Businesses lobby against new taxes

As state lawmakers prepare a budget for release this week, Rhode Island businesses began a campaign yesterday to lobby them against any new taxes or increases in taxes or fees in the coming year. The Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce Coalition, a group of 13 chambers of commerce in Rhode Island representing more than 12,500 businesses and 90,000 employees, launched a member-wide campaign urging legislators to remain fiscally responsible during the final days of the development of the fiscal year 2009 state budget. The chamber coalition’s call for fiscal responsibility is a repeated request for legislators — particularly members of the House Finance Committee — to oppose new and increased taxes as a way to balance the state’s budget woes. The coalition has already sent a letter to all state lawmakers urging that they resist increasing taxes.

Heat saps region’s energy surplus

A heat wave has sharply reduced a surplus of electricity in New England as people use more energy to cool down. The operator of New England’s power grid reported high electricity demand and a tight supply yesterday, with expectations of a slightly tighter supply today in the six-state region.