Hundreds of Rhode Islanders marched and rallied at the state house last week to send a clear message to leaders on Smith Hill:

Use Rhode Island's hundreds of millions in stimulus dollars to put Rhode Islanders back to work, protect good jobs, re-invest in quality education, job training, healthcare and basic needs programs that Rhode Islanders depend on, and lay the foundation for a sustainable revenue system in Rhode Island for future years.

Click here to read coverage from the rally.

The fact is, that just like the Bush tax cuts, Rhode Island's 15 years of tax giveaways to the wealthy have failed to create promised jobs.

Instead, they have driven up property taxes for middle-income families, forced cuts to basic needs programs that help vulnerable elderly and children, made Rhode Island's economic inequality gap among the fastest growing in the nation, and reduced federal matching dollars that support our entire economy.

Now, we have growing deficits and an unemployment level rising faster than any other state in the country. Many of the Governor's hand picked Tax Commission recommendations will worsen these failed and harmful policies by giving tax breaks mostly to a handful of the state's largest corporations and to those making over $175,000.

At the rally, Chris Hurston, a nurse at Women & Infants Hospital stated:  "Our main concern is that the money is spent properly and spent where it is needed most in this state, for the hardest-hit populations.  We've cut RIte Care, child care, education and other state programs too far to pay for the Governor's tax cuts."

"Rhode Island needs a health care solution that removes the private interests of insurance providers and profit motives from the equation and one that focuses on keeping families healthy and productive from pre-natal care through end of life care, said Teresa Tanzi, Executive Board Member for RI National Organization for Women. "We need comprehensive, high-quality, and consistent care for all to be our priority if we want to see our nation regain its competitiveness."

Download the full report, “Next Step: Health Care: To Fix Rhode Island’s Economy, We Need To Fix Health Care Now”

The report details that:

· From 2000 to 2007, health insurance premiums in Rhode Island increased by more than 83% while median yearly wages increased only 16.8%.

· The Ocean State's median yearly wage in 2007 was only $30,566 but the average health care premium for a family was $12,662.

· In 2008, the average premium for family coverage in Rhode Island was $13,983. By 2016, if the system does not change, that number is expected to be more than $26,000.