Rhode Island Republican Party

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RIGOP Chairman Condemns McKee’s Charter School Moratorium as Betrayal of Students and Parents

WARWICK, RI — Allyn Meyers, Chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party, issued the following statement strongly condemning Governor Dan McKee’s decision to sign legislation imposing a three-year moratorium on new charter schools and lowering the statewide cap from 35 to 28.

“Governor McKee’s decision to sign this bill is a profound betrayal of Rhode Island’s students, particularly those from low-income families who rely on charter schools for better educational opportunities,” said Chairman Meyers. “For years, McKee positioned himself as a champion of school choice and innovation. Today, he has chosen partisan politics and special interests over the futures of thousands of children. This is politics at its worst.”

Meyers fully supports the strong statements issued by Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz and House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale.

“Senator de la Cruz was absolutely right when she said the governor faced a clear choice between students and politics — and today, politics won,” Meyers continued. “This moratorium slams the door on families desperate for quality education options at a time when demand for charter schools far exceeds available seats, with thousands of students on waiting lists statewide. In just three critical school years, a child can master foundational academic skills, build confidence, and unlock future opportunities, or fall irreversibly behind. Forcing families to compete for fewer charter school seats during this pivotal window can impact a child forever, closing doors to better preparation and lifelong success.”

Meyers stated, “Leader Chippendale was correct on the House floor when he declared, ‘Charter schools work — they work well.' He rightly pointed out that we should not be afraid of competition, noting that charter schools are simply laboratories addressing real needs that traditional district schools sometimes cannot. We should be expanding what works instead of restricting it to appease special interests.”

The Governor’s own explanation reveals the emptiness of this move: it offers no plan to actually improve struggling district schools and instead punishes successful charters while families wait. Rhode Island’s children cannot afford this cynical tradeoff. Educational outcomes should drive policy, not re-election calculations or union endorsements. Governor McKee’s legacy on education will be defined by this moment of weakness.

“Republicans will continue fighting for every family’s right to choose the best education for their child,” Meyers concluded. “Our children’s futures are too important to sacrifice for political convenience.”

Happy Birthday, Chairman Allyn Meyers!

We are grateful for your tireless dedication to our party, our candidates, and our committees. Your consistent leadership, hard work, and unwavering support make a tremendous difference, and we deeply appreciate all that you do.

Wishing you a wonderful birthday and all the best in the year ahead. Thank you for your continued commitment and service!

Today we celebrate two great things: Flag Day and the birthday of President Donald J. Trump. 🇺🇸

Flag Day reminds us that our flag stands for freedom, strength, sacrifice, and the unbreakable spirit of the American people. It is a symbol of the nation we love and the values we must always defend.

And on this same day, we celebrate a President who fought unapologetically for America First, for secure borders, a strong economy, respect for our military, and pride in our country.

Happy Birthday, President Trump, and Happy Flag Day to all who still believe in faith, freedom, and the greatness of the United States of America.

God bless President Trump, and God bless the American flag. 🇺🇸

CANDIDATE SPOTLIGHT: Senator Elaine J. Morgan

Principle, Persistence, and Public Service

For more than a decade, Senator Elaine Morgan has been one of the most recognizable and principled voices in the Rhode Island Senate.

Representing District 34 (Exeter, Richmond, Hopkinton, Charlestown, West Greenwich) since 2015, Senator Morgan has built a reputation for independence, persistence, and a willingness to advocate for her constituents. In a legislature where Republicans are outnumbered, that consistency has made her one of Rhode Island's most influential Republican leaders.
Throughout her tenure, Senator Morgan has championed issues that matter to many Rhode Islanders, including fiscal responsibility, government transparency, public safety, veterans' affairs, parental rights, and educational opportunity.

Whether debating legislation on the Senate floor or meeting with constituents in her district, she has remained committed to the principles that first brought her to public office.

✔️PROTECTING THE VULNERABLE
One of Senator Morgan's most notable legislative accomplishments came when she sponsored legislation strengthening Rhode Island's laws against the s*x trafficking of minors.

Human trafficking is among the most horrific crimes, and Senator Morgan recognized the need for stronger protections for vulnerable children. Her efforts helped ensure that Rhode Island's laws more appropriately reflected the seriousness of these offenses and provided additional tools to combat those who exploit minors for profit.

While much of the public attention in politics is focused on high-profile partisan debates, legislation like this demonstrates the important role lawmakers can play in addressing real-world problems and protecting those most at risk.

✔️DELIVERING RESULTS FOR VETERANS AND SENIORS
Senator Morgan has long been a steadfast advocate for Rhode Island’s seniors. She has consistently sponsored legislation to eliminate the state income tax on Social Security benefits, championing meaningful relief to thousands of fixed-income seniors.

She is equally committed to supporting our veterans. One of her recent legislative successes was Senate Bill 3261, which created a $5,000 property tax exemption in the Town of Exeter for veterans who are totally disabled as a result of service-connected disabilities. The measure passed the Senate unanimously, reflecting broad bipartisan support for honoring the sacrifices made by those who have served our nation. The legislation provides meaningful tax relief to disabled veterans and serves as a reminder that public policy can make a tangible difference in people's lives.

✔️STANDING UP FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
Senator Morgan has also remained an outspoken advocate for educational choice and parental involvement in education. Most recently, she criticized efforts to impose a moratorium on charter schools, arguing that Rhode Island families deserve more educational opportunities, not fewer. At a time when many parents are seeking alternatives that best meet the needs of their children, Senator Morgan has consistently supported policies that expand educational options rather than restrict them.
Her position reflects a broader belief that parents should play the primary role in decisions affecting their children's education and that students benefit when families have meaningful choices.

✔️ADVOCATING FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT
Throughout her time in office, Senator Morgan has consistently pushed for reforms designed to make government more accountable and transparent. She has been a strong voice for fiscal restraint, responsible budgeting, and constitutional reforms that would provide taxpayers with greater oversight of government spending. She has repeatedly raised concerns about policies that increase costs for working families and has sought the removal of unfunded mandates from cities and towns.

✔️A RECORD OF CONSISTENCY
In an era when many elected officials carefully calibrate their positions based on polling data and political trends, Senator Morgan has remained remarkably steady in her beliefs. Constituents know where she stands, colleagues know what she believes, and supporters know she will continue advocating for the issues that matter most to them. That commitment to representation, combined with her willingness to take on difficult issues and pursue practical solutions, has earned her the respect of supporters across District 34 and throughout Rhode Island.

Please consider contributing to Senator Elaine Morgan’s 2026 re-election campaign. Donors may contribute up to $2000.00 by mail to: Friends of Elaine Morgan, PO Box 841 Ashaway, RI 02804.

If every reader donated even $10 to each of the Republican General Assembly candidates across the state, these hard-working candidates could properly fund their campaigns to reach voters and serve our communities. Thank you!

K.C. Crosbie, Co-Chair of the RNC, will be joining us at the Rhode Island Republican Party Convention on Thursday, June 25th!

This is your chance to attend the VIP/Anchor Club Reception and meet K.C. Crosbie in person during an exciting night of energy, leadership, and momentum for our party.

📍 Rhodes on the Pawtuxet
60 Rhodes Place, Cranston, RI

🕔 Doors Open: 5:00 PM, check-in required
🕠 VIP Reception: 5:30 PM to 6:25 PM

🎟 VIP tickets are $150.00 includes Convention
Limited tickets available to State Central Committee members and guests.

Do not miss this opportunity to be in the room, meet national Republican leadership, and help build momentum for 2026!

In The News Today: Charter School Moratorium that passed the House and Senate retroactively halts project that has been in the pipeline for 18 months.

Read full article on end of legislative session here:
https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/

PRESS RELEASE- RIGOP Chairman Allyn Meyers: Governor McKee Signs Largest Budget in Rhode Island History, Ignores Taxpayers

WARWICK, RI- Rhode Island Republican Party Chairman Allyn Meyers today criticized Governor Daniel McKee for signing the state’s $15.2 billion Fiscal Year 2027 budget, calling it a missed opportunity for meaningful tax relief and fiscal restraint amid ongoing struggles for Rhode Island families.

“Governor McKee had a clear choice: stand with taxpayers or grow government,” said Chairman Meyers. “He chose the latter. Signing the largest spending plan in state history while Rhode Islanders face skyrocketing housing costs, utility bills, groceries, and taxes is not a victory, it’s a failure of leadership.”

Meyers praised Republican legislators for consistently fighting for practical, taxpayer-first solutions throughout the budget process. “I commend Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, House Minority Leader Mike Chippendale, and our Republican lawmakers who pushed common-sense reforms, including income tax relief, the full elimination of state taxes on Social Security benefits, relief from gas tax hikes, stronger spending controls, and expanded educational choice for families,” Meyers stated.

Meyers also welcomed the creation of an independent Inspector General, a long-sought Republican reform, while noting its limitations: “The Inspector General represents an important step toward greater accountability in state government, something Republicans have advocated for years,” Meyers said. “However, Rhode Islanders deserve to know that this office will lack oversight authority over the General Assembly. Real accountability must apply equally to every branch of government.”

Meyers accused the Governor and Democratic legislative leaders of failing to address the root causes of Rhode Island’s affordability crisis. “State leaders had a chance to rein in runaway spending and deliver structural tax relief, but instead they chose to lock in permanent government expansion,” he said. “Simply spending more, even with surplus revenue, does not solve the fundamental problem: government is growing faster than our economy and faster than taxpayers can sustain.”

Meyers also highlighted Republican opposition to efforts limiting educational opportunities. “Republicans stood with parents against attempts to restrict charter school growth and expand educational options,” Meyers added. “It is disappointing that Senate President Valarie Lawson, who also serves as president of the state’s largest teachers union, has led the charge to limit these opportunities for Rhode Island families.”

“Rhode Islanders deserve a government that rewards hard work, promotes economic growth, controls spending, and puts taxpayers first,” Meyers concluded. “This $15.2 billion budget moves us in the opposite direction.”

The Rhode Island Republic is the newsletter that delivers timely updates on RI Republican Party news, legislative developments, election integrity efforts, candidate spotlights, and commentary from our party leaders on state issues, helping Rhode Islanders stay informed about conservative perspectives and opportunities to get involved.