F.Y.I.

Rhode Island is a predominately Democratic state that generally embraces the platform of that party. Since the nations economy is the most pressing problem today in America. I think it's interesting to note two of this states distinctions. They have both the highest business tax and highest unemployment rate in the country. What does that tell you?

Rhode Islands Business Tax structure:
• Only one state has an income-tax rate on the books that's higher than Rhode Island's 9.9 percent top rate: California's "millionaire's tax" of 10.3 percent.
• In corporate taxation, only eight states have a higher rate than Rhode Island's 9 percent.
• In unemployment-insurance taxes, the federal government sets permissible minimums and maximums, and Rhode Island levies the highest allowed.
• In property taxes, Rhode Island's collections are sixth highest per capita and fifth highest as a percentage of income. Plus there's the dreaded capital-stock tax, a punitive tax on business property that 27 states do without entirely.
• The state sales-tax rate of 7 percent is tied for highest nationwide.

Unemployment rate:
51 RHODE ISLAND 8.8