11/18/2009

Johnston OKs change in benefits for firefighters
JOHNSTON — A proposal to reset firefighters’ health and pension benefits by local ordinance, outside the contract negotiations process, won unanimous approval from the Town Council Monday night.

11/17/2009

Republican R.I. lawyer
Michael J. Gardiner says he’d like to see a more centrist Republican Party

State predicts $219 million shortfall for fiscal year
Primary causes cited for dismal forecast: lower revenues, overspending and starting with a deficit

11/16/2009

National GOP seeks advice — from R.I.’s top Democrat
Political Scene has learned that at least one unlikely Rhode Islander participated in the Republican National Committee’s “2009 Congressional District Census.”

11/15/2009

Lack of funeral rights turns mourner into gay activist
PROVIDENCE — Mark Goldberg says the police were at his Fox Point home for about two hours the day he found his domestic partner’s body in the garage. The officers arrived quickly, said over and over how sorry they were, and determined that 60-year-old Ronald Hanby had taken his own life.

Lack of funeral rights turns mourner into gay activist
PROVIDENCE — Mark Goldberg says the police were at his Fox Point home for about two hours the day he found his domestic partner’s body in the garage. The officers arrived quickly, said over and over how sorry they were, and determined that 60-year-old Ronald Hanby had taken his own life.

11/14/2009

Groups say Carcieri domestic-partnership plan ‘still not equal’
Gay-rights groups offer little support for governor’s proposal to consider domestic-partnership law

11/13/2009

Carcieri open to domestic partnership law
‘Maybe it’s something we should consider,’ governor says after private meeting with gay-rights group

Candidates for R.I. governor support funeral rights
PROVIDENCE — In the days since Governor Carcieri vetoed a bill that would have given domestic partners the right to make funeral decisions for each other, all of the potential candidates to replace him — except Republican Rory Smith — have said they would have signed the bill.

11/11/2009

R.I. Rep. Patrick Kennedy declines to respond to bishop’s attack on abortion issue
Congressman says he won’t dignify bishop’s attack with a public response

Carcieri vetoes bill allowing partners to plan funerals
Republican governor calls it “erosion of the principles surrounding traditional marriage”

R.I. deficit projected at $200 million for current year
Approaches may include increased fees or taxes or more cuts in state aid to cities and towns

11/10/2009

State will press for thorough ’10 count
Officials will try to reach hard-to-count groups, knowing federal aid is tied to the final census

Bishop again attacks Kennedy over abortion stand in health-care reform
PROVIDENCE –– Even as they agreed to postpone a planned face-to-face meeting that had been set for Thursday, Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin turned up the heat Monday on U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy over his “rejection” of church teaching on abortion, calling on him to enter into a process of conversion and repentance.

R.I. General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio announces run for governor
State’s general treasurer joins a crowded field, but with a substantial campaign chest

11/09/2009

Poll by Chafee shows him atop race for governor
Despite his less than stellar fundraising performance in the last quarter, former U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee says his “exploratory campaign” for governor is alive and well after a major cost-cutting move, and he has poll results that show him with a credible shot of winning a three-way race.

11/08/2009

East Providence mayor pleads for return to civil debate
City’s strained finances contribute to raucous council meetings, personal attacks

11/06/2009

House Democrats caucus on state financial crisis
Most say they were glad to discuss ideas to address the economic crisis in a private setting

11/05/2009

Economist: R.I. recovery will lag
Significant job growth in Rhode Island isn’t forecast until 2011 or 2012

Wallin to run for R.I. attorney general
Former state prosecutor is first Republican to formally announce that he’ll be seeking the post

11/04/2009

RI Ethics Commission dismisses GOP charge against Attorney General Lynch
Committee rejects Republican complaint that attorney general violated gift-cap law

11/03/2009

Moderates’ financing in question
Party chairman might have exceeded the limits by donating $10,000 to both the state and Barrington branch of the party

Corrente won’t be the Moderate Party candidate for governor
Former U.S. Attorney says he wants to return to his private law practice

11/02/2009

Political Scene: R.I. Rep. Galbinske seeks truce with teachers union
State representative seeks to mend rift with second-largest teachers union

10/31/2009

R.I. lawmakers close year’s business with a flurry
Among bills passed: outlawing text messaging while driving

10/30/2009

R.I. General Assembly considers changes for EDC
A new board makeup and contract terms for a new director top the agenda; oversight commission to monitor the agency rejected

R.I. lawmakers plow through heavy agenda to the end
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- On the final night of an unusual October gathering of the part-time General Assembly, lawmakers Thursday night outlawed indoor prostitution, prohibited saltwater fishing without a license, and banned drivers from text messaging on Ocean State roads.

Kennedy, Langevin support compromise public-option bill
Measure doesn’t go as far as they wanted; they say it will reduce amount patients have to pay

10/29/2009

Bills fly through the House at special session
Dozens of bills, including one banning indoor prostitution, advance to Senate

10/28/2009

House tackles state name
PROVIDENCE –– A key legislative committee Tuesday night endorsed plans to allow voters to strip the word “Plantations” from the official state name, give police authority to take blood or urine from drunken-driving suspects after serious accidents, and eliminate the governor’s power to replace U.S. senators should unexpected vacancies occur.

10/27/2009

Sen. Whitehouse detects an air of confidence among U.S. troops in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON — Back from a brief tour of Afghanistan, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said Monday that “the baseline” of progress in the U.S. war effort there is better than it might appear from news coverage of rising casualties and the sharp disagreement over how the Obama administration should proceed.

N. Attleboro Marine killed in Afghanistan crash
WASHINGTON — Back from a brief tour of Afghanistan, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said Monday that “the baseline” of progress in the U.S. war effort there is better than it might appear from news coverage of rising casualties and the sharp disagreement over how the Obama administration should proceed.

R.I. General Assembly to reconvene over long list of issues
The General Assembly has scheduled a special session that is described as “fine-tuning.”

10/26/2009

R.I. prostitutes speak out against bill to close loophole
The General Assembly plans to vote on legislation to outlaw indoor prostitution, which is now legal in Rhode Island.

Political scene: Chairman Corvese told Capitol TV to skip House Labor Committee hearing
State House Room 313 last week was the scene of the most contentious legislative hearing in nearly four months.

10/24/2009

Kennedy criticizes Catholic stand on health care
The congressman’s criticism draws an immediate rebuke from the bishop of Providence.

10/23/2009

Tax changes may be on R.I. horizon
PROVIDENCE — Governor Carcieri’s administration director, Gary Sasse, gave a roomful of state senators a list of “two to three things” to do over the next few months as the state tries to climb out of its financial abyss. The first was: “pray.”

Former U.S. Attorney Corrente considers run for governor
Ex-U.S. Attorney Robert C. Corrente has been meeting with the new Moderate Party to discuss a campaign.

10/22/2009

Stormy hearing on arbitration at State House
The legislation would allow an arbitrator to settle contract disputes between teachers unions and school boards.

Smith seeks GOP nod for governor
Businessman Riordon B. Smith says he has the experience to deal with budget deficits, high taxes and high unemployment.

R.I. House will convene special session on Oct. 28-29
PROVIDENCE — Putting to rest rumors that the General Assembly might not return to work next week after all, House Speaker William J. Murphy has dispatched a letter to colleagues signaling his plans for next week’s special session, a closed-door Democratic caucus in November to talk about “potential plans of action for the current fiscal situation,” and an “economic summit” in early December.

Birth of mayor’s son delays approval of proposed budget
If it isn’t approved Thursday, the budget proposed by City Manager Richard Brown would take effect, which would close the Recreation Center and two libraries.

10/21/2009

R.I. phone bank utilized to support health-care reform
But the head of the state Democratic Party said he had “zero” knowledge of the effort organized by the national committee.