Outside the Beltway: Providence, RI Mayor Loves Taxes, Hates Students

Rory Cooper /

Welcome to a new feature of the Foundry, Outside the Beltway, where we will semi-regularly post state and local stories of either conservatism at its best, or liberalism at its worst. Today, we start off with liberalism at its worst.

Providence, Rhode Island Mayor David Cicilline wants to tax college students $150 every semester to have the privilege of studying in his city. Because the mismanaged city is running a $17 million deficit, they need to find new money, rather than new savings. And the best new money is to shakedown ramen-noodle-eating students whose presence in Providence actually creates a local economy.

(more…)