Republican Nardolillo announces bid for U.S. Senate in 2018
“Rhode Island residents are sick of seeing our state’s economy in a slump.”
COVENTRY — Rep. Robert Nardolillo III (R-District 28, Coventry) recently announced his decision to run for a seat on the U.S. Senate in 2018. The republican will face current Junior Senator and Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse, whom he has publicly criticized as not adequately representing the concerns of Rhode Islanders.
Although he said he plans to officially announce his run on May 15 at the VFW in Coventry, his website, bobby4senate.com is live and accepting donations, and he has officially filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
“I’m tremendously excited for this opportunity,” he said in an interview Monday. “The support has been unbelievable.”
His opponent has been serving as a U.S. Senator since 2007, but Nardolillo said he believes the people of the state are looking for change in the next election season.
“For the past 12 years, the voices of Rhode Islanders haven’t been heard and that’s very disheartening,” he explained. “As a state legislator for the past three years and now in my second term, I’d like to think that that’s what I do — I echo the voices of those that I serve. Now I want to expand that to the whole state. I want to fight and be the voice for the people in Washington.”
Nardolillo specifically pinpointed Whitehouse’s focus on the environment and climate change, noting that as a Senator, he would base his work on what his constituents would like to see.
“He hasn’t pushed an agenda that satisfies Rhode Islander’s needs,” he said. “I love our Ocean State. I love the water and the ability for us to go to the beaches and enjoy ourselves. So the climate and the environment, they are a priority to me, but it’s not a front-burner issue for those in Rhode Island right now. Right now folks want to have jobs. The economy is weak.”
He called the support he has received since his informal announcement humbling.
“They want somebody who is going to fight, and I’m a fighter,” he said. “I’m just a regular guy who loves helping people.”
Nardolillo said that he originally ran for local office because he was frustrated with the way his community was being represented at the state level. Now, he wants to make sure the entire state is represented at the federal level.
“I could stay right where I am and continue the way I’m going, but I feel that the time is right,” he said.
“I’m frustrated, and instead of complaining about it I’m going to step up, just like I did before. I love being a state rep and I love helping people.”
Nardolillo has spent the last several months introducing a number of different bills and resolutions that he believes will benefit many Rhode Islanders. His proposed legislation ranges from a bill protecting families with a disabled parent to a package aimed at reducing tax for both individuals and small businesses, and even a resolution to Congress ask asking that states be allowed to require proof of citizenship upon registering to vote.
His small business package, which he calls a “TCB” (Taking Care of Business), includes three bills. One proposes the elimination of the estate tax, while another suggests a decrease in sales tax from 7 percent to 3 percent. The final bill focuses on the elimination of the tangible personal property tax.
“Rhode Island residents are sick of seeing our state’s economy in a slump,” Nardolillo said. “We must empower the next generation with a strong, grow- ing economy and the only way to do that is to take care of business.”
Rhode Island is notorious for having high and oppressive taxes, according to the rep. He noted that the state ranks 44th out of 50 in the Tax Foundation’s 2017 State Business Tax Climate Index, noting also that the state typically ranks at the bottom of business friendliness surveys. His TCB package, he said, will provide much-needed relief to businesses while increasing the state’s overall competitiveness.
“Rhode Island is one of only fourteen states that still has an estate tax,” he said. “Retirees typically move to states without an estate or inheritance tax, like Florida, to preserve their savings. It’s time to put an end to the estate tax here in Rhode Island, so retirees feel confident about living and investing in Rhode Island, while keeping their family unit intact, in the sunset of their years.”
The Tangible Personal Property Tax, he said, is a great burden to business owners across the state.
“It discourages manufactures from purchasing the latest equipment,” he said. Many businesses have left Rhode Island for states without this onerous tax burden. It’s time we turn things around before it’s too late.”
Earlier in March he made a resolution to Congress asking for an amendment to the Motor Voter Act, allowing states to require voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote. The resolution was inspired by the details that were released on an investigation in Cranston into potential voter fraud in the November 2016 election.
“In this day and age, we should have solid measures in place to prevent voter fraud,” said Nardolillo. “What we see happening in Cranston means it surely could have happened in other communities. I am asking our federal government, with this Resolution, to allow the state of Rhode Island to make sure residents show proof of citizenship, before ever casting a single vote in any election.”
He added, “If it happened in Cranston, I feel it’s highly probable it happened elsewhere.”
His proposal of the Preservation of Families with a Disabled Parent Act (H-5395) would make it so that disabled parents are protected from losing custody or other rights over their children solely because of their disability.
“I hope this bill protects and preserves the parental rights of those who are among the most vulnerable in our society,” Nardolillo said. “Often, the perception is that a person with a disability lacks the ability to be a parent, foster parent or adoptive parent. A disability is not, nor should it ever, a factor as to whether or not a person can be a good parent. Not only is this perception inaccurate, it’s completely insensitive.”
He noted cases which he called discriminatory, where children have been denied of living with a disabled parent who would otherwise provide a loving home.
“I feel strongly that a parent’s disability should not be a reason for denial or restriction of visitation, or custody in court battles,” he said. “I also feel that a prospective parent’s disability should not serve as a basis for denial of participation in a public or private adoption or foster care.”