Letters to the editor
01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, March 29, 2005
On March 23, I, along with many small-bar owners, attended and testified at a House Labor Committee hearing at the State House pertaining in part to House Bill H6159. This bill, after being orally amended and voted on, passing 6 to 3, would have stopped the exemptions with regard to smoking for Class C and D establishments as of June 1.
We in attendance thought the bill was headed to the House floor for a full vote, so after much applause and jubilation we went off into the night to celebrate what we thought was a great victory, but also knowing there would be much work ahead to secure the votes for equity. I got up early Thursday morning and e-mailed Governor Carcieri's office to ask that he come out publicly in support of Bill H6159. I also e-mailed a thank-you to Rep. Jan P. Malik, for introducing the bill and for making the necessary changes in it for passage. I then headed to my restaurant to start my day, and that's when my bubble burst.
I learned that after we had left and the smoke had cleared, House Speaker William Murphy rounded up five Labor Committee members who were not present for any testimony and re-addressed the bill. Please know that before Murphy's Rules took effect, this action would not have been possible. In the past you would have needed consent from a representaive of the winning side before a bill, after passage in committee, could be re-addressed. The bill now lost, 8 to 2; only two supporters remained.
The politicians played political football with our lives, and we got kicked in the teeth. I ask all concerned to please help in sending a message to Speaker Murphy, at (401) 222-2466. Let him know his rules will not stand after the next election.
RAYMOND A. BROOKS
Providence
The writer is president of the Neighborhood Pub Association of Rhode Island.
We want to hear from you
More letters to the editor
Most Viewed Yesterday
R.I. Bishop Tobin has testy exchange with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews
Providence Bishop Tobin says Kennedy ‘erratic’ — but he’s not referring to mental-health issues
Head nurse testifies in Woods’ suit
Native American artifacts thousands of years old halt sewer installation in Warwick, R.I.
Most active surveys
Will you skimp on Thanksgiving dinner this year? If so, where?
Who will win the PC-URI basketball game?
Would you trade Clay Buchholz and Casey Kelly for Roy Halladay?
Most e-mailed in the last 24 hours
Reader Reaction









You must be logged in to contribute. Log in | Register Now!
You are logged in as screenname | Log Out
You are logged in, but do not have a "screen" name. Create a Screen Name