Saturday, March 30, 2013
The Coventry senator says he hasn’t made a “firm decision” yet on voting to allow SSM legislation to be voted on by the full Senate.
State Sen. Lou Raptakis (D-Coventry, E.G., W.W.) has removed his name as a sponsor of legislation to hold a referendum on same sex marriage, but he’s stopped short of saying he will definitely support allowing a bill legalizing same sex marriage to be voted on by the full Senate. Raptakis is one of ten members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the panel in control of the legislation right now. Senate Bill 708, sponsored by Sen. Frank A. Ciccone III (D-Providence), would put a referendum before voters, asking if they want to legalize same-sex marriage by adding language to the state Constitution that defines marriage as "the legally-recognized union of two people." Senate Bill 38, sponsored by Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Pawtucket), would …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
A bill that stiffens penalties for drunken driving charges with children in the car has passed the Rhode Island Senate, and now heads to the House.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Thursday, March 28
Release courtesy of the Legislative Press Bureau. On Wednesday, the Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin to stiffen penalties for adults who drive under the influence with a child in their vehicle. “Driving under the influence is a serious offense, but it rises to a new level of danger when it endangers a helpless child. People who drive drunk with a child in their cars are committing a much more serious crime than DUI, and they deserve a much more significant sentence,” said Senator Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence). “This bill sends a message that putting a child’s life at risk in this way will not be tolerated in Rhode Island.” Current Rhode Island law allows those convicted of DUI who committed …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The bill was introduced by Representative Joseph McNamara of Cranston.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Wednesday, March 27
Release courtesy the Legislative Press Bureau. The House of Representatives today approved legislation to ban the use, manufacture and sale of synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones in Rhode Island. Proposed by Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin and sponsored by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) and Rep. Arthur J. Corvese (D-Dist. 55, North Providence), the bill would specifically add chemical classes of synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones to the state’s Schedule I drug list. Items on Schedule I are regulated by the Department of Health because they are considered to have a high potential for abuse and/or no accepted medical use in treatment in the U.S. “Kids are using synthetic drugs and …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Sessions of the General Assembly will now be available live on this new thing called the Internet.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Wednesday, March 20
Release courtesy the Legislative Press Bureau. Members of the public will now be able to watch committee hearings and a live Senate session on the Internet for the first time in Rhode Island’s history. Capitol TV will be live streaming up to four committee hearings simultaneously, which will allow members of the public to see votes and hearings in real time. Those hearings, as well as the House and Senate sessions, will then be archived so they can be viewed through the Rhode Island General Assembly website on demand. Currently, Capitol TV airs a live House session and tapes the Senate session to broadcast after. Without web-streaming, the channel could only broadcast one live committee meeting at a time. “Now there will be more ways than …
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Wondering what your reps are up to? Find out here!
- GOVERNMENT
-
Sunday, March 17
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 …
Thursday, February 28, 2013
The bill, submitted by Deb Ruggiero and co-sponsored by Donna Walsh and Teresa Tanzi, tries to improve port marketing efforts.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Thursday, February 28
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 …
Sunday, February 24, 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/.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Sunday, February 24
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 …
Saturday, February 16, 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/.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Saturday, February 16
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 …
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
[REACT] The State of the Union address was last night – What did you think of it? Comment now!
Last night – Tuesday, Feb. 12 – marked the 2013 State of the Union, given by President Barack Obama shortly after 9 p.m. EST. Of course, for the “just the facts, ma’am” version, you should go to America’s most trusted news source – Wikipedia. Or, depending on your political persuasion, there is CNN, FOX and NBC. Did you watch the State of the Union address? What did you think? React in the comments section below! Following the address, the Rhode Island Congressional delegation released these statements: JIM LANGEVIN Congressman Jim Langevin (RI-02), who spearheaded an effort to give people affected by gun violence a voice at the State of the Union, applauded the President’s strong stance on strengthening gun laws in his reaction to tonight…
Monday, February 11, 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.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Monday, February 11
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) …
Ted Geisel
9:05 am on Friday, April 26, 2013
Interesting that this was only opposed by the Democrats in the Senate. Every Republican Senator voted in favor of it. more ›