Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The caucus made up of current or former public safety figures will focus on education and issues critical to first responders.
STATE HOUSE – A new caucus has formed in the House of Representatives for members who are current or former police officers and firefighters. The Police and Firefighters Caucus includes eight members and will be led by co-chairmen Joseph S. Almeida and Scott J. Guthrie. The caucus, which has met once on Feb. 5, formed to concentrate on issues of safety, training and education for first responders, as well as any other issues that may arise that affect them. “Police and firefighters have a lot to offer the General Assembly, because we all have first-hand knowledge of the practical problems and challenges on the streets and in our cities and towns. We hope that this caucus will help put that know-how to good use, both to better serve the …
Friday, February 8, 2013
Proposed legislation would redefine the state's gambling age.
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Friday, February 8
The following is a press release from the Rhode Island House Minority Office. State Representative Doreen Costa (R - North Kingstown, Exeter) criticized proposed legislation that would increase the legal age for gambling to 21. The proposed legislation, H-5032, would impose a fine of between $100 and $500 and suspend a driver’s license for six months for anyone under 21 found gambling or on the premises of a casino, slot parlor or facility where pari-mutual betting is permitted. Current law establishes 18 as the legal age for gambling in the state. “This legislation represents a giant step backward for young people in Rhode Island,” said Costa. “Young adults can vote at age 18 and serve in the military at 18, but now we want to prohibit …
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
In a session full of pomp, circumstance, family and friends, the members of the 2013-14 General Assembly convene for the first time.
Democrat Robert E. Craven was one of only 16 new members of the Rhode Island General Assembly sworn in Tuesday at the State House. Craven joined the House's 75 other members during the swearing in ceremony, which saw Rep. Gordon D. Fox retain his seat as Speaker of the House. Craven beat out Republican incumbent Rep. Laurence Ehrhardt in November elections, following a tough primary between Ehrhardt and fellow Republican Sharon Gamba. Though it will be Craven's first term in the General Assembly, he's no stranger to politics. In the 1990s, he served on the North Kingstown Town Council and was Assistant Attorney General in the 1980s. Also sworn in on the House side was Rep. Doreen Costa (R - NK, Exeter) who beat out her Democratic …
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
What would you ask those running for local representative and state senator positions?
The 2012 General Election is only weeks away and voters still have a lot of questions. Why not get them answered? North Kingstown Patch will be sending out questionnaires to all candidates running for local and state office. We have some ideas of what we want to ask them, but want North Kingstown voters to contribute. What questions do you have for the those running for a spot in the General Assembly? Perhaps you want to know they'd attract business to the state? Or grow more jobs here? Submit your questions below in our comments section for consideration. As always, please keep this civil and on topic. Have questions for other candidates? Submit your questions for the North Kingstown Town Council's candidates here and those running for …
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Politifact RI rules that Rep. Costa claim about in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants is true.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Democrat Lou Raptakis says he will run for his old Senate seat — currently held by Glen Shibley — while newcomer Peter DeSimone said he’ll run for Senate District 35, the seat now held by Dawson Hodgson.
Democrats Lou Raptakis of Coventry and political newcomer Peter DeSimone of Narragansett both said they planned to run for state Senate during a "community dinner" Sunday night at Cole Middle School in East Greenwich hosted by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. Raptakis said he will run for Senate Dist. 33, a seat now held by Republican Glen Shibley of Coventry. DeSimone said he will run for Senate Dist. 35, a seat now held by Republican Dawson Hodgson of North Kingstown. Neither Shibley nor Hodgson has announced re-election plans. Raptakis gave up his seat in the state Senate two years ago to run for Secretary of State. He lost in the primary against incumbent Ralph Mollis, who won re-election. “The state’s not on the right track,” Raptakis …
Monday, March 12, 2012
Among the bills he's introduced, one would abolish the Caruolo Act. Another would offer merit "bonuses" for some teachers.
Dawson Hodgson, the Republican state senator from North Kingstown, spent his first year in office learning the ropes — “playing defense and being a vocal opponent of bad ideas.” This year, he said, he plans to take a more proactive role, from attempting to abolish the act that gives school committees the right to sue towns to offering $1,000 bonuses to teachers whose students earn AP credits. “I’m attempting to implement more policy changes,” Hodgson said in an recent interview. He’s introduced six what he calls “substantive” bills this session, this despite a bout of pneumonia a month ago that landed him in the hospital for two days. He’s recovered but said he tires more quickly than usual, joking that the Democrats have been enjoying a …
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Historic legislation passes through the General Assembly.
North Kingstown Patch is looking for your reaction to the civil unions bill that passed the Rhode Island Senate on June 29, just over a month since a similar bill sponsored by Johnston Rep. Peter Petrarca cleared the House. Petrarca's bill gained momentum after a same-sex marriage bill, sponsored by Rep. Frank Ferri of Warwick, didn't make it out of committee. Gov. Lincoln Chafee is expected to sign the civil union legislation as early as today. The bill would allow towns to issue same-sex couples a certificate, much like a marriage license, that provides legal standing for their relationship. It does not require religious institutions to recognize or provide civil union certificates. (Find the bill, House 6103, at the General Assembly's …
parent of an 8th grader
9:11 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
seems like just another group of people,, that are together for no reason at all more ›