Last Week at the General Assembly: March 15, 2013

Wondering what your reps are up to? Find out here!

STATE HOUSE – Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly this week. For more information on any of these items visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/ Senate unveils 'Moving the Needle' legislative package  President of the Senate M. Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown), Senate Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence), Senate Minority Leader Dennis L. Algiere (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown) and other senators unveiled a legislative package designed to improve Rhode Island’s business climate and its position on national business-friendliness surveys. The legislation was developed from the recommendations of a joint report by …

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Govstench

9:35 am on Sunday, March 17, 2013

Steve: you missed the big one - the reversal of the ethics bill at House Judiciary. I was present and it was a shameful act. It is also interesting to note that Capital TV did not broadcast that action. When they moved onto the Master Lever testimony, the cameras were turned on. There is no transparency at that statehouse.   more ›

Bill Submitted to Bolster Port Marketing

The bill, submitted by Deb Ruggiero and co-sponsored by Donna Walsh and Teresa Tanzi, tries to improve port marketing efforts.

Release courtesy the Legislative Press Bureau. Rhode Island’s ports are well-positioned to become greater economic engines for the state. The state’s significant coastline, well-developed transportation systems and opportune location between New York and Boston are all the right ingredients, and after a recent dredging project, the Port of Davisville is now the seventh largest auto-port and one of the fastest-growing ports in North America. The growth of Rhode Island’s ports as drivers of the state’s economy must continue, says Rep. Deborah Ruggiero, and to help promote them, she has introduced legislation to create a body to collectively market them. The Rhode Island Port Marketing Collaborative act (2013-H 5614) would bring together …

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This Week at the General Assembly: February 22, 2013

Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly this week. For more information on any of these items visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/.

Shekarchi bill seeks to rein in EDC authority Legislation introduced by Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) would prohibit the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation from guaranteeing any loans and obligations. The bill (2013-H 5463) would not affect the EDC’s ability to make contracts or loans, but would prohibit the agency from pledging the “faith and credit of the state” for any of those loans or obligations. Click here to see news release. Bill will prohibit property owners from requiring tenants to debark pets  Calling the surgical procedures inhumane and potentially dangerous to pets, Senate Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) has introduced legislation (2013-S 0177) to …

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Govstench

1:22 pm on Sunday, February 24, 2013

Nothing on the budget? Not surprising - they are still figuring new ways to steal.   more ›

This Week at the General Assembly: February 15, 2013

Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly this week. For more information on any of these items visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/.

Assembly sponsors ‘arts charrette’ to promote growth of arts sector The Senate and House of Representatives, in cooperation with Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee, the Rhode Island Foundation, the R.I. State Council on the Arts, Fidelity Investments and RISD, sponsored an “arts charrette” to bring together government, business and nonprofit sectors with the arts community to develop a strategy to further the growth of the arts sector and enhance economic development in the state. President of the Senate M. Teresa Paiva Weed and Speaker of the House Gordon D. Fox were among those who addressed the gathering, which was held at Fidelity in Smithfield and attended by more than 120 interested participants. Click here to see news release. Legislation …

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[REACT] Should DNA Samples Be Run On Violent Criminals?

A bill proposed by the General Assembly, based on laws in other states, would allow DNA sampling of convicted felons.

Two bills currently up for debate by members of the Rhode Island General Assembly would allow for testing of the stored DNA of felons to DNA collected from open cases. The legislation is modeled after existing laws in about 25 states, according to a release from the Legislative Press Bureau. For full details, see the full release below. Both bills are currently assigned to judicial committees, as of January. What do you think of the bills? Let us know in the comments section at the bottom! ****** Release courtesy the Legislative Press Bureau. It has been a decade since a young woman was brutally murdered in New Mexico, a crime that went unsolved for three years. Katie Sepich’s parents believe the person who murdered their daughter could …

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Ruff! Meow? Pet News!

[REACT] Bill Would Prohibit Debarking, Declawing Requirements

A bill co-sponsored by Susan Sosnowski would prohibit landlords from requiring pet owners to declaw or devoice their animals.

What do you think of a proposed bill to prohibit landlords from requiring that pet owners de-claw or de-vocalize their pets? Tell us in the comments section below! The following is a release about the proposed bill. Calling the surgical procedures inhumane and potentially dangerous to pets, Senate Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerio is urging passage of legislation to prohibit property owners from requiring “devocalization” and “declawing” of dogs and cats as a condition of occupancy. “Devocalization” or “debarking” is a surgical procedure that involves opening an animal (usually a dog) at the throat or through the mouth to cut the vocal cords to reduce the sound of barking. The scarring resulting from the procedure can cause the animal …

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This Week at the General Assembly: February 7, 2013

Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly this week. For more information on any of these items visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/. NOTE: Based on sessions up to Feb. 7, thanks to the blizzard.

Marijuana legalization, regulation bill introduced Rep. Edith H. Ajello (D-Dist. 1, Providence) and Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, North Providence) were  joined by drug policy reform advocates to announce their legislation (2013-H 5274) to legalize marijuana possession in Rhode Island for adults age 21 and older, with regulations and taxes similar to those for alcohol. By regulating its sale, the state would be better able to control marijuana and would make it more difficult for children to obtain, they said. Click here to see news release. Goldin proposal would expand TDI to cover caregivers  On the 20th anniversary of the signing of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, Sen. Gayle Goldin (D-Dist. 3, Providence) …

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Hodgson: Senate In 'Limbo' Until Vote On Same Sex Marriage

Senator Dawson Hodgson decries the Senate's "lack of urgency" when it comes to voting on same sex marriage and other bills.

One month into the General Assembly's 2013 session, things haven't changed very much from this point two years ago, according to Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-Dist. 35).  "We’re about a month in, we’ve only had one or two calendars since inauguration day," Hodgson said, referring to days in which there's formal action on a bill. "This is the time of year when we show up and there’s no bill pending, there’s no votes ... on state business." Hodgson said inaction on same-sex marriage is one reason for the Senate's seeming "lack of urgency." "Whether you support same sex marriage or oppose it … these are deeply held motiviations and they are profound on both sides. For my colleagues who are deeply engaged on this issue on both sides, they deserve to …

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This Week at the General Assembly: January 18, 2013

Here is a roundup of news, events that took place in the General Assembly this week.

Governor Chafee delivers State of the State to Rhode Island leaders Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee delivered the annual State of the State address, proposing tax changes to improve the state’s economic competitiveness and coax existing Rhode Island businesses to expand. The governor also officially released his Fiscal Year 2014 budget proposal. Speaker of the House Gordon D. Fox, President of the Senate M. Teresa Paiva Weed and other members of the General Assembly were present for the event. House holds economic conference, Senate schedules annual summit The House of Representatives gathered for an economic conference at Rhode Island College in order to jumpstart its work this year on revitalizing Rhode Island’s economy. State leaders and top …

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Govstench

10:41 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013

Maybe two things of importance to the economy. The rest is more hot air from a disfunctional legislature.   more ›