Exclusive:Tempers flare over RI budget

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Tempers flare at the state house as lawmakers discuss the Governor's cost cutting measures to reduce the nearly $400-million dollar deficit.

One proposal is to shrink the workforce for the police and fire department created a verbal battle and only Eyewitness News was there to caught it all on camera.

The state's cities and towns want to save money by reducing the number of police officers and firefighters. But, the union members who represent them are fighting to keep contracts that force minimum manning.

"Deaths, people are going to die as a result of this and this is not an over statement, " said Paul Doughty from the Providence Firefighters Union.

"I know the arguments against these articles will be well, how can you equate the intent of these articles with the possible cost of human life. Well, we believe that there are many departments that are over staffed," said Dan Beardsley from the RI League of Cities and Towns.

"We're not going to let him put the blood on our hands. He has to find other ways to cut. We can't cut the social safety net that protects all of us in this state to balance the budget," said Doughty.

The emotional arguments over minimum manning triggered an intense side show when a Providence firefighter confronted the director of RI League of Cities and Towns.

Capitol Police quickly got word of the heated argument but by then the two men had separated and presumably calmed down.