Even a topic as weighty as immigration deserves a little levity.

So here’s today’s dose.

Rhode Islanders frustrated that the General Assembly did not pass a single immigration proposal this year — either cracking down on illegal immigrants or providing protections to those here illegally — can take heart.

A new report released by the National Conference of State Legislatures declares that Rhode Island did in fact pass more than a half-dozen immigration-related measures.

Confused?

According to the national organization, Rhode Island made the list because it okayed a series of resolutions this spring commemorating the state’s favorite saints: The Italian Saint Joseph and Ireland’s Saint Patrick.

That’s right, the two saints.

Anyone familiar with State House traditions knows that the annual “the two saints celebration” is one of the favorites on Smith Hill and also one of the oldest.

The gastronomic bonanza of zeppoles, corned beef and ziti is the strongly Irish and Italian legislature’s way of paying tribute to two of the state’s best-known heritages while poking fun of each other.

So, you ask, culinary feast landed us at the forefront of immigration reform?

Talk about party politics.

According to the NCSL, celebratory resolutions were included in their roundup because in some states they are considered no different than full-fledged laws and often signal a shift in focus towards one particular immigrant group.

New Jersey made the list for celebrating the Jews, while Illinois earned a spot for celebrating the Czechs.

National legislators group honors Westerly’s Lewiss

And speaking of the National Conference of State Legislatures, the group, together with Americans for the Arts, last week presented Rep. Peter L. Lewiss its State Leadership Arts Award, honoring the Westerly Democrat for his “outstanding leadership in the advancement of the arts at the state level.”

Lewiss traveled to the NCSL annual conference in New Orleans to accept the prize, part of the organization’s Public Leadership in the Arts Awards series.

As primary sponsor of the Artists Right Act, Lewiss has worked to forge relationships between artists and galleries, Americans for the Arts president and CEO Robert L. Lynch said in a statement.

Lewiss has also served as chairman of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Economic Development Trade and Cultural Affairs Committee.

“Representative Lewiss has demonstrated exemplary leadership and dedication to public funding for the arts,” Lynch said. “His advocacy for the arts in Rhode Island has proven to be a tremendous success.”

DHS chief says campaign rumor is ‘a good laugh’

Gary Alexander for governor in 2010? Don’t bet on it.

Talk of Alexander, director of the Department of Human Services, staging a run for the top job began swirling after a New Hampshire politics blog, www.polickernh.org, posted a piece saying Alexander “has been rumored to be a possible candidate for Rhode Island governor in 2010.”

“You’ve given me a good laugh,” Alexander, 39, said of the reported rumor.

While on a recent visit to the Granite State to visit family and friends, he said, he rode a campaign bus for a day for longtime friend John Stephen, who is challenging Congressman Jeb Bradley in a Republican primary.

It was not a trial run, he promises. So why the hype?

“You had a bunch of guys on a bus making a joke about it. But point blank, there is nothing to it. I’m flattered you would ask me that, but I’m too busy with my job” Alexander said.

Alexander, who was appointed to head the DHS in 2006, said his job is far too stressful to think beyond his daily responsibilities, especially with a young family at home.

“I’ve lost more hair and put more inches on my waist in the last year and half,” he said laughing. “I don’t need to lose any more hair.”

cneedham@projo.com