Cicilline Speaks About Work In Congress

Embattled Congressman David Cicilline literally put his fists up while joking with some of his supporters at an event in North Smithfield on Wednesday night.  He had a smile on his face.  It was a light moment in his political fight to defend his reputation.

Earlier on Wednesday a report was released by Gary Sasse, the Providence City Council’s financial adviser, which stated among other things that Cicilline, while Mayor of Providence, submitted inaccurate financial reports to the state, that he did not provide the Council with monthly reports, that his administration used money from the “rainy day fund” without Council approval and that his administration prepared budgets on unrealistic assumptions.   Cicilline has said the budget shortfall in Providence was caused by cuts in state aid, loss of stimulus money and municipal pension problems.

Despite the controversy in Providence, he sat down with the Woonsocket Patch for an interview about his work in Congress representing Northern Rhode Island on Wednesday night.

“Look, I think budgets are about making tough choices and setting the right priorities,” said Cicilline when asked about how he will help manage the difficult financial situation of the United States given the problems being aired in Providence.

“We have to be serious about managing this deficit because it’s real.  We have to do it over time… and we have to do it in a way that doesn’t slow the recovery,” he said.

He dismissed the recent Republican budget that passed the House as cutting too deep into social safety nets and hurting the middle class.

“We can’t shift this burden to our most vulnerable populations, to seniors or the hard-working middle class and protect the richest people in the country,” said Cicilline.

He recommended that the United States exit the war in Afghanistan.

“We’re spending $100 billion this past year in Afghanistan,” said Cicilline, “It’s time the Afghan people accept responsibility for their own country.  Then we can take those resources and invest them in our country.”

Cicilline added that he was working on ways to specifically help Woonsocket.

He said he has sponsored a bill to aid manufacturers, which if passed will provide assistance for business owners to retrofit their factories and retrain their workers.  He noted that he had a person in his office working full time to search for grants and other ways to bring federal resources to the district.

Increasing investments in infrastructure was another one of Cicilline’s goals.

“I have co-sponsored legislation that would create a national infrastructure bank,” said Ciclline, “[It] would allow for public-private partnerships to invest in rebuilding our bridges, roads, transit systems and information technology.”

He also mentioned a new bipartisan coalition he was forming with Republican Congresswoman Nan Hayworth from New York called the Common Ground Caucus.  The caucus has one unique rule, if you want to join and you’re a Democrat, you have to bring a Republican and vice versa.

“One of the problems in Washington is that it’s a really divided place and there doesn’t seem to be much bipartisanship,” said Cilline, “What I thought, was this would create opportunities to work together, build relationships and find some common ground.”

Cicilline was at the event on Wednesday to swear in the new leaders of the Rhode Island Democratic Association of Cities and Towns.  He took the time to speak with local Democratic leaders and seemed to be in good spirits, despite the controversy that swirled around him.

David Cicilline represents Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District, which contains Burrillville, Central Falls, Cumberland, East Providence, Lincoln, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, Smithfield and Woonsocket.