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

 

 

 

There are reports the Justice Department is investigating Minnesota's governor and the Minneapolis mayor. Multiple outlets cite U.S. officials saying Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey are being investigated for allegedly obstructing federal law enforcement. One official says the investigation centers on statements the two leaders have made about the thousands of ICE and Border Patrol agents deployed to Minneapolis. Their presence has sparked protests, which have grown since the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer last week.        Court is done for the week in the Charlie Kirk assassination case in Utah. Lawyers for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of shooting the conservative personality at a rally in September, argued a key prosecutor has a family member who was present at the time Kirk was shot. They say that communications between them raise concerns over impartiality and the prosecution's decision to seek the death penalty, and argue the prosecutor should be disqualified.        President Trump says he currently doesn't have reason to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota. Before leaving the White House for Florida on Friday, Trump was asked about using the act as protests continue in Minneapolis. Trump said there's no reason to use it at this time, adding, that if he "needed it, it's available" to him. The Insurrection Act would give Trump the authority to deploy the military to suppress a rebellion on American soil.        Virginia Senate Democrats are sending a redistricting amendment to voters for approval. If voters support the amendment in a special election, which is expected to be on the spring ballot, the Legislature would be able to redraw the state's congressional map before midterms. Democrats currently have a six-five edge in the state's congressional delegation, looking to control either a ten-one or nine-two split for the new map.        Renee Good was unresponsive when first responders arrived after she was shot by an ICE agent last week in Minneapolis. A newly released incident report from the Minneapolis Fire Department offered more clarity into the incident, with Good having two apparent gunshot wounds to her right chest, one on her left forearm and another possible wound on the left side of her head. Good's killing has led to protests nationwide, while the Trump administration is calling her a "domestic terrorist."        Bad Bunny is previewing his upcoming Super Bowl halftime show performance. The video shows the singer walking through a forest while playing a song from his most recent album, soon joined by dancers off all different ages and cultures. It ends with a message saying "the world" - all different ages, races and styles - "will dance." Bad Bunny's choice as the headliner of the halftime show has drawn conservative backlash, with the Trump Administration threatening to have ICE agents at the game.       

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