07/24/2008

Union members’ votes on new state contract tallied today
“I know it’s a tough deal, but we still encouraged them to approve it because we feel it was the best deal to be had,” says one union leader.

07/21/2008

Budget savings plan not detailed
Six months after Governor Carcieri proposed saving $67 million by seeking a global Medicaid waiver, no written plan has been released.

Saturday session means extra time off for State House workers
For some State House employees, the General Assembly’s decision to wrap up the year during an unusual Saturday session was a bonanza.

07/20/2008

5 of 18 Assembly Republicans abandon ship
Five of 18 Assembly Republicans won’t run for reelection, but GOP leaders say state budget woes may actually help the party in November.

07/18/2008

Court raids put focus on companies suspected of hiring illegal immigrants
State officials talk tough about employers of suspected illegal immigrants who were taken into custody while working in the state’s courthouses.

Court raids put focus on companies suspected of hiring illegal immigrants
State officials talk tough about employers of suspected illegal immigrants who were taken into custody while working in the state’s courthouses.

Court raids put focus on companies suspected of hiring illegal immigrants
State officials talk tough about employers of suspected illegal immigrants who were taken into custody while working for the state.

Ballots finalized for state offices
The biggest surprise from last night’s certification of papers for General Assembly races is that Sen. Kevin A. Breene, R-W. Greenwich, will not seek reelection.

Ballots finalized for state offices
The biggest surprise from last night’s certification of papers for General Assembly races is that Sen. Kevin A. Breene, R-W. Greenwich, will not seek reelection.

07/15/2008

Court won’t review privatization law
A request by the governor became moot when a compromise measure was passed by the Assembly.

07/14/2008

Standing invitation led to copter ride, Roberts’ office says
Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts caused a stir last week over her decision to travel to the state’s most prestigious July 4th celebration in a Black Hawk helicopter.

07/12/2008

Health-care help for immigrants available, just not publicized
Lawmakers approved $1.2 million for basic primary care, but none of that money has flowed to local health centers.

07/11/2008

Group meets to plan combining towns
FOSTER — Maybe years from now, Rhode Islanders will recall an unairconditioned fire house in a quiet rural town where a couple of dozen average citizens gathered on a humid summer evening to talk about new ways of organizing local government.

Westconnaug seeds sown
FOSTER — Maybe years from now, Rhode Islanders will recall an unairconditioned fire house in a quiet rural town where a couple of dozen average citizens gathered on a humid summer evening to talk about new ways of organizing local government.

Westconnaug seeds sown
FOSTER — Maybe years from now, Rhode Islanders will recall an unairconditioned fire house in a quiet rural town where a couple of dozen average citizens gathered on a humid summer evening to talk about new ways of organizing local government.

Urciuoli retrial details emerge
Federal prosecutors say they don’t plan to call former state Sen. John Celona to testify again.

07/10/2008

Meeting tonight on possible 5-town combine
FOSTER — State Rep. Nicholas Gorham (R-Coventry, Foster, Glocester) is hosting a meeting tonight at the South Foster Fire Department to discuss Westconnaug, his proposed “super town” combining five and a half communities in the rural western part of state.

Gorham undaunted in effort to make ‘super town’ reality
FOSTER — State Rep. Nicholas Gorham, R-Coventry, will hold a public meeting this evening at the South Foster Fire Department to discuss Westconnaug, his proposed “super town” combining 5 ½ communities in the rural western part of state.

Retirements help state top 1,000 job cuts
Governor Carcieri estimates savings for Rhode Island at “north of $80 million.” “I think it’s a huge success,” he says.

Victory, then vetoes
PROVIDENCE — For a time, it looked like a memorable year for the prisoners rights lobby.

07/09/2008

Proponents say Malik pushed hard for industrial polluters legislation
Environmental advocates say state Rep. Jan Malik, D-Warren, Barrington, tried his best to get passage of legislation raising maximum fines against industrial polluters to $25,000 — a change that was ultimately doomed when the General Assembly ended its 2008 session.

Assembly’s backup plan: Let’s study it
By the close of this year’s legislative session, lawmakers had created no less than 15 study commissions, bringing the total to nearly 80.

Carcieri vetoes legislation backed by city
PROVIDENCE — City leaders spent last week cheering the success of the city’s legislative package at the General Assembly this year, but that jubilation was short-lived; late last week, Governor Carcieri promptly vetoed several major bills related to Providence.

07/08/2008

College-level politics becomes fodder in race for West Warwick House seat
WEST WARWICK — College-level politics has become campaign fodder in the Republican primary for the District 27 seat in the House of Representatives.

07/07/2008

A disenchanted Smith won’t seek 11th House term
State Rep. Steven F. Smith, D-Providence, made an informal but significant announcement on Federal Hill last week when spotted outside Venda Ravioli.

Amended party-host law closes loophole
As amended, the law also provides driver’s license suspensions and other noncriminal penalties for under-21 hosts of drinking parties.

07/06/2008

Student locator tags: Evil or helpful?
Tracking devices on students’ backpacks are “Big Brother at its scariest,” says the ACLU. Governor Carcieri disagrees.

Tiverton residents dismayed by fate of bill
A measure to increase daily fines on industrial polluters dies in the House environmental committee despite broad support.

07/04/2008

Elections Board won’t order release of nominating papers
PROVIDENCE — Going against the advice of their own lawyer, members of the state Board of Elections yesterday refused to order Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis, a Democrat, to release nominating papers for five disputed GOP candidates for the overwhelmingly Democratic General Assembly.

Expungement, public records bills vetoed
The measures were but 2 of 36 proposal laws that Governor Carcieri vetoed yesterday.

07/03/2008

Supreme Court declines to rule on GOP candidates
The Board of Elections must first decide whether the five Republicans can fill open slots in the party’s General Assembly slate.

07/02/2008

State elections board to decide status of would-be Senate candidate
WEST WARWICK — The state Board of Elections will meet tomorrow morning to decide whether Republican John J. Clarke Jr. is a legitimate candidate for the District 9 Senate seat held by Democrat Stephen D. Alves.

New pension eligibility rules for judges, state police
New troopers will have to work longer, and new judges will have to make do with 90 percent of their former salaries.

GOP wants court to allow 5 candidates
The status of five Republican candidates for the General Assembly is in limbo after local election officials rejected the candidacies.

Slowly, R.I. budget cuts begin to take hold
With the start of the new fiscal year, some programs are already affected by spending reductions while others won’t be affected until later in the year.

Carcieri vetoes bills on jail time, bridge
His rejection of a proposal to rename the Sakonnet River Bridge prompts one legislator to call the move “pure political games.”

07/01/2008

State GOP appeals rejection of candidates
The state’s Republican Party is blaming the secretary of state’s office for giving bad advice, but that office denies any advice was given.

06/30/2008

Raptakis gives Sen. Paiva Weed failing grades

06/28/2008

Governor vetoes courthouse construction bill
In his veto message, the governor questions the logic of the authorization in light of the state’s struggle to close a multimillion-dollar deficit.

Carcieri signs reverse mortgage law
Despite some misgivings, AARP Rhode Island supports the new consumer-protection legislation.

06/27/2008

Senate confirms judicial appointments
Also reappointed yesterday were two Superior Court magistrates, William J. McAtee and Susan Revens.

Governor joins lawmakers to sign budget
Cooperation was the theme yesterday when Governor Carcieri and General Assembly leaders spoke of the state’s finances and their decision to hold the line on taxes.

Governor joins lawmakers to sign budget
Cooperation was the theme yesterday when Governor Carcieri and General Assembly leaders spoke of the state’s finances and their decision to hold the line on taxes.

4 more GOP candidates running for Assembly
At least four more Republicans are joining the party’s effort to crimp the Democrats’ overwhelming majority on Smith Hill.

06/26/2008

Candidates aplenty for city’s seats in Assembly
PROVIDENCE — Nine incumbent state legislators in the city could face challenges in Democratic primaries this fall, including crowded races for John DeSimone, Dominick Ruggerio and Grace Diaz, and primary challenges to the heads of the city’s House and Senate delegations, Thomas Slater and Maryellen Goodwin.

Most incumbents to seek reelection
But 4 of 13 GOP House members in the General Assembly have decided not to run again.

Assembly gives town more flexibility on resort taxes
WEST WARWICK — The town will not have to count tax revenues from the coming $150-million 7th Wave water park and resort in its annual calculations to ensure that it does not exceed the state cap on property tax levy increases, thanks to legislation that won the General Assembly’s blessing last week.

06/25/2008

More lawmakers pay toward health plan
At this point, 33 of the 57 state representatives and 9 of the 31 state senators receiving state-provided health insurance are voluntarily paying 10 percent of their premiums.

06/24/2008

Illegal immigration legislation: Why it failed
The frenzied immigration debate that has engulfed Rhode Island politics and produced more legislative bills here than in almost any other state, ended with a thud over the weekend when a final proposal to crack down on illegal immigration collapsed in the waning hours of the 2008 Assembly session.

Carceiri vetoes mandatory minimum, pre-register bills
The governor raised the same issues as he did when he objected to earlier versions of the same legislation.

Legislator John Revens calls it quits after 40 years
The Democrat from Warwick, 61, president pro tempore of the Senate, says he won’t seek reelection.

Former official’s daughter is killed
The 19-year-old child of former Rep. Vincent J. Mesolella Jr., of North Providence, dies after a car crash in New York.

06/23/2008

State still paying $2,000 a month for D.C. office that’s been vacant for 3 years
State government may be awash in red ink, but Rhode Island taxpayers are still paying the rent on an empty office in Washington, D.C., that was once occupied by Governor Carcieri’s Capitol Hill lobbyist, a position that has been vacant for more than three years.

06/22/2008

Assembly wraps up in late session
Among the highlights: the passage of a bill that surfaced just yesterday that weakens a controversial year-old “anti-privatization law.”

In the final Assembly hours, college-student bus passes are the hot topic
Low-cost RIPTA passes are a logical way to help struggling students, says Rep. Arthur Handy, the bill’s sponsor.

06/21/2008

Assembly working a weekend
PROVIDENCE — Lawmakers at the General Assembly decided last night to return today rather than work into the wee hours to end the session.

R.I. lawmakers push through flurry of bills as session’s end nears
A proposal to erase criminal records heads to the governor’s desk, as do proposals governing health care and public safety.

Biggest state workers’ union leaders agree to forgo raises this year, pay more for health care
Members of the largest state workers union will decide whether to forgo raises this year — and pay more toward their health insurance.

The vote on the bill to erase criminal records
How senators voted on a bill to “quash and destroy” after five yeas, in most cases, the records of people given “deferred” prison sentences after pleading no-contest or guilty to a crime.

Hotel tax-break legislation draws ire of House leadership
A last-minute plan to grant a tax break for a proposed downtown hotel project seemed to have fallen apart yesterday afternoon after legislators realized that the developer was seeking a tax break larger than what had been previously approved.

06/20/2008

Flurry on Smith Hill means the end is near
Lawmakers tackle a host of issues — from the state budget to erasing criminal records — as the legislative session moves to a close.

Bill would resuscitate downtown skyscraper plan
The One-Ten Westminster Project was first proposed in 2005 as a 32-story, 130-condo development; last year, a hotel was added to the plan.

Environmental bill still being debated in Assembly
PROVIDENCE — With only a few days left in the current legislative session, the leadership of the General Assembly is still negotiating on an environmental bill that seemed to be a slam dunk two months ago.

West Warwick awaits Assembly action on tax-cap waiver
WEST WARWICK — A bill working its way through the General Assembly would grant the town a limited waiver from the state cap on tax levy increases, in the name of encouraging economic development.

06/19/2008

Doctors seek change in HIV-testing law.
They want the state to eliminate the need to get written consent from patients before administering the test.

House passes $6.89-billion state budget
Lawmakers approve most of the major provisions in the $6.89-billion plan with little debate, in an effort to close a $425-million deficit.

Assembly Briefs
Senate closes loophole in social-host law

Senate OKs tax deal for auction firm eyeing West Greenwich site
The state may offer a Canadian company more than $12.6 million in tax relief to purchase land and build a heavy equipment auction site in West Greenwich.

Camp Meehan clears hurdle
The Senate Judiciary Committee approves a bill allowing North Providence to take the parcel by eminent domain, but in the House, it’s stalled.

06/18/2008

Bill to cut public dollars for private school costs rejected
The measure sought to relieve local school districts of the cost of busing and textbooks for private and parochial school students.

House expected to vote today on $6.89 billion state budget
PROVIDENCE –– The House of Representatives will gather this afternoon and fight deep into the night to approve a state budget aimed at closing a massive deficit that Governor Carcieri says threatens Rhode Island’s economic future.

After 12 years in legislature, Rep. Amaral won’t seek reelection
The Tiverton Republican says he’d prefer to spend more time with his family.

Lawmakers skeptical about Landmark merger
Members of the House Corporations Committee say receivership might be a better option for the financially troubled Woonsocket hospital.

Working on a budget
House Finance Committee Chairman Steven Costantino, center, holds a briefing yesterday before his colleagues who will vote on the budget today. With Costantino are Representatives Peter Lewiss, right, and Kenneth Carter. Story on A1.

Changes at the voting booth?
PROVIDENCE — Surrounded by GOP lawmakers, Governor Carcieri yesterday mounted an eleventh-hour appeal to the General Assembly’s Democratic leaders to eliminate the option of straight-party voting and require that voters produce a photo identification before they are allowed to vote.

06/17/2008

City pushing hard for help in the Assembly
PROVIDENCE — With the General Assembly session in its final days, Providence legislators are giving the city’s legislative package one final push, while city officials wait with fingers crossed that the bills fare better than they did last year.

New kind of school passes first test
The House Finance Committee approves a proposal for mayoral academies, but union officials are fiercely critical of the plan.

Pollution fines bill is stalled in House
PROVIDENCE — With the General Assembly headed toward the frenzy of its final days, an environmental bill thought to have broad bipartisan support appears inexplicably stalled in committee in the House.

06/16/2008

GOP lawsuit to take aim at legislative grants
At issue is the method the General Assembly’s Democratic hierarchy uses to distribute $2.3 million to rank-and-file members for a range of private organizations and programs in their home districts.

Assembly adopts budget this week
The harried state budget season may be down to the final stretch.

06/15/2008

State budget vote expected
Some worry the $6.89-billion spending plan may not be balanced.

06/13/2008

In ‘dire’ straits, Twin River seeks a new deal with state
Having missed loan payments and in danger of falling into bankruptcy, the owners of the gambling facility offer the state $500 million now in exchange for a larger share of video-slot revenues in the future.

Matinee idle: Tax credit cap could seriously jeopardize state's film industry
PROVIDENCE — It should have been the high point of Rhode Island’s movie-making industry to date.

House OKs bill that gets tough on underage drinking
PROVIDENCE — The House yesterday overwhelmingly passed and sent to the Senate tough new restrictions on underage drinking that call for mandatory driver’s license suspensions for anyone under age 21 who even tries to purchase liquor.

House urges PUC to reject water rate increase
The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a resolution urging the Public Utilities Commission to reject the Kent County Water Authority’s request for a 35 percent rate hike that would increase the average customer’s bill by about $156 a year.

Photo: Restrictions on underage drinking
Rep. Jan Malik, D-Warren, sees an amended version of his teen drinking bill, which passed in the House yesterday. The bill introduces tough new restrictions, including mandatory driver’s license suspensions for anyone under age 21 who tries to buy liquor. Story on Page B3.

06/12/2008

New budget plan avoids tax hike, cuts programs
The Assembly’s $6.89-billion budget falls largely in line with Governor Carcieri’s proposal to close a $425-million deficit.

06/13/2008

In ‘dire’ straits, Twin River seeks a new deal with state
Having missing loan payments and in danger of falling into bankruptcy, the owner of the gambling facility offers the state $500 million now in exchange for the a larger share of video slot revenues in the future.

In ‘dire’ straits, Twin River seeks a new deal with state
Having missed loan payments and in danger of falling into bankruptcy, the owner of the gambling facility offers the state $500 million now in exchange for a larger share of video-slot revenues in the future.

06/12/2008

Bonds for water, open space cut from state budget
PROVIDENCE — Whenever clean water and open space bond issues go before Rhode Island voters, they generally pass by wide margins. But voters probably won’t get an opportunity to express their opinion on some $35 million in bonds proposed by Governor Carcieri this year, because the House Finance Committee revealed yesterday it cut the bonds from the state budget.

Taxpayers get break on pension costs
A report suggests the state will have to increase employer contribution by a relatively small amount.

Judge rejects Licht affidavit
Ex-Lt. Gov. Richard Licht comes out in support of Robert A. Urciuoli, his old friend and a former Roger Williams hospital director.

06/11/2008

Twin River gets OK for gambler-rewards program
But the facility, which hopes to boost revenues during the three-month trial period, must repay the state a set amount if the promotion falls short of expectations.

Assembly Briefs
No vote taken on health-insurer bill

A cool reception for a big fan
Rep. Edwin Pacheco, D-Burrillville, gets relief from a large fan in the Senate chamber before the start of yesterday’s session.

Senate approves increase to state’s minimum wage
The measure, which ties the increases to the consumer price index, now heads to the House.

06/10/2008

Labor’s voice is among loudest at State House
The power of organized labor is on display in the marble State House hallways most afternoons.

State budget set for release
The House Finance Committee posts notice that the new state budget will be unveiled and voted on tomorrow.

Notification system for elderly is proposed
But the state police say the proposal — modeled after the Amber Alert system for missing children — may prove too burdensome.

Sen. Tassoni never planned career in union, public office
He got his first union card at 30, when he took a job printing baseball cards on the overnight shift for the now-defunct Federated Lithographers.

Labor’s voice is among loudest
The power of organized labor is on display in the marble State House hallways most afternoons.

06/09/2008

Labor able to wield political influence far beyond its membership
Its strongest asset is a web of creative alliances that allows it to mobilize hundreds of volunteers in election campaigns.

Senate bills on recycling await action in House
But there appears to be little hope for the latest effort to enact a bottle-deposit law.

06/08/2008

Helping those fighting fires
A bill in the House calls for a study of the rate of cancer among firefighters and encourages screening.

R.I. labor guru George Nee cut his teeth on grape boycott and caught the union bug
He is a onetime college dropout, a former bodyguard, a shrewd political strategist and the face of Rhode Island’s labor movement.

Bill aims to fight cancer
The measure would study the incidence of cancer among firefighters and encourage screening.

06/07/2008

Budget woes may kill off R.I.’s foreign tax credit
Rhode Island may soon be saying farewell to the foreign tax credit.

06/06/2008

Questions abound as state budget deadline nears
Behind closed doors, lawmakers are deciding how to plug a $425-million budget hole for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

Questions abound as state budget deadline nears
Behind closed doors, lawmakers are deciding how to plug a $425-million budget hole for the fiscal year that starts July 1.