Senate GOP leader Jessica de la Cruz criticizes Governor McKee’s administration, citing failures in infrastructure and public services.

Providence: The GOP is sounding the alarm about Rhode Island’s future as 2025 kicks off. Senate GOP leader Jessica de la Cruz didn’t hold back in her response to Governor McKee’s State of the State speech.
She pointed out that despite the governor’s good intentions, his administration has seen some serious failures. For instance, the Washington Bridge is in bad shape, and the RIBridges system has faced a major data breach.
De la Cruz also mentioned how small businesses are struggling. Many owners have worked hard to keep their doors open, but the situation is tough. She highlighted the overspending of taxpayer dollars and the issues with the RIBridges system, where families have faced denied health benefits due to glitches.
Then she shifted gears to gun control, criticizing McKee’s plan to sneak an “assault weapons” ban into the budget. She argued that legislation should be debated openly, not hidden away in budget proposals.
Housing was another hot topic. De la Cruz referenced a report questioning the value of the state’s spending on affordable housing, which hasn’t produced enough results. And when it comes to education, she pointed out that despite high spending, only a small percentage of students are proficient in key subjects.
So, what’s the GOP’s plan? De la Cruz emphasized the need for more oversight and less spending. She called for an independent Office of Inspector General to ensure accountability in state government.
She believes the state budget is bloated and needs trimming, although she didn’t specify where cuts should happen. Ultimately, she stressed that Rhode Island is at a critical crossroads and needs to make some major changes.
“The honest state of our state is bleak,” she concluded, but she remains hopeful that leaders will recognize the urgency of the situation.