All came to Smith Hill with the same thing on their minds: the federal stimulus package.

"Our main concern is that the money is spent properly and spent where it is needed most in this state," said Women & Infants Hospital obstetrics nurse Chris Hurston, who stood outside with fellow health-care workers, union officials and jobless to urge state leaders to move quickly in dispensing federal relief to the hardest-hit populations. . .

Outside the Capitol, the crowd that huddled said they worry that the governor will follow though on talk of tax cuts instead of helping to restore funds to struggling residents including students and the working poor.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Dozens of laid-off Rhode Islanders on the State House Thursday afternoon to demand lawmakers take action.

The group is made up of laid-off Colibri employees , health care workers and community members. . .

Organizers of Thursday's march said they want to prevent budget cuts proposed by Gov. Donald Carcieri. They also said they want to urge state lawmakers to use the incoming federal stimulus money to strengthen the economy and create jobs.

See the Channel 12's coverage here.

A group of Rhode Islanders marched on the State House Thursday to demand that Governor Don Carcieri disperse stimulus cash to the people of the state.

See Chris Boardman's report here.

Feb. 26—Layoffs and same-sex marriage prompt State House rallies.

See NBC 10’s Bill Rappleye's report here.

A new survey of small-business owners in 12 states, including Rhode Island, shows substantial support for government efforts to curb health care costs, including more regulation and a public alternative to the private insurance market.

The survey, sponsored by the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations and The Main Street Alliance and handled locally by Ocean State Action, asked 1,199 small-business owners about their experience with health insurance and their views on potential reforms.

Only one-third of respondents offered health coverage to their workers, while 43 percent were themselves covered through their business. Four in five of those offering coverage said it cost them at least 5 percent of payroll, while 41 percent said it cost more than 10 percent.

In all, 21 representatives signed a sharply-worded letter to House Speaker William J. Murphy that was submitted late this afternoon:

"We cannot and will not support any proposal that will increase the tax burden on the middle class," reads the letter. "And according to the governor's hand-picked panel, these proposals would do just that. This is unacceptable to the people we represent."

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Specifically, the group -- a combination of the labor-backed Campaign for Rhode Island's Priorities and the Service Employees International Union -- wants the Assembly to reject the governor's plan not to use the federal stimulus package to plug Rhode Island's budget hole. Carcieri instead wants to use the federal funds to help cut the state's corporate income tax.

"President Obama and Congress are working hard to throw a life raft to the states," said Peter Asen, spokesman for the Campaign for Rhode Island's Priorities. "And the governor seems to want to let us drown."

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