general assembly

Goodbye Mr. Mattiello — You Will Not Be Missed

House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello will not be returning to the general assembly in January, and having been one of his more vocal critics over the years, I should probably have commented on that glorious news by now. But, like millions of other Americans, until last Saturday I was curled up in a fetal position under …

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Legislative Leadership — First Concern? Casinos

You know how when the kids are upstairs playing and making a lot of noise, and then suddenly it gets real quiet . . . that’s the feeling people on both sides of the aisle are getting about House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, two of the four members of the obscure …

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General Assembly Opens 2020 Legislative Session

(1.7) A worker puts the finishing touches on some much needed renovations performed during the recess. (Apparently rain was coming through the skylight in the Senate chamber.) Technology also needed updating. According to the ProJo, “Both chambers’ sound systems have been improved with new speakers and microphones. A new hearing loop system, which transmits sound …

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Where West Means East And Blue Means Red

Ah yes, the Rhode Island Statehouse where the West Wing Cafe is located in the easternmost wing of the building, and where many of our so-called Democrats are really Republicans. (Both Senate President Ruggerio and House Speaker Mattiello have A-ratings from the NRA and have been endorsed by RI Right to Life. Mattiello wears Trump …

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Steven Frias For State Rep — Get Mattiello Outta Here!

Yes, that’s right — I am urging the people of House District 15 to vote for a Republican! This may seem like an unusual position for a progressive democrat, but keep in mind, in any other state our odious Speaker of the House, Nicholas Mattiello, would be a Republican. Upon acceding to the throne, his …

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‘See Votes RI’ — Keeping Tabs On The General Assembly

This is the online advocacy tool we didn’t know we needed. For providing an overview of where the general assembly, or your specific state rep or senator, stands on a particular issue, this new website will prove invaluable. It is the product of local citizen activists Kath Connolly and Jeremy Giller who invite everyone to …

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End Legislative Grants

All of them. While we all wait for the other, more salacious, shoe to drop regarding the investigation of former State Rep and House Finance Chairman, Ray Gallison, D-Bristol, the Providence Journal has been focusing on the general abuse of what are called legislative grants. Thursday’s one-inch headline “Grants Misused” and today’s equally bold “A …

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Guide To The State House DINOs

Blue is the new Red. Those trying to suss out the reconfigured cast of characters in the new general assembly and the extreme conservative ideology of its democratic leadership should read “Rhode Island Republicans join State House machine” (ProJo 1.14.15) by Sam Bell, state coordinator of the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats. The explanation lies in …

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Take Action To Tax And Regulate Marijuana In RI

The good people over at Regulate Rhode Island have been spearheading the effort to pass legislation that would tax and regulate marijuana in Rhode Island. They have been organizing, lobbying, and spreading the word, but now it’s time for you to step up. (Why Regulation? — go here.) You need to contact your legislators and …

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Political Roundtable At Athenaeum

(5.13) Co-presented with Rhode Island Public Radio, Policy & Pinot is a timely conversation series on vital issues facing our state. RIPR’s Political Roundtable team of political reporters Ian Donnis and Scott MacKay, along with URI Professor of Political Science Maureen Moakley and frequent Roundtable guest Dr. Pablo Rodriguez, analyze the local and national political scene. Free and …

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