Tanzi secures grant for Johnnycake Center

Rep. Teresa Tanzi has acquired a $1,000 legislative grant for the Johnnycake Center of Peace Dale, which serves the needy of South Kingstown and Narragansett with food, clothing and household items.

The grant will be used to purchase food, said Johnnycake Center director Susan Gustaitis, who said that demand for the center’s services has increased significantly in the last few years as the economy has worsened. The nonprofit Johnnycake Center of Peace Dale, founded in 1973, provides clients with monthly nutritionally balanced food baskets that contain enough food, including milk, eggs and frozen meats, to prepare three meals a day for an entire week for all household members. It also offers holiday meal baskets and breakfast and lunch during school vacations and summer for the children of clients who qualify for free and reduced-price school lunches. The center also operates a thrift store that generates funding for the pantry and is a source of free clothing and household goods for clients.

“The Johnnycake Center is an incredibly important resource for so many families in our community, and the need now is greater than ever. It provides not just food but the kind of fresh, healthy food that is, unfortunately, out of reach for many families and is often hard to get at other pantries. I’m glad to help this vital organization in any way that I can,” said Representative Tanzi, a Democrat who represents District 34 in South Kingstown and Narragansett.

Gustaitis said the center is very grateful to Representative Tanzi, who also volunteers at the Johnnycake Center, distributing holiday baskets and arranging and picking up produce donations from local farms.

“We really appreciate having someone like her representing us and also coming in and taking the time to be hands-on, seeing how it is here,” said Gustaitis. 

Help Cut Your Energy Bills!

As the weather starts to turn colder, and many of us begin to dread the anticipated costs associated with heating our homes, I wanted to write a letter to help raise awareness of a free home energy assessment program as part of National Grid’s EnergyWise program in conjunction with the University of Rhode Island’s Outreach Center.

The assessment, available to all National Grid customers, includes the free replacement of incandescent light bulbs with more efficient compact fluorescent bulbs; free installation of energy-efficient faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads; an evaluation of the level of insulation in the walls and attic; and a review of appliances for their energy efficiency rating.

Upon completion of the assessment, residents who are gas and electric heat customers of National Grid are eligible for an incentive of up to 75 percent of the costs of insulation (up to $2,000) and 100 percent of the costs of air sealing (up to $750).

Those residents who are electric customers only and heat with a fuel source other than natural gas or electricity are eligible for an incentive of 25 percent of the total costs of improvements (up to $2,250). Each energy assessment report is accompanied by specific recommendations and the available incentives or rebates for each improvement.

For those seeking to get rid of an old refrigerator, the company will provide a $50 incentive payment and haul the inefficient appliance away for recycling.

In addition to encouraging my neighbors to join me in scheduling an energy assessment, I also challenge you to see how much your household can reduce its energy consumption. Whether it appeals to your Yankee-conservationist spirit, your environmental spirit, or your competitive spirit, I hope to inspire everyone to take advantage of the opportunity to lower his or her monthly energy bills.

For more information about the program, contact Rachel Sholly at URI’s Outreach Center, Rachel@uri.edu, or call 874-5558. To schedule a free energy assessment, call (877) 784-3709.

Time to End Tax Loop Holes

Op-Ed appeared in the Providence Journal on March 9, 2010 

With a $295 million shortfall facing our state, the time has come to enact comprehensive reform that closes the loopholes multi-state corporations exploit to avoid paying the same taxes our Rhode Island-owned small businesses are paying. Although several changes were made to curtail corporate tax-avoidance strategies in 2007, the reforms were piecemeal and widely believed to be ineffective as companies quickly found new ways of sheltering their profits.

One of the tricks many multi-state or multi-national corporations use to dodge state taxes is to hide their Rhode Island profit in a “shell” corporation or other out-of-state entity that is not subject to our state’s taxes. In response to this problem, we have introduced legislation that would stop this end-run by implementing “combined reporting” in Rhode Island. Under combined reporting, corporations that have businesses in other states or countries must combine all subsidiaries as a unitary entity and then pay taxes to Rhode Island based on the percentage of net business profit or loss generated by its Rhode Island operations. Under combined reporting, tax liability is determined by the level of corporate in-state activity, not by the sophistication of corporate structure.

The main arguments in opposition to ending the shell game will be simple, vociferous and unfounded. The first claim opponents will make is that combined reporting will create a huge administrative burden on corporations. Additionally, critics will say that corporations will leave the state and go to states without combined reporting, taking their jobs with them. But many of our state’s largest employers are already subject to combined reporting in other states.

CVS employs 6,300 people here, and operates in 21 combined reporting states, while Bank of America has 3,500 employees in the state and is in all 23 combined-reporting states. New York, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire have combined reporting, and Massachusetts joined them in 2009. There are serious ongoing discussions about of enacting it in Connecticut as well. The momentum has shifted in New England and the country. A majority of states that collect corporation business taxes use the combined reporting method to appropriately capture taxes owed in-state. It is time for Rhode Island to join them.

Through combined reporting, Rhode Island not only stands to reclaim tax revenue from corporations that circumvent the system, but we also stand to level the playing field for our small businesses that play by the rules.

Combined reporting is not “raising” a tax on big businesses. It’s just stopping them from using a shell game to evade the taxes that our homegrown businesses are paying. It’s fair to all businesses, and it would help the state collect the money that it is owed — money our state needs now more than ever. 

Representative Teresa Tanzi

Narragansett, Wakefield and Peace Dale

Go Local Prov Names "Top 15 Lawmakers to Watch in 2011"

Teresa Tanzi, D-Narragansett, South Kingstown Became something of a progressive hero after taking out conservative Democrat David Caprio. After her primary win, she spent her time helping out other Democrats in the General Election. “I think she has a lot of energy for the whole thing,” one Democratic Party insider says. “There’s a lot of people who get elected and want to get a job for someone. I think she has bigger ambitions for what she wants to do.”

Rep. Tanzi sworn in as General Assembly convenes

STATE HOUSE – Rep. Teresa Tanzi (D-Dist. 34, South Kingstown, Narragansett) was formally sworn into office on Tuesday, Jan. 4, as the 2011-2012 session of the Rhode Island General Assembly convened.

Representative Tanzi was one of 22 new members of the House of Representatives who took the oath of office, which was administered to all 75 House members by Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis.

The House of Representatives began its legislative year with a program of activities that included the re-election of Rep. Gordon D. Fox as the Speaker of the House.

Representative Tanzi is serving her first term in the General Assembly. 

And the new Representative for District 34 is...

Teresa Tanzi       3,260

Timothy Burchett 1,311

Peter Stone           435

Tanzi Endorsed by Providence Phoenix

October 28,2010

Providence Phoenix

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The progressive wing of the state legislature, which can finally claim a sympathetic ear in the Speaker's office, has lost some key players of late. But thanks to some impressive wins in the Democratic primaries in September, the left has a shot at replenishing the ranks. Maintaining a strong presence on Smith Hill will also require victories by key incumbents, some of whom face strong challenges. The Phoenix endorses the following candidates in contested races:

House District 34: Teresa Tanzi

See complete article for all endorsements, by clicking here.

Q & A With the Candidates

South County Independent

Special Election Edition

Timothy W. Burchett

The candidate, an endorsed Republican running in House District 34, did not respond to a request for information.

Peter J. Stone

The candidate, an independent running in House District 34, did not respond to a request for information.

Teresa Tanzi

57 Hillcrest Road, Wakefield 

Age: 38 

Office sought: State Representative, District 34

Endorsed: No 

Political party: Democrat 

Previous terms: None 

Profession: Community advocate, student, mom 

Education: Middlesex County College, University of Rhode Island course- work; working toward a degree in public policy at Brown University 

Community/volunteer activities: South Kingstown Economic Development Committee, Jonnycake Center Hunger Task Force,Wakefield Downtown Merchants Association 

Family: Married to Dr. Eric Buchbaum, partner in Shoreline Podiatry and medical director of the Wound Care Center at South County Hospital; a four-year-old daughter, Delia Tanzi Buchbaum 

Years of residency: Three years in Wakefield, seven in Narragansett

The state and its 39 municipalities struggled this year to balance their budgets. How would you cope with declin- ing revenues and increasing costs?

The continued loss of revenue is no accident. The leadership of the General Assembly, in league with the Governor’s Office, has worked relentlessly to give tax breaks and handouts to the wealthiest individuals and corporations in our state, while shifting the burden of paying for our shared infrastructure on the ever smaller middle class. This has forced impossible decisions on us in South County and communities throughout the state. Recall the conversation around closing Wakefield Elementary? To start with, we need to repeal the June vote by the General Assembly to dismantle the tax code. Thirty individuals benefit from this tax cut, costing tens of millions of dollars, while the rest of Rhode Island struggles. We need to repeal this tax “reform” now, and put our state on secure financial footing. Secondly, 23 other states have enacted a tax policy called “combined corporate reporting” which ends the shell game that multi-state corporations use to avoid paying state income taxes. Finally, I continue to be vocal about the need for the legislature to follow up on its mandate that the Department of Revenue open the books and review all 211 tax expenditures (88 of which are not found in any other New England state), a mandate with which the Carcieri administration has refused to comply.

What is the “best idea” that you would bring to elected office?

The best that I can offer is to be a voice for the million Rhode Islanders who have been left out of the gamesmanship and tax giveaways over the past decade. I look forward to introducing legislation that makes committee and floor votes by our legislators available, accessible and searchable to all.

Local energy, local food, local economy: I believe that we can strengthen local, healthy and sustainable food sources while revitalizing our town centers. As an elected official I will protect our local family farms and advocate for our local fisheries, and keeping our processing capabilities and jobs here. Furthermore, I look forward to promoting the thoughtful development of renewable energy, incentivize distributed generation of solar and wind projects, and help local bio-diesel initiatives to prosper. Currently Newport Biodiesel collects cooking oil from local businesses and manufactures it into bio-diesel that I use to propel my car and heat my home. I see local energy and food production as a growth industry and I hope to be able to help usher it into our community. ★

A Letter to the Community

Printed in the Narragansett Times, October 27, 2010

I want to thank everyone in the community who made the time in their busy schedules to vote in the primaries on September 14th, and I encourage everyone to return to the polls next Tuesday and consider supporting me as your next State Representative. 

I have heard from many of you that my campaign resonated with you because I offered real solutions and ideas to put our state back on track. I am running for State Representative because this district needs a strong voice at the State House. 

I am frustrated with how our tax and budget priorities have been handled over the past decade. We have seen handouts to the wealthiest in our state, while property and car taxes for the rest of us have continued to rise. We deserve someone who will stand for our priorities, not simply for those with the most influence in Rhode Island. The future of Galilee, our schools, our senior services, and all that defines our beautiful community in South County depend on your commitment to standing up on election day to support them. We have serious issues to take on over the next two years, and need a representative who will be the voice for South County’s interests alone.

From day one, I will advocate for fair tax policy that closes loopholes and requires that we all equally share the costs of running the state. An important piece of this is full accountability and transparency for myself and all legislators at the State House. If elected, I will sponsor legislation that makes committee and floor votes immediately available online. The work we do should be readily accessible so that you will always know that I work for you.

In the final weeks, with the frenzy of the campaign season becoming overwhelming, it’s certainly easy and understandable to become disenchanted, to tune it out and to forget why this election was exciting in the first place. This election is incredibly important for our state’s future. South Kingstown and Narragansett already garnered attention across the state because of the primary voter turnout in District 34's primary election,  while turnout was at record lows in other districts. I urge you to get out and vote next Tuesday, and I challenge you to bring a neighbor, co-worker or family member that may have stayed home in September, to the polls with you on November 2nd. Democracy works best when it truly is the voice of many, please make sure you are heard.

Thank you for your consideration, and I humbly ask you for your vote.

Sincerely, 

Teresa Tanzi

Democrat for State Representative in Narragansett, Peace Dale and Wakefield

Forum for Candidates

Timothy Burchett (R), Peter Stone (I), Teresa Tanzi (D)
photo by John Woodmansee

Excerpted from the Narragansett Times, by Brett Warnke: 

In District 34, Teresa Tanzi (who defeated incumbent David Caprio in the Democratic Primary) faces Burchett and Stone, two populist libertarians. She structured her remarks around "transparency, accountability, and fairness" while criticizing (the recent slashing of the top tax rate from 9.9% to 5.99% for the highest income earners as) "handouts to the wealthiest in Rhode Island." She supported placing the Assembly's committee and floor votes on-line. Like all the other candidates, Tanzi supported delaying regulations on local fisherman. Both Burchett and Tanzi agreed about their weariness for 401k's as a path to pension reform. "they are a risk and a gamble," Tanzi said. Peter Stone, meanwhile repeatedly stated his belief that "illegal aliens" were the cause of the state's troubles and that if "illegals"were put on a ship and sent out of state, there would be more jobs. "Illegal aliens are stealing this country blind. They are taking it all," he said. He and Burchett echoed eachother's belief that businesses were "over-regulated and overtaxed." "Don't we have enough laws by now?" Burchett asked. Both Stone and Burchett named an individual D.E.M. official as the cause of fishing regulations.