Rhode Island Gov Vetoes “Forever” Contracts

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo has vetoed a bill that would have allowed teacher union monopoly bargaining contracts to remain in effect after they have expired, an ultimate power play on the unions part. Katherine Gregg explains in the Providence Journal.

In a veto message that echoed the strenuous arguments raised by city and town leaders, Raimondo wrote: “Current Rhode Island law protects the taxpayers from being obligated indefinitely for contract provisions that, in the future, may not be affordable.

“The proposed legislation before me extinguishes this existing protection, hurting the public’s position in contract negotiations, and placing taxpayers at risk of being forever locked into contractual provisions they can no longer afford.”