Woonsocket Radio News Room

This week at the 

General Assembly

 

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.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease

 

 

§  House elects Shekarchi Speaker, begins 2021 with new leaders, 14 new members
The House of Representatives elected Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) as House Speaker as it began the 2021 session with 14 new members. The House Democrats also have a new Majority Leader, Rep. Christopher R. Blazejewski (D-Dist. 2, Providence); new Majority Whip, Rep. Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence); and new Deputy Majority Whip, Rep. Mia Ackerman, (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln).

Click here to see news release on Speaker’s election.
Click here to see news release on new Democratic leadership team.

§  Senate elects leadership; new committee chairs appointed; eight new members
Sen. Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) was once again elected President of the Senate. Also on the leadership team are Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick), Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence) and Deputy Majority Whip Ana B. Quezada (D-Dist. 2, Providence). Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick) was elected President Pro Tempore, and Sen. Roger A. Picard (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland) was elected Deputy President Pro Tempore. New committee chairs include Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham), who will helm the Commerce Committee; Sen. Sandra Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket) will lead the Education Committee; Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) will chair the Environment and Agriculture Committee; Sen. Ryan W. Pearson (D-Dist. 19, Cumberland, Lincoln) will chair the Finance Committee; Sen. Cynthia A. Coyne (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence) will chair the Judiciary Committee; and Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton, Little Compton) will head up the Rules, Government Ethics and Oversight Committee. Eight new members of the Senate were inaugurated.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Lima, Corvese announce bills on lieutenant governor vacancies
Rep. Charlene Lima (D-Dist. 14, Cranston, Providence) and Rep. Arthur Corvese (D-Dist. 55, North Providence) are each introducing bills to delineate how the lieutenant governor is to be replaced if he or she vacates the office. Current state law does not address the situation, which will occur if the U.S. Senate confirms Gov. Gina Raimondo as U.S. Commerce Secretary and Lt. Gov. Daniel McKee becomes governor. Representative Lima’s bill would require a special election. Representative Corvese’s bill (2021-H 5000) would require the General Assembly to elect a new lieutenant governor in Grand Committee, which is the existing process for replacing a lieutenant governor-elect who cannot serve. 
Click here to see Representative Corvese’s news release.

Click here to see Representative Lima’s news release.

§  Senate, House resolutions condemn Capitol violence, call for Trump’s removal
The Senate passed and the House is set to vote on resolutions condemning the violent invasion of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and calling for President Donald Trump’s removal from office for his encouragement of it and his other attempts to overturn the election results. The Senate resolution (2021-S 0008) is sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) and the House resolution (2021-H 5005) is sponsored by Rep. Brandon Potter (D-Dist. 16, Cranston).
Click here to see news release.

§  Senate President Ruggerio bill would place moratorium on for-profit hospitals
President of the Senate Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) filed legislation (2021-S 0007) to impose a one-year moratorium on hospital conversions involving for-profit corporations as the acquiree or acquiror.
Click here to see news release.

§  Senator Quezada bill would raise minimum wage to $15 over four years
Sen. Ana B. Quezada (D-Dist. 2, Providence) has introduced legislation (2021-S 0001) that would increase Rhode Island’s minimum wage from $11.50 to $15 over a four-year period.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Sen. McCaffrey, Rep. Kazarian bills would change marriage solemnizations
Senate Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick) and House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence) introduced legislation (2021-S 0014) that would allow the governor to designate any person who is eligible to vote to officiate at a wedding ceremony within the state on a particular day and within a particular city or town. The authorization would expire upon completion of the marriage. A fee in the amount of $25 would be a prerequisite and would be payable to the secretary of state, or a fee of $20 for applications that are submitted electronically.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Rep. Williams calls for granting driver’s licenses for undocumented residents

Rep. Anastasia P. Williams (D-Dist. 9, Providence) is calling on Gov. Gina Raimondo to issue an executive order that would grant driver’s licenses to undocumented residents before she leaves the state to serve in the incoming Biden administration.

Click here to see news release

 

§  Legislators’ alarm leads to cancellation of $760,000 contract

Rep. Patricia A. Serpa, Chairwoman of the House Oversight Committee (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick) and Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence) were both alarmed and questioned the recently revealed $760,000 ten-week contract to out of state consultants charged with analyzing the finances of cash-strapped Rhode Island College.  The contract was canceled this week after the legislators voiced their concerns.

Click here to see Serpa release

Click here to see O’Brien release

 

 

 

The Supreme Court will hear arguments today on former President Donald Trump's claim he has absolute immunity on charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 election. The outcome could determine whether Trump faces a federal trial this year on four felony counts brought by special counsel Jack Smith, which include conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and obstruction of an official proceeding.        The abortion issue was front and center in America on Wednesday. First, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a case is over whether Idaho's near-total abortion ban conflicts with a federal law requiring hospitals to provide patients emergency care. A decision is expected in June. Later in the day, Arizona's House of Representatives voted to repeal a Civil War-era abortion law that bans nearly all abortions, and the bill now heads to the state Senate.        The seven World Central Kitchen workers killed in Gaza will be honored this morning at Washington National Cathedral. The workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike on April 1st while bringing food aid to people in the war torn Palestinian territory.        The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is suing the Federal Trade Commission over its banning of noncompete agreements. The FTC voted Tuesday to block new noncompete agreements and require employers not to enforce current noncompetes, with an exception for senior executives. Business groups argue that these agreements are actually necessary to protect their intellectual property. They accuse the FTC of regulatory overreach.       A Beatles guitar that's been missing for over 50 years has been discovered in the attic of a British house. Julien's Auctions says the 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar is the same one John Lennon played on classics like "Norwegian Wood," and he can be seen playing the guitar in the movie "Help!" It will be going up for auction next month in New York City.        The road to the NBA Finals continued on Wednesday. The Miami Heat pulled off a 111-101 upset victory over the Boston Celtics in Game Two at TD Garden. Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder crushed the New Orleans Pelicans 124-92 at the Paycom Center.        

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