Block Island has the potential to create high-paying industrial jobs throughout Rhode Island.”

A staunch environmental advocate, Fierro has championed legislation that will streamline the Block Island wind farm as well as other renewable energy projects. As a member of the House Finance Committee, Fierro was instrumental in ensuring that the state’s renewable energy fund, one of our only genuine green job development tools, was not raided in a shortsighted effort to balance the budget.

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Recently, Health Insurance Commissioner Chris Koller made a unilateral ruling that could have a drastic effect on the future of Landmark Medical Center. It isn’t even quite certain that Koller has the legal right to impose what amounts to an order to cease negotiations for all hospitals and insurers.  Given the severity of the situation and its specific impact on Landmark, Senator Roger Picard and I sent the following letter to Commissioner Koller this afternoon:

Dear Commissioner Koller,

We are writing to express our concern with your decision earlier this month

regarding the placement of a cap on the rates that commercial health insurance

companies can negotiate with hospitals. While we are certainly concerned with

the rising costs of health insurance in Rhode Island, we are particularly

concerned with the potential impacts your ruling may have on Landmark Medical

Center here in Woonsocket.

As you know, Landmark is the critical provider of essential hospital services in

Northern Rhode Island, and serves as a major employer and economic engine for

Woonsocket and its neighboring communities. As your Office noted in its report

issued in January of this year entitled “Variations in Hospital Payment Rates by

Commercial Insurers in Rhode Island”, Landmark is reimbursed well below the

State average for the services it provides. We are concerned that your decision

would not allow Landmark and Caritas Christi to have an open negotiation with

the insurers on setting appropriate rates to help sustain Landmark into the

future.

We would urge you to reconsider or delay the implementation of your decision

to allow for a review of the specific circumstances of the proposed Landmark

acquisition and the negotiation of agreements between the insurers and

Landmark/Caritas.

Sincerely,

Chris Fierro

State Representative

District 51

Roger Picard

State Senator

District 20

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Fierro Announces Re-Election Bid

WOONSOCKET – Rhode Island Democratic State Representative Chris Fierro today announced his campaign for re-election.

“I am proud to announce I’m running for re-election in Woonsocket’s 51^st District,” said Fierro. “Over the past two years, I have had the privilege to work alongside and on behalf of my community. I look forward to continuing our work and delivering results that will improve Woonsocket’s future.”

This year, Fierro sponsored legislation granting Landmark Medical Center tax-exempt status – if it is purchased by a for-profit entity – allowing negotiations between Landmark and Caritas Christi Health Systems of Massachusetts to continue moving forward. The measure will help to preserve the hospital without creating any additional burden to Woonsocket’s taxpayers.

“My number one goal this year was to protect Landmark Medical Center from closure and I am pleased to say we accomplished that goal. Landmark is the second largest economic driver in northern Rhode Island employing 1200 people directly and supporting another 1300 jobs throughout the community that either rely on or support the hospital in some manner,” said Fierro. “It was critical that we provided solutions to help facilitate an acquisition that will protect and ensure the hospital’s operations for the foreseeable future.”

“When Landmark needed help most, Chris was there for the community,” said Richard Charest, president of Landmark Medical Center. “His involvement and ability to make and keep promises helped ensure the people of Woonsocket could continue to depend on our services while preserving several thousand jobs.”

A strong supporter of an education reform, Fierro helped usher in a new school funding formula that will increase Woonsocket’s school operating budget by approximately $4 million. The formula, the state’s first in decades, provides a more predictable budget that will assist school committees in spending decisions as well as better position Rhode Island to earn federal education funding.

Fierro is a staunch advocate of establishing higher ethical standards throughout every level of government. He was chief sponsor of legislation that would have restored power to the state’s ethics commission making Rhode Island government more transparent and accessible.

On July 19, Fierro will host a community gathering at The Burrito Company to kickoff of his campaign. Those interested in attending should email fierroforwoonsocket@gmail.com for event details.

A graduate of University of Massachusetts Amherst with a master’s degree in labor studies, Fierro currently lives with his wife Kristina Lambert and their three children on Papineau Avenue.

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STATE HOUSE – Rep. Chris Fierro has been appointed to the House Finance Committee by Speaker Gordon D. Fox.

The Finance Committee is considered one of the most influential assignments in the House, since that committee is largely responsible for shaping the state budget and all other bills that have a potential financial impact on the state. It is also one of the busiest committees, meeting daily and sometimes twice a day throughout much of the legislative session.

Representative Fierro (D-Dist. 51, Woonsocket), who is serving his first term as a legislator, is also a member of the Municipal Government Committee.

He said he is looking forward to helping the state address the challenges it is facing in terms of the budget deficit and its lagging economy, and is particularly interested in working to pass legislation to eliminate the flat tax option for high-grossing income-tax payers, as well as on efforts to address the urgent needs of the state’s distressed community hospitals, including Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket.

“Being on the Finance Committee means that I’ll be in a better position to advocate for the people of our state earlier in the budget process, when the budget proposal is still fluid and easier to amend. My first goal will be to push to eliminate the flat tax, because our state is getting nothing in return for this tax break for the rich. We need to enact less regressive tax policies that help Rhode Islanders and the state itself get back on their feet,” said Representative Fierro.

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/pr1.asp?prid=6223

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STATE HOUSE – Rep. Chris Fierro has been appointed to the state’s Long Term Care Coordinating Council by House Speaker William J. Murphy.

The Long Term Care Coordinating Council develops and coordinates state policy concerning all forms of long-term health care for the elderly and adults with chronic disabilities and illnesses, ranging from at-home and community-based care and respite care through intensive nursing care to long-term hospital care. The council examines and makes recommendations on standards of care, personnel training, enforcement of regulations, access and eligibility and funding for long-term care in the state.

Representative Fierro, a freshman Democrat who represents District 51 in Woonsocket, is slated to serve a two-year term on the 37-member panel, which is chaired by Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work on issues that have a very significant effect on most of us at some point in our lives. With a greater percentage of Americans moving toward their senior years, the demand for long-term care is increasing more rapidly than ever. Funding it and making sure that patients are getting high-quality care as the demand grows is going to take creativity, hard work and smart policies. I’m grateful for the chance to be part of a group that continually works to make the system work better for the people who need it,” said Representative Fierro. “I’m looking forward to the chance to help improve the lives of seniors not only in Woonsocket, but all across Rhode Island.”

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/pr1.asp?prid=5960

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The Secretary of State has a sample ballot for tomorrow’s municipal election. It is available here.

All of the regular Woonsocket polling places are open, so vote at your normal spot. If in doubt, you can find out here.

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Woonsocket residents have until Saturday to register to vote in order to participate in November’s municipal election. The primary is this coming Tuesday, and the general election is on Tuesday, November 3rd.  The Valley Breeze has got details:

State law requires voters to be registered at least 30 days prior to an election. In order to register to vote in the municipal election, you must be at least 18 years of age by Election Day, a U.S. citizen and a resident of Woonsocket.

Although the deadline to register falls on a Saturday, Woonsocket officials have made arrangements for residents to register at the Harris Library, 303 Clinton St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Voters who have moved or changed their names since they last registered can update their voter records as required by state law.

You can check your current voting status–address and party affiliation at the Secretary of State’s website: www.sec.state.ri.us/elections

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