Sanders called Regunberg “a real fighter for all Rhode Islanders during his time in the legislature and, in my view, would make an excellent lieutenant governor,”

The climate crisis threatens every aspect of our lives. It’s impacting our coasts and all the parts of our economy tied to the bay. It is increasing dangerous storms and flooding throughout our state.

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - This week on Newsmakers - a debate between the Democratic candidates for Rhode Island lieutenant governor: Dan McKee and Aaron Regunberg. Moderated by Tim White and Ted Nesi.

“Every one of us has been touched by the overdose crisis,” said Representative Aaron Regunberg  “We need urgent action to save lives. I was proud to work with members of SAOP this session to make life-saving fentanyl strips available in our communities. I look forward to our work preventing needless tragedies in the year ahead.”

“Apparently this was a pledge he had no intention of following through on. This deception is an insult to all Rhode Islanders, and it’s particularly offensive to all the families whose lives have been touched by the opioid crisis,” said Regunberg.

“The young people put it best,” Regunberg said, “we have a system where folks across our communities and particularly our young people, are going to school everyday and not feeling safe. We know there’s common sense action that can prevent violence.”

Some on the right promote a narrative of a “war” within the Democratic Party. But that war only exists if people look at the insiders and politicians in the State House. If there is a conflict, it’s about regular people fighting for the issues that matter against corporate lobbyists and special interests and the politicians they buy. And that’s a battle that we can’t afford to have statewide leaders sit on the sidelines for.

According to data from the R.I. Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, competitive suppliers cost residential customers in Rhode Island about $28 million more than National Grid's standard offer rate over the past five years. In Massachusets, the Attorney General is seeking to ban these companies, in Rhode Island, Lt. Governor Dan McKee has used public resources to promote them.

“It is absolutely shameful that the establishment machine is lining up behind conservative, unethical and anti-woman candidates to run against real Democrats in races across Rhode Island,” state Rep. Aaron Regunberg, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, said in a statement Monday.

The state representative’s call followed Wednesday’s retirement announcement by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, and members of R.I.’s congressional delegation weighed in on the ramifications — and timing — of filling Kennedy’s seat on the bench.

Aaron Regunberg, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, calls the decision “a blow to working Americans. Corporate interests have rigged the economy in their favor and they’re working every day to take more and more. It’s never been more important for us to come together and fight back."

Rhode Island State Representative Aaron Regunberg (Democrat, District 4, Providence) has been a leader on this issue. The legislation that passed the Senate was killed in the House, “And we know exactly who killed it,” said Regunberg. 

Legislation introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly could pave the way for distribution of a low-tech tool to prevent overdose deaths. The bill, introduced by Rep. Aaron Regunberg, a Providence Democrat, would legalize the possession and distribution of test strips to detect fentanyl laced in heroin and other illicit drugs.

“Aaron has been and will continue to be a tireless, passionate, and outspoken leader on access to comprehensive reproductive health care.” This endorsement the first PPV!RI PAC has made for the upcoming 2018 election.

In every legislative session since 2015, Regunberg has introduced carbon-pricing legislation to curb Rhode Island’s fossil-fuel use. But each year, the legislation has failed to go to a vote on the House floor.

“The for-profit corporate utility model is not working for our state,” said Regunberg. “This year we’ve faced repeated outages, unacceptably slow responses, and continued requests by National Grid to further hike our utility rates.”

"I am proud to support Aaron’s campaign because he will fight each day to make sure our communities here in Providence, and across Rhode Island, are heard in the State House.

“AARP thanks these members of the General Assembly for championing passage of earned paid sick leave,” said AARP Rhode Island Director Kathleen Connell. “They provided integral leadership to pass the legislation in 2017 and helped make the huge responsibilities of family caregivers in Rhode Island a little bit easier.”

“If you’ve come to Rhode Island to talk about offshore drilling you’ve come to the wrong state,” Rep. Aaron Regunberg, D-Providence, said, using the repeat-response method known as the “people’s microphone.”

“When you have an administration that is challenging and threatening democratic institutions, that is breaking democratic norms, it is our responsibility to step up and send a message that we are prepared to protect our republic…”

Rhode Island lawmakers are reacting to the school shooting in Florida with a renewed push to ban high capacity magazines and assault weapons.

The magazine bill is sponsored by Sen. Gayle Goldin in the Senate, matched by Rep. Aaron Regunberg in the House.

As the lieutenant governor, he envisions his office as a advocate for the average guy and gal who don’t have paid lobbyists on Smith Hill. He also thinks that the position should be a watchdog for the people as well. “Accountability in the legislature and governor’s office should be the earmark of government. I envision the lieutenant governor post as the watchdog for the public.” 

“Everyone deserves a fair shot at a better future. But for too many Rhode Islanders, working hard and playing by the rules no longer guarantees security,” said Rep. Aaron Regunberg, a Providence Democrat running for lieutenant governor,

Can tiny Rhode Island help save the internet? A group of state lawmakers thinking that way want to insert the state — and its telecommunications spending — into the national battle to prevent internet service providers from creating slow and fast lanes for different sites and services.

Well-connected lobbyists know every corridor and backroom in the State House. They patrol the committee rooms, on guard against any attempt to change a law that favors their clients. And their regular campaign contributions ensure privileged access to State House decision-makers.

Citizens do not have the same presence

“The reality is that Rhode Islanders already pay enough money to have comprehensive and universal health insurance. Yet despite our spending, we still have tens of thousands who are uninsured. We still have folks putting off medical care because of huge deductibles; families experiencing financial disaster because they get a serious illness, small businesses struggling with health-care obligations.

“This won’t be an easy fight. There are lots of powerful interests that want to maintain the status quo. But we should not let that stop us,” said Regunberg, who is running for lieutenant governor against the Democratic incumbent, Dan McKee.

“Lobbyists paid by the most powerful and wealthy institutions in our state are always present at the State House and at the fundraisers that are ubiquitous during the legislative session,” Regunberg said. “This package is designed to make sure the voices of families who can’t afford a well-connected corporate lobbyist also have access to make their voices heard.”

Aaron Regunberg, a progressive Democrat, has seen enough. He sees a Statehouse dominated by wealthy and influential lobbyists, with no one advocating for the common Rhode Islander, a job he thinks should be assumed by the lieutenant governor.

“This was always the Republican angle,” Regunberg said, “to further enrich the super-wealthy, to make a rigged system even more rigged.”

“The truth is, our state has engaged in the same trickle-down policies that are coming out of Washington. Rhode Island cut income taxes on the highest earners. They said that would lead to jobs. Well, the jobs never came — but a big budget deficit did, along with cuts in needed services and a bigger tax burden on working families,” Regunberg said.

Lt. Gov. Daniel McKee, who recently announced his plan to run for re-election, deferred comment about the tax plan to Rhode Island’s national delegation.