Rhode Island Politics
There’s something very Rhode Island about this proposed legislation: A bill filed recently in the state Senate would forbid all vehicles with more than two axles from driving over the Sakonnet River (Route 24) and Pawtucket (I-95) bridges. While the 22-ton limit on both bridges would remain in effect, Senate bill S 2891 would ban…
So, faced with a reduction in benefits, about 2,500 state workers are expected to retire. Under the new plan, they’d have to be 59 years old, have 20 years in and then would have to pay $1,700 per year for health benefits (20% of the total health package). Currently, retired state workers pay nothing towards…
Yeah, well, while I’m not so sure that forcing hospitals to pay property taxes is such a good idea, RI Senator Harold Metts (D, Providence) has a point when it comes to universities: “In 1989, it was estimated that 35 percent of the city’s taxable properties were owned by a few tax exempt institutions,” said…
The following bills were scheduled to be heard by the House Finance Committee today at 1:00 pm instead of late afternoon at the Rise of the House. House Bill No. 7791 BY Moffitt, Mumford, Story, Singleton, Loughlin ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES — PUBLIC ASSISTANCE {LC2210} (require the department of human services to…
Today’s Providence Journal has more on the supplemental budget. There’s some reason to hope that the General Assembly will manage to avoid making things worse — although without bold changes, treading water could simply mean drifting further out to sea. Here’s the key part of the report, though: The vote marks a significant step forward…
You don’t name a new entity “the Moderate Party” in the current political context without the expectation that social liberalism will be implied. If Ken Block wanted to emphasize the single-minded nature of his new party, he would have called it “the Fiscal Party” or something along that line. Rhode Island conservatives should allow Mr.…
Here’s the supplemental budget that our legislators are being asked to read, digest and pass this evening. I’m short for time and in a hurry, but here’s what I can gather for “highlights”: Reduction of almost 300 Full-Time Equivalent Positions (ie; jobs cuts) Amendment that essentially kills the future privatization of government services. Makes the…
Rep. Nick Gorham has proposed a bill to let us all know who is getting walking around money from the State Legislature (h/t Ian @ N4N). The legislation (PDF) states: SECTION 1. Chapter 35-3 of the General Laws entitled “State Budget” is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 3 35-3-28. Legislative grants. –…
And speaking of Russell J Moore‘s article in last week’s Cranston Herald, does anyone have any clue what Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian is getting at in this quote…Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, who is known as a moderate Republican with socially liberal positions, said he wishes Block luck, but warned he shouldn’t count on his support.…
Around the same time that Ken Block submitted his Engaged Citizen article, the Cranston Herald ran a Russell J. Moore article discussing his stands on social issues in a bit more detail…“Very recent history has shown that the GOP has been horrible at supporting candidates for local office,” [Mr. Block] said. But an interview with…