Ocean State Action is a proudly progressive coalition of community organizations, environmental groups, professional associations, and labor unions working together to win public policy and political victories for economic, social and environmental justice. Our shared vision for Rhode Island is a community where the ideals of equality, justice and the common good prevail -- where businesses thrive and where every Rhode Islander has access to quality health care, education, housing and livable wage jobs that support them and their families in achieving their fullest potential.

We win by focusing on coalition building, community organizing, leadership training, and lobbying for quality public policies that increase opportunities for every Rhode Islander to work, learn and stay well. Examples of our work include:

• The Campaign for Rhode Island's Priorities, a pro-active campaign for real long-term solutions to the state's budget deficit; in 2006 successfully closing 3 corporate tax loopholes and stopping the wholesale elimination of the state's long-term capital gains tax. These measures helped raise needed revenue to reduce deep cuts to public services and programs Rhode Islanders rely on to work, learn and stay well.
• The Health Care Organizing Project, to expand access to quality, affordable health care for all. Under the HCOP banner, we have won significant expansions of the state's RIte Care program for low-income children and parents, the creation of the office of Health Insurance Commissioner, and most recently, passage of the Coordinated Health Planning Act, legislation that will curb the rise in health care costs that is necessary to achieving health care for all. The act flew through the House and Senate with broad support only to be vetoed by the Governor.
• Voter Action, a significant project to help new and infrequent voters get to the polls. In 2006, the project helped increase voter turn-out state-wide by 14%!

Top priorities for the coming year include:

• Working to win healthcare systems reform and to protect access to quality, affordable health care as part of the long-term struggle to win guaranteed health care for all.
• Fighting for an equitable tax structure, a humane state budget and economic justice by providing strategic organizing and lobbying leadership to the Campaign for Rhode Island's Priorities.
• Strengthening progressive political power by working to increase the participation of new and infrequent voters and by training at least 30 new progressive leaders
• Providing infrastructual support for the Campaign for Marriage Equality to win equal rights for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, trans-gender, queer and questioning Rhode Islanders
• Strengthening OSA's strategic alliances in the community to help win racial justice and immigrant rights
• Linking OSA coalition members to new resources, research, and people.