Rhode Island governor says higher wages, better student scores and new housing among his top goals

BOSTON — Higher wages, stronger student scores and increased housing production are some of the goals Rhode Island Gov. McKee also said the budget for the new fiscal year that he’ll be submitting to the General Assembly later this week will prioritize programs that will help raise incomes while also making key investments in education, small businesses, and health care — all without raising broad-based taxes. “Just think how much housing insecurity and food insecurity we could address as a state if we double down and work to raise per capita income across Rhode Island, helping every family,” McKee said. McKee said that last year, the administration set a challenge for Rhode Island to reach Massachusetts student achievement levels by 2030, including by raising scores on the Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System assesments. McKee said he’ll sign an executive order in coming weeks focused on improving Rhode Island’s health care systems and working to ensure “we have access to an efficient and effective health care delivery system aligned with our state’s needs.” To help make Rhode Island a leader in life sciences McKee pointed to a new State Health Lab that is being built.