Monday, May 6, 2013
Same sex marriage was approved by the House and signed by Gov. Lincoln Chafee, and the House Judiciary heard testimony on gun safety measures last week.
For more news from the Rhode Island General Assembly, visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/ Same-sex marriage legislation becomes law On a final House vote of 56 to 15, the General Assembly enacted legislation making Rhode Island the 10th state in the nation to allow same-sex marriage, to cheers of advocates and citizens who have pursued passage of the legislation since it was first introduced in 1997. Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed the bill into law about an hour later before hundreds gathered to watch the ceremony on the steps of the State House. The legislation (2013-H 5015B, 2013-S 38 A) was sponsored by Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston) and Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, North Providence). Click here to see …
Friday, May 3, 2013
Sen. Christopher Ottiano, a sponsor of the bill, withdrew this controversial proposal after hearing from many Prudence Island residents.
Sen. Christopher Ottiano (R—Portsmouth, Bristol) has withdrawn his bill, which would create a "Prudence Island Ferry Authority" to help resolve the problem of ferry service for Prudence Island residents. While Ottiano's Senate Bill 532 has been withdrawn, an identical House bill, H-5600, sponsored by East Bay Reps. Raymond Gallison, John G. Edwards, Dennis Canario and Kenneth Marshall, has been referred to the House Finance Committee. The bill, if approved, would create a quasi-governmental body with members of Portsmouth and Bristol governments. The authority would determine the course of action to resolve Prudence Island's current ferry problem. As of Dec. 1, ferry services between Bristol's mainland and Prudence Island, a part of …
Thursday, May 2, 2013
A bill legalizing same-sex marriage passed 56-15 on May 2.
Sixteen years after legislation was initially introduced in Rhode Island, same-sex marriage is now legal in the Ocean State. On Thursday afternoon, May 2, the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed the legislation with a vote of 56-15. "This is a great day in Rhode Island, not just for the many Rhode Island families who will now get the recognition and equality that they so richly deserve, and not only for the thousands who have been fighting for decades for the dignity and rights of all citizens," said House Speaker Gordon Fox, the first openly gay House Speaker in the nation who has cosponsored the legislation every year. "It is also a wonderful day for the generations of future Rhode Islanders who may never know a time when …
Monday, April 29, 2013
Rhode Island legislators approved same-sex marriage and heard bills on stopping Sakonnet Bridge tolls last week.
For more information on any of these reports, visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/ Senate approves same-sex marriage bill In a 26-12 vote, the Senate approved legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry in Rhode Island, effective Aug. 1. The bills (2013-S 0038A, 2013-H 5015B), sponsored by Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, North Providence) and Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston), still have to clear an additional House vote before they can be sent to the governor. That vote is tentatively expected Thursday, following a Judiciary Committee vote on Tuesday. Both Republican Senators representing Bristol voted in favor of the measure, while Democratic Sen. Walter Felag voted "no." Click here to see news release. …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
With the Senate's approval, the bill now goes back to the House for approval, then to Gov. Lincoln Chafee for his signature.
In a 26-12 vote, the Rhode Island Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would allow same-sex marriage in the state, the last in New England to approve such a measure. The House of Representatives voted 51-19 on Jan. 25 to approve that chamber's version of the bill. Should the House pass the Senate version, the legislation would go to Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who has pledged his support. Bristol's delegation split 2-1, with Sen. Walter Felag Jr. (D-Bristol, Tiverton, Warren) opposing the bill and Sens. Christopher Ottiano (R-Bristol, Portsmouth, Tiverton) and David Bates (R-Barrington, Bristol, East Providence) voting in favor. [In two ceremonial measures, the Senate also approved the House bill, 26-12, and sent its bill to the House for …
Here's everything you need to know about tomorrow's scheduled House Finance Committee meeting. An anti-toll rally is scheduled for noon.
Are you headed to the State House for tomorrow's hearings on bridge tolls? Here's everything you need to know before you leave the door. The Basics Two bills dealing with bridge tolls are scheduled today for a hearing: 2013-H 5137 and 2013-H 5644. Both would repeal the transfer of authority for the Sakonnet River Bridge and the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge from the Department of Transportation to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. Residents are being urged to attend a rally at noon today, before the bills are heard in committee. The House Finance Committee is scheduled to take up the bills at 1 pm. An identical Senate bill, 2013-S 0020, has been introduced by Sen. Walter S. Felag Jr. (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton…
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The Rhode Island GOP Caucus, including Sen. Christopher Ottiano, becomes the first state group in the nation to stand united for marriage equality.
All five Republicans in the 38-member Rhode Island Senate, including Sen. Christopher Ottiano of Bristol, Portsmouth, and Tiverton, have committed to support the same-sex marriage bill being voted on today by the State Senate Judiciary Committee. On Tuesday morning, the Rhode Island Senate Republican Caucus announced its support for a bill that would grant marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples, becoming the first unanimous decision by a legislative caucus of either party in the nation to back marriage equality legislation. The State Senate Judiciary Committee approved the legislation by a 7-4 vote today. “This is a game changer,” said Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). “Never before has an entire …
The RI Senate Judiciary Committee votes 7-4 to move marriage-equality legislation to the full Senate on Wednesday.
The full RI Senate will vote on the same-sex marriage bill tomorrow afternoon after it was sent to the floor by the Senate Judiciary Committee today, April 23. The vote was 7-4, according to the Providence Journal. The committee rejected, by a 6-5 vote, a bill that would have put the marriage-equality legislation before Rhode Island voters in a referendum next year. The victory on Tuesday gives gay marriage supporters much hope in a debate that has been fierce at times. Dozens of same-sex marriage supporters packed the third floor State House hearing room and the hallway outside, according to the newspaper. Voting for the bill were Sens. William Conley D-East Providence; Stephen Archambault, D-Smithfield; Dawson T. Hodgson, R-North …
Monday, April 22, 2013
The House of Representatives passed a bill proposed by local Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr. requiring banks and mortgage companies to negotiate with homeowners before foreclosing.
For more information on any of these reports, visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/ House passes bill requiring mortgage conciliation effort before foreclosure The House passed legislation (2013-H 5335Aaa) sponsored by Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr. (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth) to require banks and lenders to make a good-faith attempt to negotiate with homeowners before foreclosing on homes in Rhode Island. Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, North Providence) is sponsoring similar legislation (2013-S 416) in the Senate. Click here to see news release. Fogarty files bill to allow liquor sales at 10 am on Sundays Sen. Paul W. Fogarty (D-Dist. 23, Glocester, Burrillville, North Smithfield), whose district borders both …
Monday, April 8, 2013
A local representative sponsored a bill to improve school safety, while a fellow East Bay representative discussed the recent decriminalization of cannabis.
Legislation introduced to improve safety in R.I. schools Three bills addressing school safety issues have been introduced in both chambers. Developed by the legislature and the governor’s office, the bills will, among other things, require schools to perform a safety assessment in conjunction with local police, fire and school safety teams; require annual review and certification of school safety and emergency response plans and set specific requirements for school fire drills and lockdown drills. Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick) and Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) sponsored two of the bills (2013-S 800, 2013-H 5940 and 2013-S 0801, 2013-H 5941) and Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, …
Bear Hunter 401
11:46 am on Saturday, May 4, 2013
Now Gallison should withdraw his. But he's on the Finance Committee so I'm sure he'll be pushing it along with Marshall who seems to be marching in lock step with all of the other "Organized Crime" members known as the General Assembly. This is going to be another one of the many useless & wasteful multi-million dollar departments staffed by politically connected cronies who will do nothing … more ›