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

 

 

§  General Assembly receives state budget proposal

The FY 2023 state budget proposal (2022-H 7123) was unveiled by Gov. Daniel McKee and introduced by House Finance Committee Chairman Marvin L. Abney (D-Dist. 73, Newport, Middletown). The supplemental budget for FY 2022 (2022-H 7122) was also introduced by Chairman Abney. Both bills have been referred to the House Finance Committee where they will be analyzed and reviewed over the coming months.

 

§  Governor delivers State of the State address to General Assembly

Governor Daniel McKee delivered the State of the State address on Jan. 18 in the House chamber. House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick), Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) and members of their legislative leadership teams attended the event. Governor McKee presented key policy proposals for the upcoming legislative session to help Rhode Island recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and several aspects of his proposed FY 2023 budget.

 

§  Redistricting Commission approves new district maps
The Special Commission on Reapportionment approved new House, Senate and congressional district maps during its final meeting. Legislation enumerating the district boundaries will now be drafted and introduced in the House and Senate chambers. These bills will be assigned to committees and go through the same process as other bills.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Kennedy bill seeks to curtail fraudulent online sales
House Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) has introduced legislation (2022-H 7013) to curtail the growing threat of the online sale of counterfeit and stolen goods, which has become a $509 billion criminal enterprise.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  McNamara bills address mental health challenges in education
Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) has introduced two bills that focus on the unique educational challenges that the pandemic has generated.
The first (2022-H 6648) would direct that services provided by school social workers and certified school psychologists would be included as health care-related services eligible for federal Medicaid reimbursement. The second (2022-H 7062) would provide that in developing alternative-learning plans, consideration would be given to the unique difficulties and interruptions that many students are experiencing because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Commission studying CRMC takes public testimony
The special House commission studying the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), led by Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown), collected public testimony on suggestions for improving the procedures or organization of the CRMC, the state’s lead agency for reviewing developments in coastal areas.
Click here to see news release.

§  Sen. Calkin sponsors bills aimed at reducing PFAS exposure

Sen. Jeanine Calkin (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) is sponsoring several bills aimed at protecting Rhode Islanders from the dangers of  per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The bills would require PFAS testing and removal in public water supplies, and prohibit PFAS from clothing, food packaging and carpeting sold or produced in Rhode Island. PFAS, which are linked to cancer and may cause adverse effects on the immune system and other tissues and organs, are found in hundreds of consumer products as well as firefighting foam and other applications.
Click here to see news release.

 

Opening statements are expected Monday in former President Trump's criminal trial in New York. The six alternate jurors have been seated and the 12 jurors are already in place. The former President is accused of falsifying business records in order to cover up payments allegedly made to an adult film star just prior to the 2016 election.       New York police say the man who set himself on fire outside the Donal Trump trial drove from Florida to New York City earlier this week. The man had some papers with him that detailed conspiracy theories involving local politics. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.       President Biden is taking jabs at Donald Trump while rallying union workers in Washington, D.C. Biden delivered remarks at an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers conference on Friday, where he said some people, including Trump, "learned the best way to get rich is inherit it." He also said those people " learn that paying taxes is for working people, not the super wealthy."        The House is expected to vote for final passage of House Speaker Mike Johnson's foreign aid package over the weekend. The House approved a rule vote today to begin debate on individual bills to provide military aid for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. In an unusual move, Democrats voted with Republicans to advance the legislation as many conservatives voted no.        The FAA and United Airlines are investigating a video that appears to show a Colorado Rockies staff member in the cockpit during a flight. The incident happened during the team's April 10th chartered flight from Denver to Toronto. In the video posted on social media that has since been deleted, an unauthorized person appears to sit in the pilot's seat. United Airlines says at least two pilots have been removed from the job.       Horror film "Abigail" is looking to take the top spot at this weekend's box office. It's expected to make between 12-million and 15-million-dollars in its first weekend. "Abigail" is expected to just beat out last week's winner "Civil War" for first place.       

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