One-on-one with Speaker Nick Mattiello

December 27, 2018 12:53 am

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — As Rhode Island’s House Speaker wraps up 2018, and prepares to welcome newly-elected representatives next week, Nick Mattiello is looking back on the year that was.

“The big win for the citizens of the state has been the car tax phase-out,” said Mattiello. “And I’m looking forward to continuing it into the next session.”

But with a projected budget deficit pushing $160 million starting next summer, I asked the speaker if phasing out the car tax still makes sense.

“It’s absolutely the right move. It’s what our citizens want,” said Mattiello.

Mattiello says when it comes to fixing the deficit next year, departments need to rein in spending, and deliver services more efficiently.

“The biggest challenge of the year was probably the PawSox,” said Mattiello.

Team officials turned down Rhode Island’s pitch for a new stadium, championed by the Speaker, ultimately committing to moving the PawSox to Worcester.

“I’m zero concerned about the economic impact. We’re probably long term going to save money as a state. But they were part of our social fabric and people liked them in Rhode Island so I’ll miss the PawSox,” said Mattiello.

But Hasbro, on the other hand, Mattiello says, is key to the Rhode Island economy.

“We’re already collaborating-myself, the Senate President, the Governor,” said Mattiello. “We’re being very proactive and we’ll do what we need to do to keep them here.”

As for Mattiello’s relationship with those colleagues?

“I personally get along great with the Governor, great with the Senate President. I consider them both friends and we have a very good relationship, working relationship,” said Mattiello. “A little disagreement is good.”

Mattiello’s relationship is less cordial with the 21 reps who voted against his speakership in a caucus late this year, but the Speaker says he is not concerned that group of Democrats could band together with Republicans to block certain parts of his agenda.

“No. The Republicans are much more inclined to agree with my policy positions than with the progressives. I think it’s extraordinarily unlikely, extremely unlikely that that would happen,” said Mattiello.

The Speaker says he hopes his colleagues from both parties will work together on a variety of goals.

“The budget is always my focus. It’s going to be my focus this year. But I’m also looking at the opioid crisis, education policy, education funding, school safety for our children, so we’ve got a lot of work to do, ” said Mattiello.